2023 Cadillac Lyriq Inches Closer To Production
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General Motors recently completed one of the final development phases for the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq and remains on track to begin production of the vehicle early next year.
In a statement, Cadillac said its engineers “recently completed the ’80 percent’ validation drive for the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq,” which it describes as “a critical milestone in Cadillac’s first luxury EV’s development,” that confirms all of the vehicle’s components and technologies are at or beyond 80 percent completion. With this phase behind them, engineers can now turn their attention to fine-tuning the battery-electric crossover’s chassis, powertrain and control systems.
The ’80 percent’ validation drive for the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq included a freeway, urban and rural driving scenarios designed to mimic real-world conditions. This evaluation resulted in performance enhancements for various vehicle systems in the Lyriq, including a new interior audio signature that was “developed to foster occupant comfort and confidence,” the automaker says.
In addition, the ’80 percent’ validation drive for the Cadillac Lyriq also included cold-weather tests in New Zealand in August to take advantage of the Southern Hemisphere’s winter and prevent from having to wait for colder temps to take hold in North America. This likely would have delayed the arrival of the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, which is set to enter production at the GM Spring Hill Assembly plant in the spring of 2022.
Jamie Brewer, Cadillac’s executive chief engineer, is confident the Cadillac Lyriq will impress buyers when it goes on sale next year.
“We’re now fine-tuning Lyriq’s touchpoints,” said Brewer. “We’re making tweaks to a variety of areas as we do after every development drive, but we’re nearly there. Customers will love this driving experience and, we feel that it will redefine their expectations for electric luxury vehicles.”
The Cadillac Lyriq Debut Edition will launch with a 12-module, 100.4 kWh Ultium battery pack, which will send power to a single rear-mounted Ultium Drive electric motor producing a GM estimated 340 horsepower and 324 pound-feet of torque. This setup should provide around 300 miles of driving range on a full charge.
Pricing for the Cadillac Lyriq will start at $59,990 in the U.S., as previously reported. Canadian customers, meanwhile, can expect a starting price of $69,898 CAD.
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Did “should provide around 300 mile range” replace “greater than 300 mile range”?
That will depend on the EPA rating when production begins. I bet it will be over 310 miles.
With 100 kwh it better be closer to 400.
I hope so, however, based on the Lyriq’s weight of 5,610 lbs compared to the 2021 Mustang Mach-E California Route 1 weight of 4,727 lbs which has an 88kW (98.7kW gross) usable battery and range of 305 EPA miles, I would roughly guess the Lyriq’s range will be around 310 miles if it’s rated 100.4kW battery is the usable figure not the gross. The Lyriq is 883 lbs heavier than the Mustang Mach-E, so if that 100.4kW battery in the Lyriq is not the usable figure then it will be less than 305 miles of range due the 883 lbs more weight. My guess is that 100.4kW is the gross figure and the usable figure will be around 92kW which should get it just barely to 300 miles. We’ll have to wait and see if the usable capacity is 100.4kW or something less.
Two things that should help is that GM’s battery and motor tech is way ahead of what Ford is using. But, it should be good compared to the current competition for a “base” model.
Don’t they have to produce the cars first?
The one thing that I saw on the original Concept Vehicle which was a deal breaker for me: the Gawd-Awful entire left front fender having a motorized opening to reveal the charge port….. I was thinking GM never learned their lesson from the electric Solenoid opener of the 2011, and 2012 volts, that had to be recalled, and fixed repeatedly under warranty…. All future GM plug-ins had a simple spring door, such as a gas cap cover.
The latest version curiously only partially seen in this article shows a somewhat ugly, much smaller door for the Charge port, but its a step in the right direction since at least it will be operable during February Ice Storms here.
I just wonder how much other wasted engineering goes into all these wet-dreams when the plain old designs are beautiful, functional, and don’t force future mandatory recalls and warranty work?
Looking forward to viewing the Celestiq and Lyriq first-hand.