After months of teasing, Cadillac has officially announced the Lyriq-V as a 615-horsepower, high-performance electric SUV that will go on record as the luxury automaker’s “fastest” vehicle ever.
With that much horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque, Cadillac says the Lyriq-V is capable of sprinting from zero to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds – besting the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing’s acceleration by a tenth of a second. That might not sound like much, but when you consider that the CT5-V Blackwing is rated as one of the most expertly crafted American cars ever produced, AND when you realize that the CT5-V Blackwing is likely to be the last of its kind, you begin to see the importance of the Lyriq-V’s performance specs.
Of course, there is some fine print to consider. This acceleration time is measured on a closed course using the Lyriq-V’s Max Speed, which is also available on Cadillac’s upcoming EV lineup that includes the Vistiq, Optiq and Escalade IQ. And it includes a metric called “Initial Vehicle Movement,” which is when the vehicle starts moving, not when the green light turns off.
And yes, there are plenty of EVs that can accelerate to 60 mph in less than three seconds. But I don’t think Cadillac was out to break any records with the Lyriq-V. It wanted to make a car that “fits perfectly” into people’s lives, as Cadillac boss John Roth puts it.
To that end, the Lyriq-V seems to take a lot of what worked with the original Lyriq and make it more powerful. Its 102 kWh battery will help propel this V Series for about 285 miles of range. It gets about 75 miles of range in about 10 minutes when plugged into a DC fast charger or about 19 miles per hour when drinking from a 240-volt Level 2 charger. And it’ll ship with a CCS charging port, instead of the standard NACS supported by Tesla.
The Lyriq-V sits on 22-inch wheels with Brembo brake calipers. Handling is “comfortable yet lively”, with 5-link independent suspension and continuous damping control for firmer damping.
And now we come to the part where I inform you that, yes, the Lyriq-V features a “unique sound experience” that simulates an engine roar. Cadillac is the latest automaker to use exhaust sounds piped through exterior speakers to comfort car buyers who may feel a little hesitant to leave the warm bosom of the internal combustion engine.
Another unique feature is a button on the steering wheel for V-Mode, which is “a suite of traction management features designed specifically to increase vehicle agility.” And like the original Lyriq — but unlike GM’s other electric vehicles — the Lyriq-V will support phone mirroring via Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
The electric V series has been in the works for a while now. Cadillac first introduced the concept of an electrified V with the introduction of three VR Series hybrid race cars in the 2023 IMSA WeatherTech SportsCar Championship and FIA World Endurance Championship.
It then first teased an all-electric Lyriq-V in March 2024 to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the V Series’ inaugural launch at Sebring International Raceway in March 2004. That year saw the introduction of the 2004 Cadillac CTS-V, signaling the automaker’s intent to vehicles to compete with other luxury performance sub-brands such as BMW M and Mercedes AMG.
Thanks to their fast, smooth acceleration and aerodynamic shapes, electric vehicles are a great fit in the performance segment. Indeed, BMW, Mercedes and Audi all have electric cars for sale – or at least have outlined plans to sell them. Cadillac would be the latest to add its own spin on plug-in power.
Starting at $79,990 (including destination charges), the 2026 Lyriq-V is expected to begin production at GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee plant in early 2025.