2023 Cadillac Lyriq EV revealed as the brand’s all-electric flagship SUV

KUALA LUMPUR: As we all know, General Motors is on a mission to bring 20 new electric vehicles to the market by 2023 as part of its commitment to "an all-electric future." In line with this, the luxury brand Cadillac revealed the first electric vehicle - Lyriq SUV yesterday. Fundamentally, it is a further development based on the renderings showcased at the 2019 Detroit Auto Show.

The Lyriq is based on the next-generation, modular electric vehicle platform of General Motors and driven by the Ultium propulsion system. This can allow Cadillac to offer a number of range and performance options to the Lyriq customers.

With range being one of the crucial factors in selecting an EV, the automaker designed the SUV to deliver 300 miles of range on a full charge. It will come with DC fast charging rates over 150 kW and Level 2 charging rates up to 19 kW. The SUV will be available in rear-wheel drive as well as performance all-wheel-drive configurations.

In terms of technology inside the cabin, Cadillac Lyriq features the latest version of the hands-free driver assistance system. Known as Super Cruise, the system uses a combination of lidar map data, high-precision GPS, cameras, radar sensors, and a driver attention system for ensuring the driver's attention while driving.

As compared to Tesla's Autopilot driver assistance system, the Super Cruiser users do not need to keep their hands on the wheel, though they are required to keep their eyes directed straight ahead. Cadillac Lyric electric crossover will also incorporate a 33.0-inch-diagonal LED touchscreen, a dual-plane augmented reality-enhanced head-up display, and remote self-parking.

Visually, the SUV wears the brand's new design language, houses a distinctive grille with unique lighting elements, multiple vents within the bumper, and vertical headlights. Lyriq also has an interesting lighting element at the rear end; the traditional taillights are placed on the upper half of the body, and angular LEDs positioned down low. However, Cadillac says that the revealed images show a prototype that is 85% finished.

The model is slated to go on sale in late 2022 and will compete with models like the Audi E-Tron, Jaguar I-Pace, and Tesla Model X.

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