New Cadillac LYRIQ luxury EV 80% ready for production

March 07, 2024

Cadillac recently completed the “80 percent” validation drive for the 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ, marking a significant milestone in the development of Cadillac’s first luxury electric vehicle (EV).

This validation drive confirms that all components and technologies are at or beyond 80 percent readiness, allowing engineers to focus on fine-tuning the LYRIQ before production begins.

The validation drive was designed to evaluate the LYRIQ’s performance on various road surfaces and in different traffic conditions. Cadillac developed a curated route that included freeway, urban, and rural driving scenarios. Under these real-world conditions, engineers assessed the LYRIQ’s drive quality, systems calibrations, and other elements that directly impact the in-car experience.

The LYRIQ’s development process has been accelerated due to advances in virtual development and supporting parallel processes. This has included test drives as far away as New Zealand and cold-weather testing conducted in August to take advantage of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter.

The LYRIQ is built on the Ultium Platform, which provides a low center of gravity, exceptional chassis stiffness, and nearly 50/50 front-to-rear weight balance. These factors give engineers unprecedented chassis-tuning flexibility. Technologies such as a five-link front and rear suspension and frequency-dependent dampers help optimize the LYRIQ’s ride quality and responsiveness.

The LYRIQ will be offered in the exclusive well-equipped Debut Edition, available with advanced technologies and stirring performance enabled by its dedicated electric architecture. A 12-module, 100.4 kilowatt-hour battery pack and a rear-wheel Utium Drive unit deliver a GM estimated 340 horsepower and 440 Nm of torque and a GM-estimated range of 300 miles on a full charge.

LYRIQ also offers high-speed DC fast charging up to 190 kW, enabling customers to add up to 76 miles of range in about 10 minutes. When charging at home, LYRIQ can replenish its battery at the fastest speeds currently allowed by industry standards when equipped with a Level 2, 19 kW charge module that allows for up to 52 miles of range per charging hour.

Jamie Brewer, executive chief engineer, said, “We have spent countless hours behind the wheel of our LYRIQ test fleet and in virtual testing environments to be sure we deliver our customers a comprehensive luxury experience expressed in an all-new electrified package. All the while we are remaining true to our brand promise by placing high priority on meticulous craftsmanship and intuitive integrated technologies.”