Cadillac Australia thinks that one hot electric SUV is enough for now

Cadillac will soon be the OPTIQ-VWho will only be the third SUV and the second electric vehicle to wear its acclaimed V-series performance name table.

And it won’t come here.

“No, [Optiq-V isn’t] Come here. We have a LyriQ-V, ”said GM Australia and New Zealand director Jess Bala Carexper.

“We have not done a V-series here yet, so we want to judge it first and then we have to look at different regulations within battery architectures and things like that.

“So we start with LyriQ-V, and we continue to assess whether there are opportunities that arise.”

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Since both an electric SUV and a member of the V-series line, the OptiQ-V is expected to receive a more powerful dual-motor drive electric power line than the regular Optiq, which can be purchased here in 2026.

The larger LyriQ-V is also here in 2026.

The luxury brand of General Motors still has to confirm the powertrain details for the OptiQ-V, which recently only release a few teaser images, but it says that the engineers “have” delivered a unique package with priorities of precision, dynamic suspension and tight control for an exciting driving experience “.

The regular dual engine four-wheel drive Optiq produces 224 kW of current and 480 Nm of torque, with power supplied by an 85 kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) lithium-ion battery.

It has the front suspension of the front front, and just like with the larger Lyriq there is a five-left rear wheel suspension system and passive plus dampers all around.

Visible changes that are clear from the two teaser images of Cadillac include V-series bathing and a rear spoiler, although we would also expect that other aesthetic upgrades include more aggressive rocker panels and unique wheels.

The OptiQ-V will be under the LyriQ-V-Salenthans on the American market with the larger SUV with a dual motor powertrain that produces 459 kW and 880 Nm, at least on the American market with the larger SUV with a Dual-Motor-Electric Drive Line and 880 Nm.

Cadillac claims a 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time of only 3.3 seconds in V-mode or speed Max mode.

That simply tints the sprint time of the supercharged V8-driven CT5-V Blackwing-Sedan when equipped with an automatic transmission, even though it has fallen 40 kW and 13 Nm and weigh more.

The LyriQ-V pumps an extra 71 kW and 270 Nm over the regular dual engine Lyriq, although it does not get a magnetic stage control, such as other V-badged models within the Cadillac line-up. Instead, the standard continuous damping control has.

Changes about the regular Lyriq include a faster steering ratio, brembo fortresses, a new artificial propulsion noise and new competitive and adaptable V-Mode Drive modes.

Although it is fast, it is very different from the traditional V8-powered models that have worn the nameplate of the V-series over the years.

The first V-series model from Cadillac was the 2004 CTS-V Sedan, with an overhead valve 5.7-liter V8 (later a 6.0-liter) shared with the Chevrolet Corvette, coupled with a manual six-speed gearbox.

It was soon accompanied by the STS-V Sedan and XLR-V Cabriolet, which used a supercharged version of Cadillac’s Northstar Overhead-CAM V8, coupled with a six-speed gearbox.

These lasted a single generation, but the CTS-V went two generations, both with supercharged V8 Power.

V-series models were later accompanied by Tamer VSport models, which exchanged V8 force for V6 engines with double turbo. That said, not every hardcore V-series model has packed a curved eight, with the BMW M3-Rivalling ATS-V, for example, the first V with a Twin-Turbo V6.

In recent years, Cadillac has revised its V-series strategy by rolling out models such as the CT4-V and CT5-V that are less powerful than previous US-De CT4-V even has a four-cylinder engine, a scoop for a V-series-but the full ATS-V and CTS-V models with new CT4-V modelles.

It also introduced the very first Escalade V ever, the first time that the name of the V-series has been used on an SUV.

So far, it has not adorned any electric vehicle.