The launch schedule has slipped a bit, but the Cadillac Optiq is finally here – or rather, there in China, where it was first revealed online before being revealed to the public at the Beijing Auto Show this month. Cadillac debuted the exterior in November, but a more comprehensive online reveal now gives us a look inside. The steering wheel and the curved display for the digital instrument cluster match the larger Lyriq. Below the beltline of the instrument panel, the two designs diverge. The Optiq’s central area features a horizontal trim element that can be illuminated with ambient light and matches the rows of illuminated horizontal lines in the door panels. The bottom surface is concave instead of convex, with an open compartment under the HVAC controls instead of an enclosed storage area. Two USB-C ports on the left side of the storage compartment save occupants from having to dig around in their pockets to connect the plug. The infotainment dial and cup holder area look the same as the Lyriq, but since the Optiq’s armrest is thinner, there’s a new design between the seats and the two elements are connected in a different way.
Outside, animated clips on Cadillac’s Chinese website show how the Optiq’s U-shaped DRL pattern will differ from the Lyriq’s stylized rim.
The Optiq is based on the same BEV3 platform as the Chevrolet Equinox EV and Buick Electra twins. China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) stated that the Optiq has the same 116.3-inch wheelbase as the Equinox EV. The Optiq available for the Chinese market is around 189.8 inches long, 75.3 inches wide and 64.6 inches high. Compared to the Equinox EV, the Cadillac’s roof sits an inch higher, the other dimensions are less than an inch apart. Compared to our Lyriq, the Optiq is about seven inches shorter and 2.5 inches narrower, but again, its roof sits almost an inch higher. The compact CUV weighs 4,850 pounds and has a top speed of 115 mph.
The site CNEVpost reported on two Optiq claddings for China that are a tenth of an inch apart in roof height. Both are equipped with a single Ultium electric motor that drives one of the axles. One trim has 201 hp, the other trim has 241 hp. We expect at least one AWD trim in the US, which would rival the 288 horsepower and torque of the equivalent Chevrolet Blazer EV.
Cadillac’s US website says the Optiq will launch later this year as a 2025 model. We should find out more about it at the trade fair in Beijing on April 25th.