The Lyriq holds immense significance for Cadillac as the brand’s inaugural foray into all-electric vehicles and General Motors’ first vehicle underpinned by the BEV3 platform. It also marks Cadillac’s return to the European market, following GM’s sale of its European business to Groupe PSA, now Stellantis, in 2017.
In October 2023, Cadillac announced plans to launch the Lyriq in Europe, commencing in Switzerland, with expansion to five additional markets by 2025, including Sweden and France. Following a direct-to-consumer model akin to Tesla’s approach, Cadillac aims to make the Lyriq available for online purchase in these regions.
While specific details regarding specifications and pricing were not disclosed by Jaclyn McQuaid, General Motors Europe’s CEO and president, pricing in Switzerland starts at 82,000 francs, with deliveries estimated for May to June 2024 for current orders.
This pricing disparity, with the European variant notably pricier than its North American counterpart, starting at $58,590 for the 2024 model year, is attributed to different specifications.
The European Lyriq features a default dual-motor setup, producing 388 kW and 610 Nm (equivalent to 520 horsepower and 450 pound-feet of torque), enabling acceleration from 0 to 100 kilometers per hour in 5.3 seconds and offering up to 530 kilometers of range in WLTP’s combined test cycle.
Moreover, it comes with an extensive warranty, advanced features like an AKG audio system, and wireless charging, but faces pricing competition from vehicles like the Tesla Model Y Dual Motor Long Range.