General Motors (GM), recently, unveiled the Cadillac Lyriq, which is a dynamic, modern and fully electric luxury crossover car. Lyriq is the first in an upcoming portfolio of battery-electric luxury vehicles from Cadillac.
In 2019, Cadillac had announced that it would spearhead GM’s shift to an all-electric future. So Lyriq is a giant leap in GM’s next-generation battery-electric architecture.
Courtesy: Cadillac
The car is based on GM’s next-generation, modular electric vehicle platform and is equipped with the Ultium propulsion system, enabling great performance.
“Lyriq was conceived to make every journey exhilarating and leverages more than a century of innovation to drive the brand into a new era, while rewarding passengers with a more personal, connected and immersive experience,” Jamie Brewer, Cadillac Lyriq Chief Engineer, said in a press statement.
It comes with a dedicated EV architecture and so it eliminates significant physical constraints associated with adapting electric propulsion within conventional vehicle architecture.
Courtesy: Cadillac
The Ultium battery system is integrated in a way that contributes to ride, handling and safety. The lower centre of gravity and the 50/50 weight distribution enabled due to the placement of the battery pack, has resulted in a vehicle that’s sporty.
Courtesy: Cadillac
Primarily, it functions by the rear wheels, but also has an option of ‘all-wheel-drive’. The car’s system channels more torque to the pavement without wheelspin, for exhilarating acceleration and greater cornering capability.
Ultium’s state-of-the-art NCMA (nickel-cobalt-manganese-aluminium) chemistry uses aluminium in the cathode. This helps reduce the need for rare-earth materials such as cobalt.
Courtesy: Cadillac
In the interiors, there’s a massive diagonal 33-inch curved LED screen and on the exteriors, there’s a distinctive black crystal grille in the front.
Courtesy: Cadillac
Upon approach, the car recognises the driver and initiates a ‘greeting’ with a choreographed lighting sequence, prepares the cabin for the journey, which includes seat, mirror and climate system adjustments.
Courtesy: Cadillac
Once the driver is seated inside, the car offers driver information, infotainment and connectivity integration.
Lyriq is scheduled to go into production in the U.S. in late 2022. GM plans to launch 20 similar electric vehicles in this decade.
