The inside of the Cadillac Optiqthe American luxury brand’s new entry-level electric SUV has been unveiled.
The General Motors-owned brand, which will re-enter the Australian market this year, has confirmed the Optiq will appear at the Beijing Motor Show this month, which begins on April 25.
We expect Cadillac to finally release specifications for the new SUV at this point, although we know from a previous filing from China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology that it will offer 150kW or 180kW of power.
The Optiq is 4822mm long, 1912mm wide and 1642mm high with a wheelbase of 2954mm. This makes it 72 mm longer, 66 mm narrower and 18 mm higher than a Tesla Model Y.
Ahead of the Optiq’s personal debut, Cadillac has released a series of interior images of its Model Y rival.
The Optiq’s interior closely resembles the larger Lyriq, right down to the door-mounted power seat controls and the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen, which are neatly integrated into a wraparound assembly.
However, there are some key differences from its bigger brother.
The example shown features bold metallic blue trim that runs from one side of the dashboard to the center. The dark blue structural inserts in the lower half of the doors match this.
The compartment under the controls in the center console does not have a door like the Lyriq, while the floating center console has a different shape.
The Optiq launched in November 2023, and while GM hasn’t officially confirmed it for our market, it has trademarked its name locally.
In addition, the nameplates Vistiq and Escalade iQ were registered as trademarks. These are larger electric SUVs that join the Cadillac stable.
The Lyriq will lead the brand’s return to Australia later this year, but it may not sit alone in Cadillac showrooms for long.
Jess Bala, General Motors (GM) managing director for Australia and New Zealand, said CarExpert in March that announcements of new Cadillac models beyond the Lyriq would come “toward the end of the year, early next year.”
“We want to get [the] Lyriq comes out and does a great job [the] Lyriq first too,” Ms Bala said.
“Of course we want to give this incredible car time, but we also want to give everyone confidence that this is not just one entry, but that we will have more fantastic cars to come.”
Asked if the Optiq, Vistiq and Escalade iQ are the next vehicles coming to Australia, Ms Bala said: “There are more electric vehicles coming, we will of course confirm which vehicles they are at a later date.”
She would not confirm whether all of these vehicles will come here.
“Just from a procedural perspective, I would like to say that every time we bring new vehicles to market, we, GM, trademark a name because we have decided well in advance what our vehicles will be called,” Ms. Bala said .
“We generally go worldwide and brand them everywhere because when we decide to take a vehicle somewhere, we want that consistency from a branding standpoint.”
Cadillac intends to stick to an all-electric strategy in Australia. The goal is to only offer electric vehicles worldwide by 2030.
The brand will launch with three retail stores or “Cadillac Experience Centres”: Melbourne and Sydney in Australia and Auckland in New Zealand.
Executives have repeatedly mentioned that Cadillacs will be sold in “exclusive quantities,” although Ms. Bala was excited about the opportunities.
“Things are going to do incredibly well here,” Ms. Bala said late last year, saying Cadillac would appeal to luxury car buyers who want to stand out and see themselves as trendsetters.
Despite all the talk of “exclusive quantities”, Ms Bala said prices for her debut model in Australia, the Lyriq, would not be high.
“In this mid-size SUV, the price will be competitive [segment]said Ms. Bala, confirming that the Lyriq will compete with similarly sized electric SUVs from European luxury brands such as the BMW iX.
The company wouldn’t confirm pricing, but the Lyriq costs the equivalent of around A$90,000 in the US.
In addition to selling vehicles through separate retail spaces, GM said there will be a different after-sales experience for Cadillac vehicles than those sold in GMSV showrooms.
“We’re all about providing that customer with an elevated luxury experience from the moment they enter their information on a website or visit one of our Cadillac Experience Centers through the purchase and beyond,” said Ms. Bala.
“As we know that your purchase does not end the moment we hand you the keys to your vehicle, it is a lasting relationship that we want to maintain and offer something very consistent.
“A very high quality customer experience, kind of like the ‘white glove’ you would expect as a luxury customer.”
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