During Shanghai Auto Show, 42 Garage participated in a media group interview of SAIC-GM Cadillac, and Gu Yebin, the marketing director of Cadillac (referred to as Gu below), responded to several questions.
Advantages of LYRIQ
Gu: Today’s LYRIQ press conference, we came prepared. I think the name “New Forces” has been used for many years. In fact, we have not been idle in these years. We have been innovating, accumulating, and precipitating.
Chevrolet Volt EREV, there was no such term as “New Forces” at that time. Volt was also a very advanced concept at the time, including the composition of the dual planetary gears.
The LYRIQ concept car is the first car built on our latest Ultium platform at General Motors, which is a very advantageous step for GM’s overall electrification and achieving the “three zeros” vision.
From the brand itself, as the luxury brand of General Motors, Cadillac is also the pioneer in GM’s electrification transformation. This is why the first car launched on the Ultium platform is Cadillac’s concept car.
Assuming the responsibility of pioneers, we can also enjoy many leading technologies, including some dividends that enhance the user experience. General Motors will definitely place the most advanced and representative technologies on this car.
Ultium Platform: six words “safety, flexibility, intelligence”. The entire thermal management system of the Ultium platform adopts the best technology, and our research and development standards are also the highest. The entire research and development system and process are very complete, and our foundation is quite solid, but it does not mean that we have no further upgrades in the future.
The Ultium platform has many characteristics in terms of safety, intelligence, and flexibility. For example, our electric drive module is modular and can be combined in the future. For example, the infinite battery management system, wBMS wireless battery management system. The VIP electronic architecture is already loaded on Cadillac’s existing design, and the one launched this time is called the new generation VIP electronic intelligent architecture, which has distinctive features in terms of safety, data transmission capability, process, and upgrade. It also comes with VCS intelligent cockpit.
In terms of hardware, the 33-inch ultra-high-resolution retina screen in the cockpit is comparable to professional displays. It is also equipped with a full Dual-plane AR HUD dual-view laser holographic real enhanced flight display. There are two projection display areas for far and near viewing.
In terms of software and content development, General Motors has also collaborated extensively with some world-renowned film special effects companies such as Territory Studio and game special effects companies such as Epic Games to enhance the interactive experience of vehicles. Because young people now have higher requirements for immersive experiences and product content settings. I think the technology and content of this 33-inch surround ultra-high-resolution retina screen could be leading in the industry. Speaking of the earlier mentioned Dual-plane AR HUD, it also includes various functions such as destination real scene markers and lane change instructions, which I think are significant highlights.
At the same time, features like Super Cruise, which are already installed on Cadillac’s CT6 model, also exist on LYRIQ. The LYRIQ concept is equipped with an enhanced Super Cruise that can execute lane changing instructions and can be upgraded OTA in the future. Super Cruise is based on high-precision maps, and as the coverage of high-precision maps expands in the future, our application scenarios can be further enhanced.
General Motors has a very strong advantage in its system, which is the very complete and powerful product development system and production manufacturing system we have built over the years. Including the many suppliers in our supply chain system, all of which are system-integrated and longtime partners. These are the foundations that ensure we develop good products and deliver them exceptionally well to customers.
The LYRIQ’s design is also very stunning. My first impression when I saw this design was – this is a Cadillac, but it is definitely not a traditional Cadillac. It is a new design that combines art and technology. LYRIQ has Cadillac’s classic elements in it, including vertical headlights, overall lines, and overall ratios.
In fact, the buffer (BoFA) design of our car is very long. It extends from the center of gravity of the front wheels, the center of the wheelbase, and the center of the track, to the distance below our driver’s steering wheel. This distance can provide excellent support for the entire vehicle’s posture, making the design look very elegant and dynamic. This is a Cadillac LYRIQ, and it is also a milestone in Cadillac’s new transformation.
On Fuel Cars## GU: In the field of fuel-powered vehicles, we now have a “3+3” layout, with three SUVs and three sedans, covering the mainstream market. In the first quarter, we sold a total of 58,200 vehicles, an increase of more than 100% year-on-year. In March, we sold more than 22,000 vehicles, an increase of nearly 300% year-on-year. Of course, the lower base last year due to the pandemic is indeed one of the reasons. But overall, our situation this year is still good.
At the same time, in the SUV market in the first quarter, we also launched electrified models on XT5 and XT6, and the overall effect was very good. The combination of electrification and our 2.0T Variable Displacement Engine and 9AT automatic transmission is also a very golden power combination. In fact, I think the 48-volt electrification is not just about improving fuel economy. We have experienced it ourselves, and there are different degrees of improvement in terms of handling, quietness, and other aspects. It should be said that customers’ driving experience will be better.
XT4 has been very stable since its launch, and we sold more than 5,100 units in March. It is worth mentioning that XT4 has a very high proportion of female customers in Cadillac, with a beautiful appearance, and female customers account for more than 36%.
The growth of the three sedans is also very significant in the first quarter. CT5 is the cornerstone of our sales, with an average monthly sales of around 5,000 units. CT6 is our flagship sedan with the most technology, and we have also optimized and upgraded its configuration to maintain stable sales. CT4 is our youngest car with an average age of about 28, and it is also a popular car among young people, and its overall sales are good.
The 2021 models of CT5, CT4, XT5, and XT6 will be launched successively this year. Super Cruise will also be equipped on the Cadillac CT5 this year. It is expected that by 2025, the coverage of high-precision maps will be extended to 700,000 kilometers, and the coverage range of high-precision maps will be extended to the provincial highway level in terms of usage scenarios.
In terms of the entire Chinese automotive industry and its future development, the launch of the LYRIQ concept car by Cadillac today is an important step for the entire SAIC-GM joint venture in the field of electric vehicles. We expect that by 2025, there will still be a certain proportion of fuel-powered vehicles, with roughly 80% still being traditional fuel-powered cars, but with some electrification technologies added. Therefore, Cadillac will continue to pursue both lines of development, both in our new energy vehicles and in our traditional fuel-powered vehicles, with the ultimate goal being to meet the needs of our customers. On our new energy platform, we will introduce more models to cover more segments of the market and serve more customers. Likewise, our traditional fuel-powered cars will also undergo corresponding improvements. For example, our enhanced Super Cruise will be first applied in our fuel-powered cars this year.
The concern of luxury brands producing electric vehicles
Gu: The development of electric vehicles in China is truly flourishing, with many different companies, both mainstream and new entrants, including independent brands, participating in this field. You can see new energy vehicles on almost every exhibitor’s stand in this hall. The key is to develop products that customers will like based on their needs.
Our new Ultium platform is a display of our determination and new direction. It is not simply a transition from gasoline to electricity or any other model, but a brand new platform with many groundbreaking and industry-leading technologies. This is also a good demonstration of General Motors’ “zero-zero-zero” vision.
Therefore, for Cadillac, as a century-old luxury brand, we have accumulated a wealth of knowledge, technology, and experience in the industry, making us confident that we have the strength to develop electric vehicles. With over one million Cadillac owners, we have a strong customer base and an extensive network, including the entire SAIC-GM customer base.We have not just entered the Chinese market, so we see more opportunities for ourselves in this regard, which vary for every brand. I think it’s inappropriate to comment on other brands here. Speaking for Cadillac, with the newly launched LYRIQ, we indeed have the ability to compete in this new field, and we will continue to bring new feelings, experiences, and surprises to our customers because our platform itself is an unlimited and futuristic one.
Source: Cadillac Group Interview
This article is a translation by ChatGPT of a Chinese report from 42HOW. If you have any questions about it, please email bd@42how.com.