Lyriq confirmed! Cadillac set to challenge Europeans in luxury EV market

EV buyers in Australia and New Zealand will be the first customers who can purchase a factory built right-hand-drive Cadillac Lyriq SUV following its global reveal downunder.

“The Cadillac Lyriq, which will be available in Australia and New Zealand as a 2025 model, is a fully electric SUV that redefines modern luxury as the industry moves to electrification,” says Cadillac global vice president John Roth. 

Roth says the Cadillac Lyriq will help luxury buyers transition more confidently towards EVs.  

Plans for the right-hand drive Lyriq were revealed in Australia at an event on November 15 but pricing and specifications for the New Zealand and Australia 2025 Lyriq EV have yet to be released. 

The initial right-hand drive pre-production model on show at today’s launch event featured a Nappa-leather interior, panoramic roof, 21-inch wheels and a spectacular 33-inch 9K resolution driver and infotainment screen.

US market specifications for 2024 all-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive Cadillac Lyriq models include about 500km range from the 102kWh battery, 255kW to 375kW power, and 440Nm to 610Nm torque. New Zealand is expected to only get the latter model.

Charging speeds include 19.6kW three-phase AC and 190kW DC rapid charging.

The 2024 Lyriq is 4996mm long, 2207mm wide (with mirrors) and 1623mm high, weighs 2521kg (RWD) and 2626kg (AWD), has 1587kg towing capacity, Google built-in connected service capability, a 33-inch infotainment screen, and plenty more as standard.

The Lyriq also comes with driver support systems, connective technology, wireless Apply CarPlay and Android Auto as standard.

(pictured)Ernesto Ortiz, General Motors president and managing director of strategic markets, alliances, and distributors, Jess Bala, GM Australia and New Zealand managing director and John Roth, vice president of Global Cadillac.

GM Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala says the electric Cadillac portfolio in Australia and New Zealand will begin with the Lyriq and grow with more entries.

“Cadillac will be in a position to offer a fully electric portfolio by 2030,” Bala adds. What those vehicles will be yet we don’t entirely know, but expect it to include the electrified-version of the famous Escalade SUV and Celestiq sedan.

It’s retail efforts will focus on Sydney, Melbourne and Auckland launch markets with an exclusive EV portfolio in “Experience Centres” along with an online presence. Those centres are likely to be a retail store as opposed to a traditional dealership offering.

“Whether customers want to shop fully online or in-store, we will provide experiences that engage the senses, anticipate desires, and enable our customers to go on extraordinary journeys.”

Visit www.cadillacanz.com/register to register. 

Roth says Cadillac’s expansion to Australia and New Zealand follows launches of electric businesses in Switzerland and Sweden. 

Launched last year, the 2024 Lyriq is Cadillac’s first EV and is based on GM’s Ultium Platform which includes the Ultium battery.