The full feature set for the upcoming 2023 Cadillac Lyriq EV has been finalized. The luxury, electric vehicle will begin shipping in a few weeks, which means details surrounding it are becoming less sparse. As expected of a modern Cadillac vehicle, and a serious competitor in the EV space, the Lyriq doesn't skimp on excess.
The 2023 Lyriq is a line in the sand; a turning point for a manufacturer known for luxurious vehicles with sleek interfaces. The EV field expands annually but there are some growing pains to be expected, particularly when it comes to traditional vehicle makers attempting to adapt to the EV market. Just about every automobile company has tried its hand at a Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) but consumers are still waiting for an older brand to release a fully-electric car capable of taking attention from the name synonymous with EVs, Tesla.
Cadillac's webpage for the 2023 Lyriq currently boasts a header explaining that the 2023 model is already sold out, and prompting visitors to preorder the eventual 2024 model. Despite that bit of absurdity, the site also reveals the primary features Cadillac wants people to focus on in regards to the 2023 Lyriq they cannot actually purchase. Still, it's a strong case and a tantalizing glimpse of what the company sees as its future.
Why The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq Stands Out
The first thing Cadillac highlights about the Lyriq is its 33-inch dashboard panel. This massive touchscreen interface extends from the left side of the steering wheel to just beyond the center console, making for a bold visual presentation that will likely become the vehicle's signature. This screen runs a custom version of Android, but the system supports wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. The engineering team even consulted with a Hollywood production studio known for creating narratives and set pieces in sci-fi films to build the interior of the Lyriq. Virtually every part of the dash and steering wheel is comprised of either a touchscreen or a contact-sensitive button.
In terms of features, the Lyriq EV includes Super Cruise, which Cadillac calls the "industry's first truly hands-free driver-assistance feature." This is clearly comparable to Tesla's various versions of Autopilot, as similar features start to become standard for EVs. The Lyriq has active noise cancellation, something typically only associated with headphones, built into the car's audio system in an attempt to combat road sounds. It includes practically every vehicle assistance feature on the market today, including automatic parallel parking, pedestrian braking, a 360-degree camera, traffic adaptive cruise control, blind-spot steering correction, and dozens more.
The 2023 Cadillac Lyriq has impressive EV-specific specs as well. With an EPA-estimated range of 312 miles on a full charge and a Cadillac-rated 340 horsepower, this brings the car's performance in line with the Tesla Model Y Long Range models. Both vehicles are also similarly priced, hovering around $62,000. Those mileage and performance ratings are behind the highest-end EVs, but they're still good enough to push the Lyriq into the top-5 or so, showing Cadillac might be the first traditional, American automobile company with a serious Tesla competitor on the road.
Source: Cadillac