General Motors has filed a trademark application in Australia for Cadillac lyriqits flagship brand’s first electric vehicle.
There are two separate filings for nameplates, both with a filing date of November 14, 2022.
A spokesman for GM Specialty Vehicle, which imports and distributes GM vehicles in Australia and New Zealand, said: “The Cadillac Lyriq name and logo has recently been trademarked, which has sparked a lot of speculation.
“Normally GM will secure major global brands. GM has registered several trademarks to protect them from unauthorized use.
“Given the strong interest, it’s not uncommon for some subscriptions to generate excitement.
“But we don’t make any announcements about Cadillac and our focus is on Chevrolet Silverado and Chevrolet Corvette.”
GM does not currently have any other local trademark filings for Cadillac products. For example, searching on IP Australia doesn’t show any listings for Escalade, for example. Nor are there any listings for other GM vehicles using the automaker’s Ultium electric platform.
The last time Cadillac officially sold cars in Australia was in 1969, but 40 years later the company is very close to returning to the local market with the second-generation CTS.
It officially announced the launch of the luxury sedan in 2007 and has already obtained local certification for its sale, with many registered dealers bearing the brand to be sold alongside the Hummer and Saab models.
GM even imported several dozen CTS sedans, only to divert them when the company canceled plans to sell the brand in January 2009 just weeks before they went on sale.
Since then, Cadillac has not produced any other right-hand drive vehicles and has continued to reduce its presence outside of markets such as North America, China and the Middle East. For example, it sells only one vehicle in Europe, the XT4 compact crossover.
But GM has now confirmed that it intends to be a “significant player”. in the European market again, after selling the Opel and Vauxhall brands in 2017.
Former GM Europe head, Mahmoud Samara, said in July “we feel very confident that we will be a key player” though without citing any proposed goals or models. He was later replaced by Jaclyn McQuaid.
The top-level change doesn’t appear to have changed GM’s plans for Europe, with the company noting that when Ms McQuaid appoints GM Europe will become “a non-traditional mobility start-up. system, flexibility, with the core of the electric vehicle portfolio”. .
“Chevrolet is a global brand, Cadillac is a global brand, Hummer is a global brand, so we have global brands fit for purpose,” Mr. Samara said in July.
“The great thing about transitioning to electric vehicles is the flexibility we can offer with those platforms. It will be fit for purpose in Europe.”
That doesn’t necessarily confirm right-drive GM car sales will continue, as GM has sold left-wheel drive US imports in the UK before.
Mr. Samara noted that GM Europe will operate as a rapid-fire start-up, now defunct Opel/Vauxhall to act as an anchor.
That suggests it can operate a predominantly online retail model, as it does with Tesla, Polestar and Genesis.
The Lyriq is available with a choice of single-engine rear-wheel drive and dual-motor four-wheel drive, both of which are paired with a 102kWh lithium-ion battery.
In North America, the US-made rear-wheel drive model has 255kW and 440Nm of torque, and its all-wheel drive model has 373kW and 610Nm.
Specifications are slightly different in the Chinese market, where the Lyriq is also manufactured.
The rear-wheel drive version has a range of 502 km under the more stringent US EPA test cycle.
The luxury SUV supports DC fast charging up to 190kW, which can add about 122km of range in just 10 minutes. Cadillac will also offer buyers a 19.2 kW home charger that can travel an additional 84 kilometers per hour.
The Lyriq measures 4996mm long, 2207mm wide (including mirrors) and 1623mm tall on a 3094mm wheelbase.
That makes it the same size as a Electronic Audi or bmw ix. It starts at $62,990 (AU$92,891), thousands of dollars less than those competitors, and in line with Performance Tesla Model Y.
The Lyriq will be the first of many Cadillac EVs, with the company confirming three electric SUVs and revealing an ultra-luxury version Celestiq top this year. A pair of more affordable electric vehicles is also understood to be in the works.
