LYRIQ: The First Run of Cadillac’s Pure Electric SUV

More than a year ago in August 2020, LYRIQ made its debut, marking the beginning of Cadillac’s electrification transformation. Impressively, it featured a 33-inch curved OLED screen and a brand new Super Cruise ADAS system.

However, times have changed. Today, one year later, electrification has become a major trend in the industry, with more and more manufacturers launching their own electric models.

So in the face of the growing competition, can LYRIQ still stay competitive?

This is our concern.

Today, Cadillac’s luxurious pure electric mid-size SUV LYRIQ is officially open for pre-sale, priced at CNY 439,700.

The Pioneer of Pure Electric Transformation: LYRIQ

First, let’s take a look at the specs.

LYRIQ is over 5 meters long with a wheelbase of nearly 3.1 meters. As a mid-large pure electric SUV, it already surpasses “oil-to-electric” models launched by traditional car companies, forming direct competition with NIO ES8 (5022/1962/1756, wheelbase: 3010 mm).

The first model to debut is the rear-wheel drive long-range luxury version.

The new car offers five basic body colors and three specific body colors, as well as two interior color options – space crystal grey and nightfall black.

Thanks to the GM Ultium battery platform, LYRIQ has a battery capacity of 95.7 kWh, a CLTC range exceeding 650 kilometers, and an actual driving range of over 500 kilometers. This performance is basically at a leading level in the same class.

According to official data, LYRIQ’s power consumption per 100 kilometers is only 15.6 kWh, which is very impressive.

Moreover, the new car supports fast charging throughout its entire life cycle. It can travel 96 kilometers after only 10 minutes of charging (based on CLTC). The North American version of LYRIQ supports a peak fast charging power of 190 kW, and a charging time of 19 minutes can travel 76 miles (approx. 122.3 kilometers). However, the peak power in China may be lower than 190 kW.

But the specific performance remains to be seen after testing.On the power side, the new car is equipped with a permanent magnet synchronous motor with a power of 255 kW, a maximum torque of 440 Nm, and a hundred-kilometer acceleration of 6.9 seconds, which is basically the same as the North American version.

It’s worth mentioning that a four-wheel-drive version of LYRIQ with a hundred-kilometer acceleration of no more than 4.9 seconds will be launched in the future.

It has to be said that this step is very clever, using “differential performance and configuration to attack the luxury pure electric vehicle market.”

Details, details, still details

On the appearance, the mass-produced LYRIQ highly restores the design elements of the concept car.

Different from the monotonous design of the closed front face of other car companies, Cadillac creatively integrated the lighting into it. The exterior of the entire car has a total of 736 LED light sources, combined with a series of flowing LED headlights and flying wing LED taillights, plus a 1.8-meter ultra-large black crystal shining grille and a luminous logo, full of technology.

Although I have seen this car many times, I am still touched by the details.

Entering the car, laser-etched patterns and natural wood grain are integrated together, plus 26 ambient lights, bringing a unique sense of technology beauty.

LYRIQ calls the electronic control knob “Menses Shield Crystal Diamond Electronic Control Knob”. The outer ring of the main knob is made of true aluminum material with exquisite rolling flower process, and the inner part is inlaid with a three-dimensional Cadillac logo, bringing a “crystal jewelry”-like translucent effect.

Not to mention the waterfowl logo carved on the edge of the dashboard, the central double-layer drawer-style storage box and the six-way air conditioning control knob.

These are all details…

And the most attractive thing is the car’s screen. It uses a 33-inch circular ultra-high-definition retina screen, which provides 9K ultra-high resolution and displays 1 billion colors.

It basically belongs to one of the top vehicle screens.

And it is worth mentioning that this is a whole piece of curved screen, which is very difficult to mass-produce. LYRIQ is really courageous to achieve mass production first.

In addition, the new car is equipped with an AKG recording studio-level high-fidelity sound system with 19 speakers, as well as many technologies such as Quantum Logic Surround Sound Technology, Acoustic Lens Prism, and Unity co-axial composite speaker design.

Hmm, I really want to experience it.

Intelligence is the Focus of Layout

Intelligentization is the focus of this car.

What I didn’t mention just now is that LYRIQ is equipped with Qualcomm’s latest 8155 chip in the car machine. This is the fastest car machine chip in mass production, which can bring faster human-machine response and greatly improve the vehicle’s interactive experience.

At the bottom layer of the electronic and electrical architecture, LYRIQ is equipped with the latest generation of VIP intelligent electronic architecture. It has ultra-high-speed network data transmission capability, vehicle-level OTA update function, aviation-level network security design, and unlimited sustainable expansion potential. It provides powerful support for subsequent software-defined cars and intelligent cars.

In terms of intelligent driving, the new car is equipped with the latest generation of Super Cruise advanced auxiliary driving system. Compared with the previous generation, this time the driver automatic lane change and instruction lane change functions are added.

Specifically, during the cruise process, if the road conditions permit, the driver can complete the lane change overtaking by turning on the turn signal. The system can also judge the road conditions and pass slower vehicles ahead on its own.

Even now, this system still has its competitiveness.

In the future, Cadillac will also update the auxiliary driving function through OTA technology to cover more application scenarios. In China, the available road sections for Super Cruise (highways and urban expressways) have exceeded 320,000 kilometers.

Summary

The first pure electric model based on GM Ultium platform, with a range of more than 650 kilometers, the industry’s first 9K resolution 33-inch panoramic retina screen, the industry’s strongest 8155 car machine chip, the new generation of Super Cruise advanced auxiliary driving technology…

From these details, you can feel that Cadillac is serious about transitioning to electric vehicles.And, both in terms of price and product, LYRIQ is quite competitive.

And this is just the beginning.

In addition to product innovation, Cadillac is also making changes to its marketing and service system.

Just today, Cadillac launched the Cadillac IQ Co-creation App and WeChat mini program. The first batch of car owners will enjoy additional benefits.

Also today, the first batch of Cadillac pure electric IQ Spaces in 5 cities and 6 stores nationwide will be simultaneously electrified and open with LYRIQ on display. By the end of this year, more Cadillac pure electric IQ Spaces will meet users.

It has to be said that Cadillac’s transformation action is really very fast.

According to official statements, LYRIQ will be delivered in mid-2022, and I am looking forward to its subsequent market performance.

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.