RUMOURS that Cadillac’s all-electric Optiq medium SUV and Vistiq upper large SUV will be produced in right-hand drive for the Australasian market have proved true, bookending the US luxury brand’s range beside the already-on-sale Lyriq when they arrive Down Under next year.
Other than confirmation of a 2026 arrival, timing and specifications remain up in the air, with General Motors executives only indicating that they will launch around the same time as local deliveries of the high-performance Lyriq V flagship commence – without saying when that will happen either.
Cadillac, which said in October that the Lyriq would arrive in Australia before the end of 2024 but has yet to deliver a single customer car, could be experiencing regulatory hurdles.
Speaking with Australasian media during a videoconference in which Cadillac global vice president John Roth announced the Optiq medium SUV and Vistiq upper large SUV for these markets, General Motors Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala said initial Lyriq deliveries were yet to commence – although she said the company was “very, very close to getting certification”.
“Based on the conversations we’ve had with the relevant government bodies, that should be in the next couple of weeks,” she said.
Red tape also appears to be keeping the gargantuan Escalade IQ off the table for now, as much as local GM leadership would like to import Cadillac’s biggest and brashest SUV.
Though standard specifications do not align between markets, Australian pricing for the Lyriq large SUV starts from $117,000 for the Luxury, or around 21 per cent higher than the US market equivalent at current exchange rates.
Applying similar calculations to the mid-sized Optiq puts its likely range-opener at the $101,000 mark, or $14,000 less than the similar-sized Audi Q6 e-tron, while also undercutting the Lexus RZ 450e (from $121,059 +ORC), and Genesis GV70 Electrified ($125,858 +ORC), but pricier than the rear-drive-only BMW iX3 (from $91,000 +ORC).
However, to provide greater differentiation between Cadillac’s entry-level Optiq and the Lyriq, the brand may well aim for sub-$100K positioning when the Optiq arrives Down Under.
Ms Bala would not be drawn on pricing other than suggesting that “you can assume that it will be lower priced than the Lyriq”.
Stateside, the three-row Vistiq starts from $US77,395 ($A122,115) or accounting for the 21 per cent Australia premium applied to the Lyriq, it is more likely to be in the region of $A148,000 – well below the Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV that opens from $195,900 before on-road costs but looking rich against the Volvo EX90 that starts at $124,990 +ORC and Kia’s EV9 GT-Line flagship (from $121,000 +ORC).
Cadillac’s US website says the Optiq has 150kW DC fast charging capability, an 11.5kW standard AC charging option (19.2kW optional), a 224kW/480Nm dual motor all-wheel drive powertrain, estimated 486km battery range, a maximum cargo space of approximately 736 litres of boot space or 1614 litres with the rear seats folded.
Towing capacity is quoted at just 680kg.
The Optiq’s length is 4826mm, wheelbase is 2946mm, width (including mirrors) is 2134mm, height is 1651mm and ground clearance is 152mm. Considering its price proximity in the US, the Lyriq represents a fair bit of extra metal for the money, being 132mm taller, 170mm longer and 73mm wider than the Optiq with a 153mm wheelbase advantage.
At 5222mm long, 2203mm wide and 1804mm tall with a 3094mm wheelbase, the VIstiq is bigger in every direction than a Mercedes EQS SUV with the German car’s only trump card being a 116mm-longer wheelbase.
The Vistiq’s braked towing capacity is 2268kg according to Cadillac’s US website, with boot space ranging from 430 litres with all seats in use to 1218 litres with the third row folded and 2271 litres with only the front seats deployed.
Mr Roth commented that the Vistiq had been dubbed a “baby Escalade”, the all-electric IQ variant of Cadillac’s flagship SUV being a mammoth 5697mm long (with 3459mm wheelbase), 2390mm wide and 1933mm tall.
Asked if the Escalade IQ was on the cards for Australasia, Ms Bala said it was on the wish list but “not currently part of the plan”.
“There are some challenges with that particular vehicle, specifically that we would need to work through here,” she explained.
Mr Roth added that the holdup was related to “technical certifications and other aspects of the vehicle”.
“But we are working very closely with the team in the US to see what is possible,” said Ms Bala.
“I would love to have that vehicle here. It’s one of my personal favourites. So, we’re going to keep pushing on that one.”
On the US market, the Optiq Sport features exterior Obsidian Chrome detailing with gloss black finishes, a Sport-specific grille and 20-inch alloy wheels in Dark Android finish while the slightly less expensive Luxury is identified by its exterior Galvano Chrome detailing with gloss black finishes, a Luxury-specific grille and 20-inch alloys in Pearl Nickel.
Standard Optiq Sport equipment across the pond includes hands-free driver assistance technology with a three-year OnStar Super Cruise subscription, although this semi-autonomous system will not ship in Australia.
Ms Bala described Super Cruise as “something that’s not regulated here yet”.
“It’s not something that we can have on the road, but I know there are conversations going on in the background to try and speed up approvals of those regulations to allow us to bring it to market.
“It won’t be that available at launch, but know that we are working in the background, along with many other brands, to bring those sort of technologies to market.”
Other Optiq Sport equipment highlights include a 19-speaker AKG audio system with Dolby Atmos, vehicle-to-home compatibility, a 33.0-inch LED display with Google built-in, heated front seats with eight-way power driver and six-way power passenger adjustment, wireless phone charging, a panoramic glass roof
Four Vistiq variants are available in the US, even the least-expensive Luxury trim level being lavishly equipped with a three-year Super Cruise subscription, five-zone climate control, curved 33.0-inch display with Google built-in, 23-speaker AKG audio system with Dolby Atmos, heated, ventilated, massaging front seats with 18-way power adjustment and driver’s side memory, heated second-row outboard seats, a pair of 8.0-inch rear-seat infotainment screens, panoramic dual-pane sunroof with power sunshade and a third-row fixed glass roof, and 126-colour LED tri-zone ambient interior lighting.
The Vistiq’s standard dual motor AWD system develops 459kW/881Nm, a 483km battery range and 190kW DC fast charging said to add 127km of range in 10 minutes while standard AC charging is rated at up to 11.5kW.
Ms Bala said Cadillac had received 9000 expressions of interest for the Lyriq since it was announced but declined to comment on how many have so far converted into orders.
