Cadillac sets sights on AMG and M with Lyriq-V performance electric car

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The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V has been officially announced as the first electric model from the performance sub-brand, but details and a full reveal are still months away.

General Motors Australia has confirmed the Lyriq-V will be built in factory right-hand drive and sold in local Cadillac showrooms in 2026, soon after it launches in the United States. 

The Lyriq-V is expected to be unveiled in full in the US at the start of 2025 – possibly as soon as the Detroit Auto Show in mid-January.

"It will definitely be coming to Australia and New Zealand in a factory-built right-hand drive in 2026," said General Motors Australia managing director Jess Bala.

Bala beat her US colleagues to make the world-first announcement at a media preview of Cadillac's first 'experience centre' in Australia on Tuesday, alongside GM executives from Detroit.

"We will share more details as a brand globally on specs and exact timing early next year," added Bala.

"This is the first V-Series that we've got in for Cadillac as an EV [brand]. V-Series has a long history with the brand, but to do it on the EV platform is really exciting.

"It just marries together for us that combination of performance, luxury and innovation into this beautiful car."

GM Authorityreports the Lyriq-V will have upgraded electric motors with 410kW and 880Nm – while other rumours suggest it could retain the same 388kW/610Nm output of current dual-motor all-wheel-drive variants.

A teaser video shared by Cadillac overnight shared confirms the Lyriq-V receives Brembo brakes, different wheels, Continental PremiumContact6 tyres, a unique drive mode, an updated front bumper with a mesh-style lower grille, and a new lower rear bumper.

Based on the changes applied to internal-combustion Cadillac V-Series models, the Lyriq-V could also receive adaptive suspension and aerodynamic enhancements.

Inside, the Lyriq-V is expected to add V-Series badging and unique seat colours, with no other changes.

V-Series is the name of Cadillac's performance arm, similar to the BMW M, Mercedes-AMG and Audi Sport divisions – however it has previously focused on internal-combustion sedans and the Escalade SUV.

Customer deliveries for standard versions of the Cadillac Lyriq will commence in Australia in January 2025, with the model priced between $117,000 and $119,000 before on-road costs.

MORE: 2025 Cadillac Lyriq price and specs – More affordable than key rivals

A rival for the Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, Audi Q8 E-Tron, BMW iX, Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3, the Lyriq is offered in Australia in two all-wheel-drive variants: Luxury and Sport.

Both grades have a 388kW/610Nm total system output and a 102kWh battery pack, enabling a WLTP-rated 530-kilometre driving range.

The Lyriq is followed by the smaller Cadillac Optiq mid-size and the seven-seat Cadillac Vistiq electric SUVs in its 'IQ' electric-vehicle line-up – while the brand has also launched the Escalade IQ upper-large SUV in the US.

Cadillac Australia said it will make future product announcements at the start of 2025, with the Optiq and Vistiq likely for local showrooms as right-hand-drive production has been confirmed for these models.

Cadillac's first 'experience centre' will open to the public on Thursday 7 November 2024 at the Rosebery Engine Yards in Sydney's inner-south.

Experience centres in Melbourne and Brisbane will follow – however Cadillac is still determining final locations and opening dates for these showrooms.

MORE: Cadillac reveals first retail location as it gears up for Australia

Cadillac has promised it will be present in Melbourne in the interim – likely including new pop-up locations to follow on from its temporary activation at the Chadstone Shopping Centre in August and September.

The 'direct-to-consumer' model for the Cadillac brand is new for Australia and Europe – it has a traditional dealer franchise model in the US – and buyers can even choose to have their vehicle delivered to their door.

Cadillac says it has received more than 7500 expressions of interest for the Lyriq so far in Australia, with several customer orders placed since pricing and specification details were announced earlier this month.

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