With testing of Cadillac’s inaugural electric luxury SUV running ahead of schedule, the brand announced that customers may place order reservations for the 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ beginning in September, with initial availability starting the first half of 2022, the OEM announced in a press release on April 21.

“Throughout the next decade, Cadillac will define the future of luxury transportation through a series of exciting new electric vehicles, and it all begins with LYRIQ,” said Rory Harvey, vice president, Global Cadillac. “The 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ’s stunning design and artfully integrated technology combined with GM’s Ultium Platform will deliver a high-performance luxury experience unlike anything that has come before it, setting a new standard for Cadillac.”

At launch, LYRIQ will be available with premier technologies and stirring performance capabilities enabled by the vehicle’s dedicated electric architecture. A 12-module, 100 kilowatt-hour battery pack and a rear-wheel-drive Ultium Platform deliver a Cadillac-estimated 340 horsepower and 440 Nm of torque — and a Cadillac-estimated over 300 miles of range with a full charge1.

“Thanks to the modular and highly flexible Ultium Platform that powers LYRIQ, along with advanced virtual development tools, Cadillac has been able to accelerate development and put more real-world miles on prototypes sooner than expected,” said Jamie Brewer, LYRIQ chief engineer. “It means we are on track to bring this pioneering electric luxury vehicle to customers nine months earlier than originally planned.”

LYRIQ also offers high-speed DC fast charging for public stations at 190 kW, enabling customers to add an estimated 76 miles of range in about 10 minutes of charging time. For home charging, LYRIQ offers a segment-leading 19.2 kW charging module, which can add up to 52 miles of range per hour of charge.

To help customers take full control of their electric driving experience, LYRIQ will feature next-generation variable Regen on Demand technology, along with the convenience of one-pedal driving. With Cadillac’s new variable Regen on Demand, drivers can control how quickly LYRIQ slows down or comes to a complete stop using a pressure-sensitive paddle located on the steering wheel. Both technologies make use of regenerative braking to help maximize electric driving efficiency.

Additional 2023 LYRIQ highlights include:

• Available Super Cruise, a true hands-free driver-assistance technology for compatible roads

• A 33-inch-diagonal advanced LED display with the ability to emit over one billion colors

• Cadillac’s next-generation active noise cancellation system

• Slim-line LED headlamps with choreographed lighting sequence

• AKG Studio 19-speaker audio system with headrest speakers

• KeyPass digital vehicle access

• Dual level charge cord

• Standard 20-inch split six-spoke alloy wheels or optional 22-inch dynamic split-spoke reverse rim alloy wheels

• Customers will be able to select from satin steel metallic or stellar black metallic exterior colors, and sky cool gray or noir for the interior.

“LYRIQ represents a clean-sheet design that sets the standard for the future of Cadillac,” said Andrew Smith, executive director of Cadillac Design. “The objective I gave my team was to design the LYRIQ with the level of detail that they would a show car. The customer should feel like they’re driving in the future.”

The interior is clean and simple with a focus on secondary and tertiary design elements, including intricate laser etched patterns through wood over metal decor, which has never been done before. The large, curved LED screen is the centerpiece and all the components are incorporated artfully, blurring the lines of separation among technology, lighting and decor.

Perhaps the most striking example of Cadillac’s next iteration of brand styling is its distinctive black crystal grille.

“We wanted to give the vehicle a face, making sure it looks distinctly Cadillac,” Smith said. The signature vertical lighting is emphasized through lighting choreography. The exterior lighting is a major technological breakthrough, allowing Cadillac to deliver on the promise of truly vertical lamps, an industry first.

The 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ is expected to go into production in the first quarter of 2022, with pricing starting at $59,990. It will be produced at GM’s Spring Hill, Tenn. assembly facility, which is receiving a $2 billion investment to support electric vehicle production. An additional $2.3 billion is being invested in an all-new battery cell manufacturing plant at Spring Hill, by Ultium Cells LLC, the joint venture between GM and LG Energy Solution.

A new ad campaign featuring the 2023 Cadillac LYRIQ debuts April 25, during the Oscars broadcast.