On Monday, General Motors announced an update on the development of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV, which is scheduled to begin production in the first quarter of 2022.
GM’s press release says that Cadillac engineers have completed 80% of the validation process, meaning they can now begin to refine the Lyriq before production begins.
According to GM, the Lyriq is in an accelerated development program relative to conventional new-vehicle launches. The Lyriq launch has been pulled forward by nine months.
2023 Cadillac Lyriq test
GM believes it will still deliver Lyriq before its original due date thanks to virtual development work and some creative planning. For example, cold weather testing was conducted in New Zealand in August, during the Southern Hemisphere winter, instead of waiting for winter to begin in North America.
Like GM’s other upcoming electric SUVs and pickups, the Lyriq is built on GM . Ultium Battery and Engine System. Lyriq’s platform will allow for an ideal 50/50 front/rear weight distribution, according to GM. It will also feature independent front and rear suspension with standard frequency-dependent dampers that can distinguish between smaller impacts and larger bumps on the road surface for a smoother ride and more precise handling, GM claims.
Prices start at $59,990, but GM did not detail trim levels and options. The Lyriq will launch as a Debut Edition, with a 100.4 kWh battery pack and rear-wheel drive. GM is targeting up to 300 miles in the EPA-rated range, plus 340 horsepower and 324 pound-feet of torque.
Pre-orders for the Debut Edition are full, and pre-orders for additional Lyriq variants will begin next summer, GM said.
GM had previously confirmed the Lyriq would be built in Spring Hill, Tennessee, the original plant that made the Saturn vehicles. In its latest announcement, GM noted that the Lyriq will be produced alongside other Cadillac SUV models.
Lyriq is part of plans to make Cadillac all-electric by the end of the decade — though Not all Cadillac dealers are sold about that plan when it was first announced last year.
