With GM’s flagship brand having announced the Lyriq-V performance electric crossover earlier this year, it felt like a matter of time before the V sub-brand announced another model that’s fuelled by the grid. Well, here it is, and it’s going surprisingly downmarket. The next hot-rod Cadillac is the Optiq-V compact electric crossover, and it promises big punch and surprisingly reasonable pricing.
In one big way, the Cadillac Optiq-V is a new-school twist on an old concept of taking propulsion components from a larger model and stuffing them into a smaller car. This thing uses the same two motors as the midsize Lyriq-V, just with a smaller 85 kWh battery pack. The result is some serious figures—519 horsepower and 650 lb.-ft. of torque in the most aggressive drive mode—ready to wage war against some serious weight. Yeah, the Optiq-V officially weighs 5,445 pounds, meaning that, although output is in the ballpark of the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N, a claimed zero-to-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds is a few ticks off the hot Hyundai everyone’s trying to beat.
On the plus side, a claimed 275 miles of range is competitive in the fast compact electric crossover segment, with the Hyundai Ioniq 5 N achieving just 221 miles of EPA range and the Ford Mustang Mach-E GT clocking a slightly better 280 miles of range. Oh, and the Optiq-V will be the first GM electric car with an NACS port — the next big step after GM rolled out adapter-required Tesla Supercharger access to its current EV range.
Obviously, there’s more to building a performance EV than just throwing down a ton of power. More than one BMW M5 of mass is a lot to control, so the Optiq-V aims to take advantage of ZF-sourced adaptive dampers, 275-section Conti Sportcontact 6 summer tires at all four corners, and a little bit of brake-based torque vectoring available in the background. Speaking of brakes, the front stoppers are unsurprisingly massive: 15.35-inch discs clamped by six-piston Brembo monoblock calipers. Things are a little less fancy out back, with sliding calipers and 12.4-inch discs, but you’ll be able to spec high-friction brake pads as an option.
Performance dealt with, it’s time to talk luxury. As the Optiq-V sits right at the top of the Optiq range, it gets a decent selection of goodies as standard, including a 19-speaker AKG-branded sound system, real carbon fiber trim, and 21-inch wheels. The biggest toy, though, is something that’s actually standard on all Optiqs: Super Cruise geofenced hands-free ADAS, a subscription-based advanced driver assistance system that beams LIDAR maps to the car over its 5G modem and lets you take your hands off the wheel in good conditions on select roads. Otherwise, it seems like the main luxury of the Optiq-V is interesting choices in colors, materials and finishes.
The available Deep Ocean Tintcoat you see here rules, and Monarch Orange from the Optiq Sport is also on the menu. Also, you can get this thing with a blue-accented interior that’s anything but subtle.
However, perhaps the most intriguing thing about the Cadillac Optiq-V is its price of $68,795, including a $1,495 freight charge. That’s substantially more than the $57,485 commanded by a Ford Mustang Mach-E GT with the optional performance upgrade, but it’s right in the ballpark of the $67,675 price tag of a Hyundai Ioniq 5 N and, crucially, $2,555 cheaper than the $71,350 Genesis GV60 Performance. As such, expect it to be cross-shopped against pretty much every fast entry-level EV once it goes on sale this autumn.
Top graphic image: Cadillac
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CTS-V rolled off the tongue nicely and sounded good. ATS-V was a fine name. These new names, though, do not roll off the tongue, they sound awkward. Lyriq-V and Optiq-V are both terrible names.
I have no problem with an EV hotrod, or EVs being enthusiast vehicles; I think it’s great that go-fast tech is evolving.
Where I have an issue is the idea of a CUV hotrod. No. Just… no. A CUV is already the rolling embodiment of compromised ideas trying to make it “fast” just adds to the problem. You want efficiency, but give it the frontal cross section of a bungalow. You want it to corner, but put it on stilts. It’s supposed to be an off road adventure vehicle, but it has passenger car suspension (maybe AWD if you’re lucky) and drive train components. It’s supposed to tow, but doesn’t have a solid chassis.
Enough with the crossovers. There’s nothing they can do that a wagon can’t do better on the road or a real truck-based vehicle can’t do better off road or for towing. These abominations were nothing but rule-lawyering the EPA from the start; no one. Not one single person is genuinely excited or passionate about another goose-turd-styled crossover.
Yeah something about this body style as a luxury sleeper makes me sad.
Excluding the Old Rich, there are 3 kinds of luxury car buyers:
Cool Rich (the educated enthusiasts)
Tacky Rich (buys whatever their favorite rapper reps in bad wraps)
Petty-social-climber-with-too-much-involvement-in-either-the-PTA-or-PGA-Rich (buys cars like the Optiq-V)
How does it handle? The Lyriq was high on my list, enjoyed the solitude from the road on the test drive and the thrust of the dual motors. Unfortunately, the steering input was so slow and made the car less fun to drive. I happily ended up in a Model Y Performance, which does sporty things better than a regular Lyriq.
Say what you will about it, but it’s nice to see someone at Cadillac has finally figured out they can’t price like the Germans. I’d be very curious to see a comparison of this with the Hyundai and Genesis it’s priced close to.
I want to care, I just can’t.
I get they’re fast and whatnot but so very heavy. I can’t imagine they’re engaging to drive so… just give me something with reasonable range at half the price and I can daily that while keeping an actual fun/sporty car in the garage like I do now.
Same. This weighs literally double what my pickup does. It’s not a big pickup; then again it’s not that big a car, either.
“compact…” <Dr. Evil quotation fingers>
The Optiq might be the smallest of the Cadillac EVs but it’s hardly a small car. It’s the same size as the Cadillac XT5.
It’s so damned ugly though.
I’m not even a hot rod guy, but calling a 5500 lb. electric crossover a “hot rod” seems sacrilegious.
Be nice if we could actually get a wagon EV in the US or more sedan EV’s but alas the cross over era lingers on.
The Taycan comes in a wagon. Its probably my favorite looking mainstream EV.
Yeah I forgot about that because I wouldn’t be able to afford one without taking out a second mortgage
Well, you didn’t say AFFORDABLE wagon. 😀 I’m also in your boat. I daily drive a wagon, but she was built in 2006 and I bought her after the previous owner ran it in to a deer. I can’t afford a Taycan.
Not bad. Maybe in 3 years when they’re off lease and suffering from the combination of EV and Cadillac depreciation. All seasons like Pilot Sport A/S’s better be a no cost option or a lot of these will be wrapped around electric poles.
Ultium is so heavy. Hopefully GM cuts weight out of the next generation EV platform.
Booorrrrriiiiiing
SUVs can’t be hotrods.
You sure about that? Every generation of Suburban has been turned into a hot rod until probably the 8th generation.
Plus, I’m not sure if I’m ready to take hot rod advice that doesn’t know it’s two words.
They’ve been made into hot rods since the very beginning. I don’t know why you’re trying to close the door now.
Only slightly relevant, but this morning I saw a story about all the burning Waymo cars in LA as “part of the anti-ICE protests” and my gearhead brain was like “But those aren’t even ICE vehicles!” (in either sense of the word)
But another part of me was like “And nothing of value was lost.”
Two (or so) years hence, I suspect Cadillac will be engaging in yet another Jag-type ‘rebranding’ or (shudder) ‘pivot‘ when their current products continue to fail to find buyers.
That probably won’t work either, but keep those weird-looking models on retainer, just in case!
I don’t know. I am actually seeing a high number of Lyriq’s around. They seem to be selling quite well. I see the Optiq as well in quite reasonable numbers considering it has not been out for long. Heck, I have even seen a couple of the Escalade IQ’s doing airport limousine service duty in the neighbourhood.
In comparison, Rivians and Lucid’s are absolute unicorns that I rarely see. I think I have actually seen more Ineos Grenadiers than Lucid’s.
Interesting. Here in Northern NJ I see more Rivians and Lucids than Caddies. I guess that latter doesn’t scream “I have F U money” loudly enough.
Yeah, I have been surprised at how many Lyriq’s I am seeing nowadays. A year ago, not many, but something has changed very quickly. I think the Lyriq is quite nice looking… though the rear end takes a while to accept. Overall now that I am seeing it more often the styling is actually growing on me. It is distinct in a land of pretty homogeneous cars.
Agreed on all points. I thought the rear was interesting from the start, but it still took a bit to go from “interesting” to “nice”. It works especially well in colors IMO.
OTOH my wife saw one and flagged it as ugly, so who knows what normies think?
I see lots of Lyriqs around me too in western NY. Not surprised considering the GM presence in this area. Also lots of Equinox EV’s. Those are starting to catch up to 2020-2024 Model Y’s in number. I’ve seen exactly one Juniper Y (which is good IMO).
Its reverse situation here in NW PHL, Rivians everywhere. And the one same Lyriq all the time and its not just lots of folks with them because he’s got a vanity plate that just says LYRIQ-EV.
I saw my first Lucid in the wild this morning!
I was surprised at how big they were when I seen my fist Lucid in person. Stunning automobiles. Kind of gave me a modernized first gen Mercury Sable vibe.
Yeah, they’re pretty big in person. And I totally get the Sable vibe.
I read they’re amazing to drive, but it’s too rich for my blood/budget.
What did you think about the design? I’m curious!
As mentioned above, they are surprisingly large and the Sable vibe is strong with it.
I’m happy with my ’17 Accord V6. It’s plenty fast enough. I rarely even plant my right foot. It rides and handles nicely enough for me.
And it’s paid off and only has 64K on the clock, so it will last me a while.
It was sad to see the Accord lose the V6. Take care of yours and it will last the rest of your lifetime. If I ever get my lottery numbers drawn, a new lucid will be in my garage.
Probably not? Their first quarter was their best in a dozen years, as was Q4. I know there were pull-forward sales for most of the industry in the spring, but that didn’t apply to the fall. Overall, 2024 saw the most sales since 2016. That doesn’t sound like a failing lineup or strategy to me.
BTW, all of that is US-specific, since that’s their main market. But FWIW, their #2 market is Canada, where 2024 was their biggest year as far back as I have numbers, 10 years. They’re doing substantially more sales now than they were 5 or 10 years ago. Like, 35% and 55% more.
I just had this weird flash-forward vision where environmentalists start looking at large battery packs the same way they do V8 engines and coal-rolling bros.
Conversely, fast EVs being driven around with Punisher and Ed Hardy stickers, intentionally dripping battery acid on the asphalt before leaving a 50-foot rubber stripe.
I’m just seeing another ugly version of the Blazer EV. Nice color, though.
This is the Equinox EV. The Lyriq is the sibling to the Blazer EV. Personally, I prefer the Equinox EV over the Optiq, and the Lyriq over the Blazer EV.
Aren’t the all on the BEV3 platform? The greenhouse looks very much like the Blazer’s.
It’s the size. Blazer/Lyric are the same size. Equinox/Optiq are the same size. But yes I agree, there are some similar lines between the Blazer and the Optiq, particularly whatever is going on behind the c-pillar.
Yes, they all share the same platform, but the BEV3 platform is flexible and can be stretched & shrunk to create varying size cars. For the most part, they end up being similar size overall.
Equinox EV, Optiq, & Prologue are all the “small” BEV3. Wheelbase=116″
Blazer, Lyric, & ZDX are the “medium” BEV3. Wheelbase=122″
Celistique is the “massive” BEV3. Wheelbase=130″
Maybe I’m just conditioned to think of these as old-man cars. But I just don’t find any of the Caddy’s attractive – but being another SUV just reinforces my stereotype.
And, in my head, I’m sure it’ll be driven by an absolute gentleman, with no sense of personal space, riding your rear bumper by mere millimetres, a belief that people should move out of their way, and without any proper use of signally. Like a BMW driver, but so much worse.
I’m 51 which is old in that I loved the look of the Buick wagon, and like the new Corvette, but I can’t stand these disposable looking CUVs and SUVs that all look the same.
Not to mention this thing weighs as much as my 2017 GTI, and an MX-5 combined.
Also, since when is a $70,000 car affordable? Not as expensive as a lot of luxury vehicles sure, but it sure as hell isn’t affordable.
I struggle to get over the stereotype that Cadillac is for people who want luxury cars but have to “buy American” because they are old enough to remember the xenophobia taught to them during the wars.
That image you paint seems closer to Ram in general – very “Us vs. Them”
Hey I was tailed by an Escalade on a two lane country road for like 10 miles yesterday. I’m sure this will come as a shock but they were not content to do 9 over in the slightest. As I expected there Virginia State Police were creeping along the route, so frankly I think Mr. Escalade Douche owes me one.
But anyway, in my area Nissans and Infinitis are what you’re most likely to be seen driven antisocially…but Escalades and Chargers/Challengers are fighting for the next spot. That being said I’d rather have to deal with avoiding one of the LX cars because they’re not 6,000 pound land yachts capable of banishing my 3300 pound hatchback to the shadow realm.
I like the look of the CT5, which is I still think is 1337-speak for CTS. I wish it were a wagon, though. The closest we come to that is the other handsome Caddy, the XT6 (I had to do 4 searches to find this, which confirms their naming system is garbage).
I wouldn’t buy one, but I admire them. Best two Caddy designs in a couple decades.
No, it isn’t.
The Optiq-V, when grandma needs to go the doctors super fast, and get her cataracts done.
If you launch hard enough, the cataracts solve themselves! Along with rearranging internal organs.
5,500 pounds
I have a 2012 Navigator L (4wd). It weighs 6000 lbs. This thing is just a little bit lighter. That doesn’t seem like progress in the right direction.
I really dislike how heavy modern cars are and it feels like there is zero attempt to do anything about this ongoing trend.
I’m sure plenty would say things like, “well, this is why you buy modern cars, so you can be safe against heavier things”. However, this entirely discounts that the thing that is hit by a heavy car is another car. If you hit a pedestrian with a 3500 lb sedan, it’s going to be very bad. If you hit them with a 5500lb “small” SUV, it’s going to be death.
We don’t need more bloated SUVs, really.
This is an aspect of modern car bloat that not enough people are talking about…and there’s data out there that clearly shows that with size increases come danger increases. In fact, Yee Haw land is basically the only first world country (if you can even call us that anymore) where the roads are becoming MORE dangerous.
I get that asking a lot of Americans to care about anyone but themselves and their small circles of friends and family members in 2025 is a fool’s errand, but dear lord. Rolling around in 6,000 pound behemoths that accelerate comparably to hot hatchbacks at minimum and faster than supercars from 10 years ago at most is just so wasteful and needlessly dangerous.
What do you mean not enough people are talking about? It’s brought up constantly. Whether it’s some boomer on facebook lamenting how heavy EVs are ruining our roads, or how fast a Hummer EV is, or anything. I see it mentioned all the time.
“I’m sure plenty would say things like, “well, this is why you buy modern cars, so you can be safe against heavier things”. However, this entirely discounts that the thing that is hit by a heavy car is another car. If you hit a pedestrian with a 3500 lb sedan, it’s going to be very bad. If you hit them with a 5500lb “small” SUV, it’s going to be death.”
At which point “they” will shrug. Them and theirs are safe, that’s all that matters.
You’re correct. Partially because they might not care much about others, but a big part is that they have no clue what a “normal” car weight might be.
Ask most folks how much a car weighs. Any car. They’d probably say something like “not sure, a ton?”. If you asked them how much a ton is you’d probably get a blank stare (FYI a ton is 2000 lbs).
Nobody is telling the average consumer that their shiny new thing has the ability to turn a living thing into a red spray of vaporized meat at speed.
I’m glad they have a variety of modern safety systems, but they all have limits that are still imposed by physics.
“Nobody is telling the average consumer that their shiny new thing has the ability to turn a living thing into a red spray of vaporized meat at speed.”
And if they did would those potential buyers see that as a problem? Or as that much more incentive for others to get out of the way.
Care about the needs of people I don’t know? Do I look like a filthy commie to you!?!?
Not *filthy*. Dirty maybe.
For sure, we don’t need any more bloated SUVs. But a 5500lb SUV delivers only a trivially larger force to a pedestrian than a 3500 lb SUV at the same speed. Neither is materially slowed down by the impact so the force acting on the pedestrian is essentially the same. In either case, at speed, the pedestrian is dead. What probably matters more is what the front of the SUV looks like – knobs, slats, etc can do a lot of damage.
My research seems to find a curb weight of 5192lbs. I don’t see 5500 lbs mentioned in the article.
For comparison. The XT5 curb weight for the top model is 4338lbs.
So 854lb heavier to go EV.
I chose the XT5, since the length is 189.60 inches. The Optiq is 189.90 inches. So same size.
5445 is what’s quoted in the article for the Optiq V
“fast compact electric crossover segment” sigh……
I know that big fast luxury is how much of automotive technology has started but I had hopes this time it would be different, false hopes but still hopes.
I like some of the new Cadillac design cues on the Cellestiq, but this thing is an ugly hodgepodge.
I absolutely love the looks of the Optiq. Good car design is polarizing, some like it and some don’t…
It’s a good thing this comes with Super Cruise because that steering wheel seems at a glance to be weird at best to use. Can’t easily grab across the “spokes” because they are so wide, and looks like a tight fit below them. Anything other than a 10 and 2 position looks pretty awkward.
Reminds me of my CVPI wheel, really chunky spokes but they sit even lower so you can grab at 9 & 3 or 10 & 2 just fine. But given all the buttons on the wheel here I can see how 9 & 3 would be a lil awkward.
Oh man in two or three years these are gonna be an absolute steal
Oh I hope so! I might just get one then in two years when my lease it up.
Start with a Kia EV6 GT right now if you’ve got the itch.
I would but Angrycat Meowmeow says these will be a steal in 2 or 3 years and I have 2 years left on my current lease.