Cadillac has unveiled a new entry-level compact electric SUV. The Optiq will sit below the Lyriq in Cadillac’s lineup, and images the automaker shared suggest it will also borrow styling from the more expensive SUV. You might have to wait a bit before buying one, though, as Cadillac says we won’t hear more about the Optiq (including its full specs) until 2024.
The Optiq will continue Cadillac’s naming convention of ending the names of its electric vehicles with some form of “IQ.” In addition to the Lyriq, other examples include the Escalade IQ and the Celestiq.
Although Cadillac hasn’t explicitly stated it, the Optiq will likely use GM’s Ultium battery platform. Road and driver speculate that since Cadillac’s SUV is similar in size to the Chevy Equinox EV, it could have similar specifications. The Equinox has a 210-horsepower electric motor for the front wheels and an optional 290-horsepower dual-motor all-wheel drive setup with a range that will likely top out at around 300 miles for maximum configurations.
Autoblog grades details we already know about him version of the Optiq made for China, thanks to photographs and information shared through the country’s Ministry of Industry and Information technology (MIIT)’s pre-market vehicle approval process. That model supposedly measures 189.8 inches long, 75.3 inches wide, and 64.6 inches tall. That would make it about 2.5 inches narrower and seven inches shorter (in length) than the Lyriq. The Chinese model is listed with a weight of 4,850 pounds and a top speed of 112 mph. It has two front-wheel drive configurations, including a 201-horsepower engine and a 241-horsepower engine.
Cadillacs full press release It was brief and straight to the point. “Today, Cadillac has confirmed the fourth vehicle to join its growing global electric vehicle portfolio: OPTIQ,” the announcement reads. “OPTIQ will act as the entry point for Cadillac’s line of electric vehicles in North America, slotting beneath LYRIQ, a compact luxury SUV. OPTIQ’s spirited driving dynamics are designed to appeal to luxury customers around the world. Additional details, as well as available features and pricing, will be released next year.”
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cadillacs-midrange-optiq-electric-suv-takes-cues-from-the-high-end-lyriq-183414934.html?src=rss
