Cadillac’s highly anticipated battery electric crossover SUV, conceptually unveiled last year, will be named Lyriq, and we’ll see it unveiled on August 6. The debut was originally set for April, but the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic slowed things down.
Despite the delay, the Lyriq is still on track to go into production in 2022. To spark excitement ahead of its reveal, Cadillac released a new teaser image Thursday showing the production version.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqsVWsNL8w0
The arrival of the Lyriq will likely usher in a brand-name return to real model names, as opposed to the boring alphanumeric names Cadillac uses for its current line-up, the iconic Escalade being the one exception. An iconic electric sedan to be named Celestiq is also in the works, and we also know of three more electric Caddies in the pipeline, including an Escalade-inspired model.
The Lyriq concept (shown below) from a year ago hinted at a very futuristic design, as well as the possibility of third-row seating.
Teaser for Cadillac Lyriq electric cossover SUV based on GM BEV3 modular platform
Teaser for Cadillac Lyriq electric cossover SUV based on GM BEV3 modular platform
Teaser for Cadillac Lyriq electric cossover SUV based on GM BEV3 modular platform
What we do know is that the Lyriq will be based on General Motors’ third-generation EV platform, known as the BEV3, and will feature a new type of battery that GM has branded Ultium. The battery offers greater flexibility when it comes to packaging and will cost less to produce than current designs due to a low cobalt requirement for rare earth material. GM plans to offer the battery in sizes ranging from 50-200 kilowatt-hours, with the largest size capable of delivering more than 400 miles on one charge. However, it is unclear what sizes the Lyriq will offer.
As for the BEV3 platform, it supports front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, and all-wheel drive configurations as well as performance applications – we’re talking about powertrains with enough juice for 0-60 mph times of under 3.0 seconds. The platform and new Ultium batteries will also support the GMC Hummer EV that was unveiled in May, but will now appear sometime in the fall. The modern Hummer will go into production in the fall of 2021.
