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This car has already broken all records in the USA. Just ten minutes after orders went live, the first edition of the Cadillac Lyriq from two years ago was sold out and sold out. The General Motors brand’s first electric vehicle on an entirely new platform is currently crossing the Atlantic. After a brief hiatus in Europe, Cadillac is relaunching as a pure electric luxury brand with its first model, the Lyriq. And Switzerland begins!
“Switzerland is electric-savvy and traditionally likes US cars and models in the premium segment,” says Sam van Kleef, head of network development at the newly formed General Motors (GM) Europe organization. Switzerland is a logical starting point to rebuild the brand. And there is a tradition: The group’s European headquarters have been in Zurich since 1935, that is, for 88 years. However, he experienced a lot there too.
Start over with a sense of proportion
By pressing the electric button, Cadillac is repositioning itself in Europe for the fourth time in the last fifteen years. Always new strategies, new models, new management team. And the efforts always failed: the BLS with Saab technology failed from 2006, just as later US sports sedans with fat V8 engines (too much CO2) failed.2), compact SUVs like the XT4 or XT5 (not independent enough) or the luxury glider CT6, available only for a short time (market segment too small). The Book by Cadillac subscription service, where you can switch between models weekly or monthly depending on your mood, has not passed the initial stages.
So what is Cadillac doing differently this time? “We produce fully electric cars for the times, focus on our strengths and build our business sustainably,” says technology expert Patrick Herrmann, who has worked at GM Europe for more than 25 years. First up is the 5.01 meter long crossover Lyriq, which looks more like a large station wagon than an SUV. Five seats, a huge trunk with a loading volume of 793 to 1722 liters and a very well-prepared, elegant interior are hidden inside a body that is not as eccentric as previous models.
When you try it for the first time, you will be impressed by the comfortable seats, the surprisingly intuitive operation, the nobility of the interior and the 19-speaker sound system. Is Cadillac supposed to be GM’s luxury brand and technology innovator? The interior definitely looks like this. Technically, the Lyriq is based on the new Ultium electric platform, which will underpin the new electric Hummer and Chevrolet models, among other things. Its expansion potential is huge: It can vary in length and width, can carry batteries with a capacity of 50 to 200 kilowatt hours (kWh), and can have rear or all-wheel drive but still rely on 400-volt technology.
All-wheel drive and 528 hp
Originally – typically in Switzerland – an all-wheel drive version of the Lyriq with 528 hp (388 kW) and one motor per axle. These include the battery with a net capacity of 102 kWh, which should be good for a range of around 530 kilometers; Standard measurements for exact factory specifications are still pending. This means the Lyriq accelerates to 100 km/h in 5.3 seconds and reaches a top speed of 210 km/h. There is also a rear-wheel drive car in the US with 340 hp (250 kW), but this was initially left out.
Charging is carried out using alternating current and charging power of 11 or 22 kilowatts; Only a few electric vehicles can do this, although many public charging stations are designed for this. With a maximum charging capacity of 190 kilowatts, Cadillac lags behind some of its luxury rivals when it comes to fast charging, but you can still charge 200 kilometers of electricity in 15 minutes.
Only one store, orders are placed online
Current technology, noble standards, stylish interior; So was everything the same as it used to be at Cadillac? No, because while the brand previously had its own dealer network with very modest sales figures, it is now turning to direct sales. Anyone can configure their Lyriq online in a few minutes, with prices starting from 82,000 francs, and it will probably be delivered from April next year. Cadillac’s advantages are clear: No expensive dealerships, no discount haggling, full transparency on price, and the brand can ensure customer service meets its standards.
If such an amount seems too fast for you, you can get advice from the Cadillac store: Since October, it will be offering a brand experience in a 600 square meter area on Zurich Bahnhofstrasse. “We want to offer a community experience,” says customer service manager Alexandra Smedley. This includes arts, cultural or culinary events, for example collaborations with other brands in the fashion industry, and personal support. Initially, the aim is to stick to a single point of contact for Switzerland; The brand will initially cover other regions through a promotional tour and introduce Lyriq in the field.
Cadillac is just the beginning
A yet-to-be-named partner in Switzerland will be responsible for service and tire changes; After all, there is no Cadillac garage anymore. The brand also wants to collaborate with electricity providers on charging infrastructure to enable on-the-go charging across Europe and be billed equally via the Cadillac customer card. A pick-up service where the Lyriq is picked up for servicing and returned home is still missing, but Smedley is already considering it.
So how does it continue? Of course, with other models that Cadillac doesn’t want to name yet. Maybe an electric version of the XXL SUV Escalade with 791 hp and a battery capacity of up to 200 kWh could make the jump to Europe? Switzerland will be followed by five more markets in Europe; Definitely including Sweden and France, and possibly Germany. But what is certain is that Cadillac is just the beginning: General Motors also wants to return to Europe with new electric vehicles from Chevrolet and Hummer. They already share the technical basis with Lyriq.
Source: Blick
I’m Ella Sammie, author specializing in the Technology sector. I have been writing for 24 Instatnt News since 2020, and am passionate about staying up to date with the latest developments in this ever-changing industry.
