Here’s Why The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq Doesn’t Have A Frunk
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Many of today’s EVs, including all Tesla models, the Jaguar I-Pace and the Mustang Mach-E, feature a front trunk, otherwise known as a “frunk.” But the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, Cadillac’s first all-electric vehicle, will not feature a front cargo area. Now, we know why that is.
Lyriq Chief Engineer, Jamie Brewer, recently explained to GM Authority that the team decided to prioritize rear cargo space over two separate cargo areas.
Thus, the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq will have a larger traditional rear storage area. In fact, according to Brewer, that enables the Lyriq to boast the “largest cargo volume in its competitive set.”
That made us wonder what, exactly, is the Lyriq’s competitive set. According to Cadillac spokesperson, Katie Minter, it consists of the Audi e-tron and Jaguar I-Pace.
“Lyriq is aimed at customers that are looking for a luxury SUV with outstanding styling, ride and handling and seamlessly integrated technology. In this instance, we’re looking at vehicles such as the Audi e-tron and Jaguar I-Pace,” Minter told GM Authority in an emailed statement.
So then, Lyriq has a maximum cargo volume of 60.8 cubic feet behind the first row seats and 28.0 cubic feet behind the second row. When compared to the Audi e-tron and the Jaguar I-Pace, the Lyriq does offer more space in the back.
| Cadillac Lyriq | Audi e-tron | Jaguar I-Pace | |
| Rear cargo volume behind second row (cu. ft.) | 28.0 | 28.5 | 25.3 |
| Rear cargo volume behind first row (cu. ft.) | 60.8 | 56.5 | 51.0 |
| Frunk cargo volume (cu. ft.) | N/A | 2.12 | 0.95 |
| Total front & rear cargo volume (cu. ft.)* | 28.0 | 30.62 | 26.25 |
* With second row seats upright
However, both the e-tron and the I-Pace feature frunks (2.12 cubic feet in the e-tron, 0.95 cubic feet in the I-Pace respectively), allowing the e-tron to have slightly more total cargo volume (combined frunk and rear cargo area).
The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq is a battery-electric luxury crossover that’s the first of several electric vehicles planned by the luxury marque during the coming years. Its overall footprint is similar to that of the Cadillac XT5, though the Lyriq has a greater length thanks to a longer wheelbase, a wider stance, and a lower overall height.
- See how the Lyriq compares to the XT4, XT5 and XT6
The 2023 Lyriq rides on the an all-new battery electric vehicle architecture otherwise known as the GM BEV3 platform. The vehicle utilizes a 100 kWh lithium-ion Ultium battery pack driving a single Ultium Drive motor mounted at the rear of the vehicle. The combination produces 340 horsepower and 324 pound-feet of torque. A high-performance all-wheel-drive option is expected in the future.
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So what is under the large front hood in the single rear motor version, just empty unusable space?
No, it sounds more like the front is completely full of unusable space.
Front electric motor is there if you look at chassis layout plus other components…maybe spare tire
At 2.12 cu ft (e-tron) and 0.95 (i-pace) of “Frunk” space, that’s not much room…enough for one bowling ball in the i-pace and two in the e-tron. Nothing for GM to lose any sleep over.
Comparing the lack of a Frunk with vehicles that have tiny Frunks makes zero sense.
How is that Jaguar selling again?
Ford is selling the Mach-E in pretty good volume. Tesla cannot build their vehicles fast enough.
If you make the decision to get an EV that means you want the best attributes of one….and that includes a Frunk.
Here’s Why The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq Doesn’t Have A Frunk.
It doesn’t need to.
Y’all literally look for things to complain about. This is getting ridiculous.
As a current EV owner (tesla model 3). The frunk is a very nice feature to have. So much so that for our future EV products, this is something we want and frankly could be a deal breaker. I really, really wanted the lyriq. Will it still be a contender for our next EV? yes but this is a big mark against it when the competition (model y, mach e, e tron) all have it.
It might seem silly until you have one. Being able to separate and organize different items is quite useful and something we do very frequently. with a hood the size of the lyriq’s, there is no reason not to. The chassis was designed as an EV from the get go so it should have been part of it.
I still think the back end of that car is really horrible. But at least that gaudy back end has a lot of storage capacity.
This sounds very GM….. What IS going on in the front of the lyric????????????????????????
It is interesting that GM could not find room for a Frunk in that long hood area, in my E-Tron and Tesla Y we use the Frunk to store the charging cable in case we need it on the road, so far we have not needed the cord on the road, but you never know when you need it.
I’m still a little confused as to the reason why no frunk in Lyriq. Because it has slightly more total cargo room than a Jaguar I-Pace but slightly less less total cargo room than an Audi e-tron… both of which have frunks? As others have asked, what occupies the space under the hood?
I’ve seen a few EVs that store windshield washer fluid reserves, maybe electrical components, etc. At this point there really is no excuse for not having a front trunk. That should be a standard feature.
Agreed, frunks have become a novelty associated with EVs. Prospective buyers are going to ask so I hope there is solid reasoning behind its absence. I actually think it would be sort of cool if EVs led to a new functional reason for long hoods, apart from frunks, for things like access points, liquids as you said, cables and tools. I’d be ok with no frunk if the hood regained some other functionality, especially related to the motors and mechanical bits.
This appears to be a case of the marketing department explaining why engineering didn’t make having a frunk an important priority.
Wouldn’t have anything to do with making the bean counters happy?
@Martin Smrek
Bingo…..Bingo…..Bingo
Perhaps there is an actual reason, given that this article doesn’t actually answer the question of what is under the hood that prevented it being made useful to the potential customer.
Maybe this car has some amazing feature that will explain what that space is needed for, and they just don’t want to reveal it yet?
If it really was a case of them just not thinking people would want a frunk, then they were horribly mistaken.
Does the Lyriq have no opening hood? It would be the first Cadillac to have that condition, although there have been many smaller gas cars without a hood. One of them is the BMW Isetta.
Surely there is a hood, or it would make it pretty hard to work on.
It’s dumb that there is no frunk, but no hood as well would really be something.
I think the Isettas had a small side access panel for the tiny engine bay but they don’t have a hood, trunk or doors on the sides or rear (see it to understand it)
I think that’s actually a provocative thought Raymond you bring up about Lyriq. Images do show seams that align with those of an opening hood. But I don’t recall seeing any shots with the hood open or that imply it does. Learning there is no frunk and in the absence of concrete info it’s sort of fun to hypothesize. Perhaps the hood is more of a semi fixed body panel, with removal intended only for body work or mechanical repairs?
No frunk – no joke. Should be there automatic.
It’s a combination of incompetent engineers and the bean counters.
The same engineers that can’t design a rhd car have no clue how to make a frunk happen.
It’s probably dead empty unused space.
The same bean counters that push for every cheap plastic component cadillacs are famous for, also want a car with as less features as possible.
It’s just gm being gm.
And please stop calling the lyriq a SUV, it’s a hatchback!
Typical GM stupid decisions badly explained resulting in confusion and more questions. Who says there is no consistency in incompetence….
OH OH!!! I get it now! Cadillac owners DONT CARE if there is a frunk or not, so we wont put one in! Another line item on the endless list of what Cadillac owners dont care about!…
Does it have a spare tire?
won’t need a spare, you can’t go that far.
Damn, you all need to get a life. The Jaguar doesn’t even have 1 cf of a drunk while the Audi has 2 cf. and it’s now the end of the world that the Lyriq doesnt have that space? Who cares! Everything in life is way more important then this trivial little decision.
Maybe the Lyriq has a better crash structure? More robust electrical structure to handle the upcoming Ultra Cruise. I mean, Audi and Jag dont even offer anything comparable to Super Cruise. But let’s whine about no Frunk.
Get a life!
Nobody said it was the end of the world. They are saying it’s a stupid engineering decision.
“Who cares about a frunk in the Lyric?”
“Who cares about adaptive cruise in the HD trucks?”
“Who cares about keyless ignition in the Colorado?”
I’m sure half the people on here are with me when I say that I grew up in a GM family and it was always like this. One stupid thing after another and you get tired of excuses and hearing people like you saying it’s no big deal.
It’s just another reason to convince people to buy cars from another company instead.
But you have no idea the engineering decision behind it. Yet you’re mocking GM for something that really is trivial.
If a Frunk is that important to you, go buy something else and stop whining about it.
Life is too short to make such an enormous dramatic statement about a frunk.
There you go again, pretending it’s not a problem when they do dumb things.
I’m not the one that thought this needed an article pretending to, but not actually explain it. And this is a pro-GM site.
Crumple zone.
The whole almost a car is “Frunky ” looking. Funeral directors will love it.
The lack of a frunk is hugely disappointing for me. We use ours in our model 3 all the time. It’s great for smaller bags or bringing food to an event, for example. It has become a bit of a requirement for us. We were considering trading the model 3 for the lyriq but the frunk is a big thing.
Frankly, there is no excuse for it. Maybe, MAYBE I could believe the rear cargo space argument if the whole cabin was stretched forward and the hood was reduced by a foot or so like the I pace is. But that hood has enough room for a v8. Easily space for a frunk. Plus, from the pictures, the rear cargo doesnt even look that amazingly impressive. It’s not bad but what you;d expect from a car this size.
I’m a huge fan of what GM’s plan is with ultium and want to put my money where my mouth is with it but come on GM. Give me a frunk! Its incredibly useful AND expected by EV buyers.
@GM Will
I totally agree with you. Once your are used to a Frunk there is no going back.
Everyone can make fun of that statement all they want until they actually have one and start utilization it.
The Beancounters won this one out unfortunately. While the Lyriq will most likely be out of my Size and price range, I hold no hope that other smaller EV Cadillac’s will have Frunks then either. It is a shame as I wanted a Cadillac sized Model 3 or Model Y….Fingers crossed.
The bean counters lose when they realize the lost sales!
won’t need a spare, you can’t go that far.
Oh My god I lost sleep over this last night. Not!