GM flew us out to stunning Park Metropolis Utah to check out the Cadillac Lyric EV final week. It was our first hands-on drive of GM’s first mass market Ultium drivetrain (with apologies to the 9000lb gorilla within the room, area of interest HummerEV) car. With Cadillac not releasing ICE autos and going full EV in simply 8 brief years, it isn’t a stretch to say that the model is betting the corporate on the success of its first EV. So, how’d it do?
Initially the Lyriq is a stunner by way of outward look. It’s a Cadillac at the beginning, for higher or worse (principally higher). Meaning the distinctive grill, however with a lighted EV twist in what we think about would be the theme of Cadillacs to come back. There’s additionally a lot of angles and different Cadillac trademark strains on the skin.
Inside it’s distinctive luxurious prime to backside with premium supplies, a lot of buttons and knobs all over the place. However in a maybe sarcastic nod to Tesla opening the glove field is a superfluous menu merchandise on the display screen. The display screen stack is Google for Autos primarily based and it’s the most refined model we’ve seen, skinned to match the Cadillac theme. Google maps is built-in properly and can doubtless be the popular technique of navigation. There’s additionally CarPlay and Android Auto which can undertaking your telephone display screen however since this was a prototype OS, 2 revisions again from the launch model it was barely buggy. We’re advised there are enhancements coming and OTA’s galore.
Above, it’s a large glass roof with sliding shade that makes the already spacious room really feel even larger.
Cadillac has stated publicly that it’s performed releasing inside combustion engine autos and it plans to have transformed its entire lineup to electrical by 2030. With that proclamation, it misplaced a major proportion of its dealerships who weren’t essentially on board with the speedy (for a legacy automaker) change to electrical.
We’re advised the 80% of remaining sellers are “all in” on Electrification and will probably be prepared, EV chargers in hand, for Cadillac EVs. That stated, GM says it hopes that every one updates will come through software program over the air (OTA).
After US President Donald Trump acquired defeated in 2020, GM’s management swung its EV ambitions into overdrive. A part of that was shifting the Lyriq up a complete yr in improvement. The group delivered a tremendous automotive however there are some large issues they needed to pull (or for those who learn between the strains, wait on for a future launch). In no explicit order:
- SuperCruise doesn’t but work and will probably be delivered through software program replace within the months forward. We’ve in fact used SuperCruise in different Automobiles just like the CT-6 and Bolt EUV and it’s a deal with to make use of and there’s nothing to point that it gained’t work simply as effectively on the Lyriq…however when?
- The heads up show is only a warning indicator within the 2023 mannequin yr Lyriq. I count on those delivered subsequent yr may have a full heads up show possibility
- The door handles are…missing. Within the present type it’s essential to push the door actuator which is de facto only a button after which seize both the facet of the door or the deal with in a 2 step course of. In subsequent yr’s model I believe the doorways will current themselves when opened routinely. Think about the Mustang Mach-e’s already controversial doorways if the button and the deal with have been moved a foot aside.
- We have been driving the RWD model of the automotive which wasn’t precisely a screamer with its just below 6 second 0-60 time. The AWD model, which chops a second off that with its 150 extra horses at solely a $2000 premium, would be the one to get for extra spirited driving. The 300hp rear motor was pulled from the HummerEV so improvement time was lower (for those who ask me throw one other a kind of dangerous boys within the entrance motor for a 600hp car!)
All of that stated, this automotive was nonetheless tremendous spectacular. It was the quietest automotive I can bear in mind driving ever. That features the quietest of Lexuses and perhaps even quieter than the Mercedes EQS. The noise cancelling audio system added, or ought to I say subtracted, nearly all the traditional noise you’d hear whereas driving. If I wasn’t with our video producer Mikey, the dearth of sound would have been downright eerie. The audio system, which embrace these head two within the headrests, are nice for music. The noise cancelling didn’t drown out essential noise like different vehicles and honking horns so that is nonetheless protected from an auditory standpoint.
Add to that the graceful Cadillac experience and the Lyriq goes to actually impress these on lengthy journeys. This fluffy experience is what Cadillac is all about. The again seat is even smoother with an enormous area that adults will probably be tremendous comfy in. Cadillac advised us they actually made the again seats the place to be in a nod to the Chinese language market the place lots of the Cadillac prospects have drivers. Sadly, that pushback of the seat means no third row seating for these trying to carry a bunch of youngsters. Nonetheless, the again cargo space is plentiful and many roomy for the crossover phase. I wouldn’t be shocked if a future mannequin had a third row possibility however nobody even hinted that was a consideration.
At over 100kWh of battery and over 300 miles of actual vary and 190kW charging, that is going to hit all the proper spots available in the market.
Cadillac Lyriq wrap up:
At simply over $60,000, it is a phenomenal automotive. GM/Cadillac did have to chop some corners to get one to us this yr however the ultimate product continues to be one of the crucial luxurious EVs available on the market. Plus all the 2023s are already offered and I’ve a sense the 2024s reservations are going to go fast as effectively.
I can’t wait to strive the AWD model with Tremendous Cruise for an extended drive. Cadillac when!?!?
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