Pre-Production Begins on the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq
Cadillac's Ultium-based battery-electric crossover, due in dealerships this year, enters pre-production as the third Ultium-powered model from GM.
Debut Editions of the Lyriq sold out in minutes after the automaker opened reservations for the limited-edition trim in September.
The Lyriq will start at $59,990 in base form, as a single-motor rear-wheel drive model, ahead of the arrival of the all-wheel-drive version in 2023.
Cadillac has begun pre-production of the Lyriq electric crossover, due to go on sale later this year as a 2023 model, opening a new chapter in the brand's electrification efforts. Based on the Ultium platform, the production version of the Lyriq has stayed quite close to the concept first shown in 2020, with GM keeping most of the futuristic exterior along with a versatile and upscale interior.
Cadillac opened reservations for the Lyriq in September promising 300 miles of range courtesy of a 100-kWh battery, with the single-motor, rear-wheel drive version offering 340 hp and 325 lb-ft of torque. All-wheel-drive versions will be on the menu as well with this version slated to arrive in early 2023, after orders open towards the end of this year.
"15 months ago we announced a $2 billion investment into Spring Hill to build fully electric vehicles," GM President Mark Reuss wrote in a post on LinkedIn. "Our teams have worked tirelessly on the LYRIQ, bringing the launch up nine months ahead of schedule and working in parallel to convert the plant and start production. This is an important proof point in our path to EV leadership as we introduce more high-volume EVs across price points and lifestyles."
The Debut Edition of the Lyriq sold out in just over 10 minutes on a single day last September, even though Cadillac did not say just how many of the pricier Debut Edition examples were offered. The regular versions of the Lyriq, on the other hand, will start at $59,990.
Overall, the model will be the first non-truck and non-van application of the Ultium battery and drivetrain, after the start of production of the BrightDrop EV600 and the GMC Hummer in late 2021. The Cadillac crossover will see plenty of competition, some of which will be from foreign automakers that have been on the market for quite some time, while other will be new to this segment.
"Our teams continue to prove that we can do remarkable things when we share a vision," GM CEO Mary Barra added in the same LinkedIn post. "Thank you to the Spring Hill and Cadillac teams for all their hard work to make this milestone possible. I can't wait for customers to experience how the Cadillac LYRIQ truly redefines expectations for luxury electric vehicles."
Curiously enough, the base price of the Lyriq will place it into competition with something a little unexpected: the Tesla Model Y, whose base price has ballooned to $60,190 just a few weeks ago. Just how much of a truly luxury offering the Model Y happens to be is a matter of perspective at this point—certainly many Tesla fans are convinced that it is—but it's worth noting that Lyriq pricing will begin pretty much where Model Y pricing begins as well.
