2023 Cadillac Lyriq comes with a 100 kWh estimated useable energy Ultium battery and rear-wheel Ultium Drive unit and an Illuminated Black Crystal Shield, front Cadillac Emblem, and exterior door handle. The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq has been designed from the ground up and will ride on General Motors’ new scalable battery architecture; the company claims a low center of gravity and a spacious cabin as benefits of the dedicated EV architecture. The Lyriq should be on sale sometime in early 2022 as a 2023 model
EV MOTOR AND IMPLEMENTATION
The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq will come standard in rear-wheel-drive form with an electric motor on the rear axle; all-wheel drive will be optional and adds a second motor at the front to drive those wheels. Cadillac has been mum on details about the Lyriq’s all-wheel-drive powertrain so far, so we don’t know how much horsepower it will make; the rear-wheel-drive model is said to produce 340 horsepower. Either way, acceleration is sure to be brisk, at least at lower speeds, thanks to the immediate nature of an electric motor’s power delivery. The I-Pace, for example, leaped to 60 mph in just 4.3 seconds during our testing; we expect the Lyriq to provide similar performance.
ENERGY AND REAL-WORLD MPG
So far there’s been no word from the EPA on the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq‘s estimated fuel economy (as expressed in MPGe), but we expect that to become available closer to the SUV’s on-sale date. We’ll also have the opportunity to put the Lyriq through our 200-mile highway fuel-economy test in the future, and when we do we’ll update this story with results. For more information about Lyriq’s fuel economy, visit the EPA’s website.
INTERIOR, CONVENIENCE, AND BOOTH
Although the concept vehicle was shown with just four seats and a center console that divides the two front and two rear seats, with a touchscreen for the rear seat passengers, the production vehicle has adopted a more traditional rear bench seat. Cadillac says using the dedicated EV architecture allows for a more airy and open cabin with plenty of space for passengers to get comfortable. More advanced noise cancellation technology is said to reduce road noise inside the cabin. The interior appears to be spacious but we’ll reserve judgment until we get a chance to take a 2023 Cadillac Lyriq for a test drive.
IN-VEHICLE INFOTAINMENT AND INTERCONNECTIONS
The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq‘s dashboard, like the new 2021 Escalade’s, is dominated by a giant, 33.0-inch curved advanced LED display that serves as both the SUV’s infotainment system and the driver’s gauge display. In the Escalade, the infotainment system can be controlled by a click wheel on the center console, a boon for drivers who aren’t fond of touchscreens. Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a Wi-Fi hotspot are all expected to be standard features when the Lyriq rolls into Cadillac showrooms. A 19-speaker stereo system from the high-end audio experts at AKG will be offered.
PROTECTION ND DRIVER-ASSISTANCE ASPECTS
We are expecting Cadillac to endow it with many driver-assistance features, though, and Cadillac says the brand’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving technology will be offered as well. For more information about Lyriq’s crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites.
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