The 2026 Lyriq-V Will Be the Quickest Cadillac Ever
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Cadillac performance subbrand is going electric with the 2026 Lyriq-V. The first electric vehicle (EV) to carry the American luxury manufacturer’s high-performance V-series branding, the crossover will get 615 hp and 650 lb-ft of all-electric torque.
The automaker hopes that healthy helping of horsepower will convince skeptics that the Lyriq-V has place in the V-series lineup. If that wasn’t enough, a 0-96 km/h (60 mph) time of 3.3 seconds will make this the fastest-accelerating Cadillac vehicle ever, bar none.
Despite that, Cadillac representatives said that the Lyriq-V will not bear the Blackwing name, which the brand attaches to its highest-performance vehicles, such as the CT4-V Blackwing and the CT5-V Blackwing, the latter of which was AutoTrader's premium performance vehicle of the year in 2024. The brand says that’s because Blackwing vehicles are focused on the race track, whereas the slightly less aggressive V-series vehicles are focused on on-road performance. Wherever the performance is intended to be used, there's a plenty of it.
Power will be generated by a pair of motors that provide the Lyriq-V will all-wheel drive. The crossover’s connection to the road will be maintained by a multi-link suspension with standard continuous damping control. The Lyriq-V will also get a quicker steering rack than the standard model, in order to make it feel more direct. To help the EV rein in all that power, it has been equipped with high-performance Brembo brake callipers.
As with other performance vehicles, the Lyriq-V features a variety of driving modes, including V-Mode and Competitive Mode. In addition to optimizing the traction management system, the latter mode pumps an artificial sound into the cabin to communicate acceleration and deceleration audibly. Although the sound is not designed to mimic any enigne noise in particular, it was created, in part, using the engine note from the Cadillac LMDh racecar that competed at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2024. Drivers who prefer the silence of electric vehicles can turn the sound off.
The Lyryq-V is not all about speed, though. Cadillac says that the suspension is designed to be comfortable on the road. A 102 kWh battery pack, meanwhile, allows for up to 458 km of driving range on a full charge. In addition, the trim package will come with Super Cruise, General Motors’ hands-free driving assistant, as standard.
From an aesthetic point of view, the Lyriq-V will get its own dark 22-inch wheels that feature the V logo. They will be wrapped in summer performance tires as standard. Up front a V pattern is visible on the grille and there's a chin spoiler down low.
Inside, the Lyriq-V gets V-series logos throughout and the seats feature V-shaped stitching. Power adjustable side bolsters will help keep drivers and passengers in place through fast corners. On the more luxurious side of the equation, the Lyriq-V comes with a 23-speaker AKG sound system and a 33-inch LED display that contains both the instrument and infotainment screens. An augmented reality head up display will further help drivers on the road.
Production of the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V will take place in Spring Hill, Tennessee, and is expected to start early this year. Unfortunately, Cadillac has not yet shared pricing information, but plans to closer the vehicle’s on-sale date.
