2024 Cadillac Lyriq AWD Offers New Velocity Powertrain Upgrade
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A new speed and performance boost is now available for the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq AWD in the form of the Velocity powertrain upgrade.
The Velocity upgrade is priced at $1,200 and is delivered as an over-the-air update to the vehicle’s software system, digitally enhancing the 2024 Cadillac Lyriq powertrain to deliver more torque, providing extra speed and responsiveness.
Velocity Mode replaces Sport Mode in the menu of the purchaser’s Cadillac Lyriq AWD once the one-time purchase has been made and installed. The Velocity upgrade boosts torque by 74 pound-feet, raising the peak rating from 450 pound-feet to 524 pound-feet, which matches the torque output of the Chinese-spec Lyriq AWD.
The extra torque gives the upgraded 2024 Cadillac Lyriq additional speed and acceleration, giving it performance feel. GM asserts that the zero to 60 mph time improves from the standard AWD variant’s 4.7 seconds to 4.4, trimming 0.3 seconds off the acceleration time. GM says the boost can be felt and potentially provides a more fun, exciting driving experience.
Cadillac‘s update to the Cadillac Lyriq manual notes that Velocity Mode should be used “where road conditions or personal preference demand a more controlled response.” Most settings are the same as the replaced Sport Mode, but the EV gains “additional propulsion torque to improve acceleration on dry pavement.”
Installation of the Velocity upgrade once the Cadillac Lyriq owner has purchased it comes as an automatic over-the-air upgrade. To activate the feature, the purchaser clicks on the Drive Modes app in the Lyriq’s central display and selects Velocity, after which the software upgrade finishes and Velocity Mode becomes available.
Ironically, the upgraded Cadillac Lyriq will continue to wear the 600E4 badge given to the North American Lyriq AWD, with the 600E4 designation indicating 610 Newton-meters (Nm) of AWD torque (450 pound-feet). Meanwhile, the China variant of the Cadillac Lyriq AWD gets a 700E4 badge thanks to its standard 710 Nm of torque output – though the Velocity upgrade raises the North American Lyriq AWD’s torque to the same 710 Nm or 524 foot-pounds.
Currently, it’s unclear if the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq AWD will also get the Velocity upgrade, though we’re expecting it to eventually.
As a reminder, the Cadillac Lyriq uses the GM BEV3 platform for structure and is propelled by GM Ultium Drive motors. For North American markets, production of the 2024 model began back on March 17th, 2023 and is taking place at the GM Spring Hill plant in Tennessee.
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Not sure why it was so low in the first place considering the Blazer stats.
It was designed to feel like a traditional luxury V-8. In a traditional luxury car your drivetrain is designed to progressive acceleration.
In other words, if acceleration could be distilled into absolute numerical ratings of 1-5, where 1 is the least acceleration and 5 is max acceleration, then accelerations climbs to 5 in a progressive where the driver has more acceleration on hand.
This is the way of traditional or ultra luxury cars. There is, in most situations, more acceleration to be had. Because it’s great to talk about 0-60 times at the drag strip, but in real life situations you will want more acceleration than what you just asked for.
Example: you just accelerated on an on-ramp but find yourself behind a slow driver, so you try to pass, you are going to need more acceleration than just asked for. A well-sorted torque curve will allow you to get that extra acceleration.
But electric cars are different in that instead of going 1..2…3…4…5, you go 5-2-1. At least by nature, electric motors give you all the torque straight off the line. For performance oriented driving that can be boat loads of fun. The more torque that is available down low the quicker your 0-60 acceleration.
So, this is how sports cars are engineered as well, but you don’t get instant torque on sports cars powered by gas, but you also can continue accelerating beyond 60 too, although perhaps not as linear as in a traditional luxury car with a luxury tuned engine.
In any case, the default in an electric car is instant torque and eye-watering acceleration, but the ability to accelerate further is lost to some extent. Programming the Lyriq to give you a more progressive feel to acceleration to match traditional luxury vehicles with a luxury tuned V-8, for example, is the tougher engineering trick than endowing the Blazer with instant torque forms of acceleration.
I’ve seen a few astute reviewers recognize that the Lyriq’s power delivery was clearly designed to give you V-8 like performance. I knew this was the case the minute the specs. The RWD variant gives you 340hp and 325ft-lb of torque. That torque figure was a big clue.
With an electric motor you can pretty much get any torque figure you want, just program it into the system, and boom — you get it. The old Chevy Spark EV had more torque than the RWD Lyriq. So, why so “little” torque? especially in comparison to the horsepower figure?
Those specs are a dead ringer for a decent sized normally aspirated V-8. That was the tip-off to me that Cadillacs engineers were up to something different than the usual electric car feel. Because while 0-60 in 2.2 seconds might be fun, exhilarating, eye-watering…it’s not comfortable, and luxury is supposed to be comfortable.
Of course, Cadillac will not abandon the high performance sector. There will be a Lyriq-V. That’s when Cadillac will just let the electric motor act like an electric motor. It seems like this Velocity Max package is meant to whet your appetite for the eventual Lyriq V.
So Rhian, will this upgrade transfer when the car is sold?
This provides a great perspective on the Subscription charges GM has been suggesting. Here’s a one time subscription charge that provides a boost in performance.
Yes it will transfer, it’s part of the vehicle and not linked to your GM account.
Yes, I completely agree with that theory.
However, Tesla has proven with their FSD purchase that theory is not accurate.
Mercedes is offering a very similar power upgrade to their EVs. It would be great to know if such an upgrade really does transfer to future buyers.
It’s in the FAQ for the Velocity Mode that GMA did not link to.
“What Happens if I sell my vehicle or return my lease after purchasing Velocity?
– The upgrade will remain enabled on the vehicle when it is transferred to a new owner.”
Knowing GM it will reset and they will try to resell the same upgrade. Kudos for including the hardware out the gate. Now one has to wonder what other hardware is alreadyin the car for future feature upgrades. And maybe they all have it regardless to trim one buys just to have common parts and cost savings in the hardware build.
It says on the OnStar site that Velocity mode will be available on 2023 models in the future. https://www.onstar.com/support/faq/velocity-mode
WOW, ok, AWD delivery didn’t even started that long ago (maybe like 2 months ago?) GM already cannot wait to cash in, post purchase payment.
This is better than printing money.
It is a performance flashing right?
Absolutely seeing flying cash in the air at GM HQ. Bravo.
AWD deliveries started around May but it was a slow rollout, now there are many many many AWD Lyriqs; 1000s of AWD 2024 Lyriqs out there now… GM bumped production of them.
It’s an OTA Flash with a new performance calibration that stays with the vehicle to multiple owners.
Needing to pay more to unlock what your car can already do rubs me the wrong way. They can do what they want with luxury cars, but I hope they don’t put this on the lower-end vehicles where you’re stuck on a 110hp & lb-ft torque motor and they’re charging you more to unlock the last 20.
STILL haven’t seen any info on towing capacities for the Blazer or Equinox……is GM ashamed of these ratings…..
Max is 1500lb on blazer ev. No towing on SS.
It was published on the leaked blazer user manual.
Equinox us 1500 unless they make a last minute modification. Much lighter than Lyriq
So GM is taking a play from the Tesla play book. Some questions. Will the feature remain once the dealer gets their hands on it for maintenance? And I will rely on my quick foot to beat JOEY over there by 0.3 seconds response time! and save my $1200 bucks! For those worried about upgrade labels, make your own! LOL
And ya have to wonder what other hardware is in all the cars that can be activated in the future for cash and probably because it was easier to make common sets of parts to reduce costs.
I don’t think acceleration has ever been the problem with the Lyriq…the problem is RANGE…300 miles is just not enough, especially when you consider the price.
Gets up to 330 Miles in 70 MPH range test.
Don’t think any EV owner will drive 300 miles a day and most will charge at home every or every other day unless you road trip it often where you have to worry for a DC fast charger.
1. What does the upgrade do to range?
2. What does it do to horsepower?
3. What does it do for towing capacity?
4. Yes, I feel like my toes have been stepped on. They could have just charged another $1200 to everyone up front, been able to advertise the higher power numbers and no one would be complaining. Just another GM case study in poor marketing and customer relations.
On the other hand, this way only those who want the extra power (myself included) have to pay for it.
It’s also $1200 that isn’t in the sticker price, helping a well-equipped Sport 3 or Luxury 3 stay under the limit for the $7500 tax credit.
5. Is there any mod on an ICE car that would get you 74 lb ft of torque for a measly $1200? Other than maybe a chip/CPU flash, I don’t think so. I don’t even have to get my hands dirty to do it and it doesn’t void the warranty.
GM is doing this with the three power options for the V4 engine in the Colorado and Canyon.
When you pay for this MONEY GRAB, YES ITS A MONEY GRAB BECAUSE IT DOES NOT COST GM ONE CENT TO DO THIS IT’S NOT LIKE CHANGING A CAMSHAFT. you will now have less range on an already low-range EV because you will use up more volts. This almost seems illegal because it gives you more power to use what’s already part of what you paid for. How about an over-the-air update that adds more bass to the radio for $150? OOPS, sorry, everyone I just gave them an idea.
GM has different calibrations for different markets, GM calibrated the US AWD for range and smooth ride. This OTA gives a refined and limited powerband from the Chinese Lyriq for an added price.
Neither GM nor any other auto maker invented this idea. 35 years ago the computer industry offered multiple “models” of a mainframe computer which were the identical in hardware content but were priced dramatically differently based on their processing speed or other performance criteria. There was no such thing as over the air changes back then, but it you wanted to change your model 50 to a model 60, the manufacturer would send out a technician who would open the cabinet, throw a few switches and presto, the computer became a different model with higher performance. It was legal then and its legal now (even if it feels, somehow wrong). I think if you pay the $1200, GM should send you or your dealer a new emblem to adorn the tail of your vehicle so that the world knows you have a higher performance vehicle.
I would just like to know when will the 2024 Lyriq Luxury 2 awd be be available to purchase??? I ordered one in Dec of 2022 and have yet to even receive an update as to when I’ll be receiving it or if it’s even in production.
It’s being produced, many are waiting on shipping.
Check with your dealer on their “allocation” status. You should have received an email from GM (around mid-2023) with your “order number”. Your dealer may have provided you with a link to select the options you want (a few months ago)…