The all-electric Cadillac Lyriq is positioned to squarely compete with EV offerings from the likes of Tesla and Audi. In an effort to drum up more public interest, a Twitter user recently captured a Cadillac sales team parked at a Tesla Supercharger station in Shanghai, China offering free test drives of the Lyriq to Tesla owners.
It comes as little surprise that some Tesla owners were a little irked by this move from Cadillac. Many comments on the post describe this stunt as a desperate act on Cadillac’s part, while others felt that it was brilliant. Some commenters also pointed out that Audi pulled the same tactic when the German-based automaker launched the e-tron quattro electric crossover.
It’s worth noting that the author of this tweet owns a Tesla, and is the founder of a Tesla owners group.
As a reminder, the SAIC-GM joint venture officially began distributing the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq in China on September 28th, 2022, when the first batch of electric crossovers left the GM Jinqiao plant in Shanghai. The first examples of the luxury crossover were RWD variants in the Luxury and Prestige trim levels. All units featured two-tone bodywork, including a black roof, in a color palette that includes Grey, White, Latte, Red Wine, Light Blue and Dark Blue.
Then, SAIC-GM launched the AWD version of the Lyriq in December 2022. Highlighted by a second Ultium Drive motor mounted on the front axle, the Chinese-spec AWD Lyriq is available in Luxury and Sport trim levels.
WTF look what’s happening Cadillac sales team are currently parked outside of Shanghai Jinqiao Supercharger.
Approaching Tesla Owners and trying to offer free test drive.
Competition is great but this is Tesla’s territory. Shameless cold calling by Cadillac. @Tesla @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/bmvoC7aVj9
— Jay in Shanghai 电动 Jay (@JayinShanghai) March 16, 2023
In regard to output, RWD variants with a single Ultium Drive motor on the rear axle develop 342 horsepower and 325 pound-feet of torque, and have a driving range of 404 miles from a single charge. Meanwhile, AWD variants produce 503 horsepower and 524 pound-feet of torque, and feature a driving range of 378 miles from a single charge.
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Comments
If you ain’t cheatin, you ain’t tryin – at least they are available in China. The surplus of ICE (tougher emission standards take effect July) and BEVs (incentives ended Q4 ’22) in China is millions of vehicles and they are all heavily discounted in a double digit contracting market. It will get uglier after Q1 figures are released. Tesla’s factory focuses the first 1.5 months for export and the remaining 1.5 months of a quarter for domestic sales. Q1 is by far the slowest for all automakers in China, but Tesla will set a sales record this quarter surpassing the previous mark in Q4 ’22.
Is it me or are Chinese citizens now getting the “latest & greatest” of gm Cadillac & Buick Tech & Engineering well before us Americans??? Since when did Queen maryb swear allegiance to the Chinese Communist Party??!!!?? My generation has literally lost their way & their minds. Shameful.