Now without side markers and with first prize
As expected, Cadillac, the flagship of General Motors’ brand range, is using the arrival of the electric Cadillac Lyriq to revive its European career. The Lyriq has now been presented in the first European country and that of course also includes European specifications.
The Cadillac Lyriq was introduced in 2021 as the first fully electric Cadillac. The first of many, if we can believe the brand, because the once illustrious American luxury brand is planning to unleash a true EV offensive.
The Lyriq also seems to be kicking off in Europe. Cadillac has revived its European media site and shows the first images of a Lyriq to European specifications. Don’t expect too much news from this: the ‘side markers’, which are not mandatory in Europe, have been removed from the front wheel arch edges and of course there are European license plates. Not visible in the photos, but undoubtedly present, are the orange rear direction indicators, which replace the red American ones here.
Although the German plates suggest otherwise, the first European country where the reborn Cadillac arrives is not in the EU. This concerns Switzerland, where fortunately the relevant Cadillac representatives have been kind enough to translate the website into English for the occasion. For example, we learn that the Lyriq in Switzerland is currently only available as a four-wheel drive in the Alpine country. The first ‘European’ Cadillac Lyriq has two electric motors that together generate a power of 528 hp and 610 Nm of torque. That should be enough for a 0 to 100 time of 5.3 seconds.
Also nice: external measurements in millimeters and centimeters that we can understand, instead of the seemingly random body parts and grains used in the US. The Lyriq appears to be 5,005 millimeters long and 1,623 mm high. The width is a bit more complicated, because Cadillac only gives a value with mirrors: 2,207 mm. The wheelbase is simply enormous at 3,094 mm. For comparison: a BMW iX is 4,953 mm long and 1,695 mm high, and has a wheelbase of exactly 3 meters. The two seem to be comparable, although the Lyriq is slightly larger according to typical American use. This also results in a healthy amount of space: Cadillac promises no less than 793 liters behind the rear seat and 1,722 liters with the bench flat. This surpasses the BMW iX, which suggests that the American also offers a lot of space on the back seat.
A battery with a net capacity of no less than 102 kWh is standard in the Swiss Lyriq and, according to GM, provides a range of about 530 kilometers. If we take that BMW iX again, we notice that the car as ’50’ has a net 105 kWh on board and can therefore travel 630 km. In terms of fast charging, the two are evenly matched: 200 kW for the BMW, 190 for the Cadillac. The Lyriq also has a three-phase charger on board, so that 11 kW can be charged on the driveway.
Brace yourself for the upcoming motor vehicle tax for EVs, because the Cadillac Lyriq has a curb weight of no less than 2,774 kg. The towbar can also carry a very impressive weight: 1,587 kg.
Cadillac City in Zurich
Cadillac Lyriq Price
In Switzerland, the Lyriq is available in two versions with the above specifications: Luxury and Sport. The latter apparently distinguishes itself mainly in terms of appearance, because extensive standard equipment is present in both cases. There seems to be no price difference and there are hardly any options. The Cadillac Lyriq is available in Switzerland for 82,000 francs, equivalent to €85,139.
Swiss interested parties can view the Lyriq in ‘Cadillac City’, an apparently beautiful establishment in Zurich. Ordering is done according to the latest fashion online and deliveries should start in early 2024. In addition to the Zurich branch, Cadillac is launching ‘Cadillac-to-you’, C2U for short, which consists of a number of mobile showrooms that are located in certain locations for a short period of time and thus travel across the country.
Nothing is currently known about Cadillac coming to the Netherlands, although we will of course do our best to learn more about it. Cadillac was formally present in the Netherlands for a long time and even has a Dutch website on which the XT4 is promoted, but in practice the brand has been absent for years. In the first decade of this century we witnessed a small revival of Cadillac in Europe, which at the time still sold several hundred cars per year, including the CTS.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl