For anyone worried that high-performance Cadillacs, which have been branded with the “V” moniker over the last 20 years, would be disappearing once the brand went predominantly electric, it seems you needn’t worry. The first electric V-Series model has arrived in the form of the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V, and it’s actually going to be the quickest Cadillac ever made, according to the company. Built off the mid-size two-row luxury Lyriq all-electric SUV, the Lyriq-V boosts output, adds some go-fast bits, tweaks the styling and generates abilities never before seen in a Cadillac. Will the public bite? Well, it won’t be for a lack of available speed.
Related: 2024 Cadillac Lyriq Review: Traditional Comfort, New Age Tech
Charged Up With Goodies
For the Lyriq-V, Cadillac engineers went through the Lyriq and added performance enhancements, which wasn’t too hard given there’s already a hotted-up version of this vehicle over in the Chevrolet showroom called the Blazer EV SS. But taken together, they add up to what should be a truly entertaining electric vehicle.
The Lyriq-V’s powertrain gets a boost, with the dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup producing 615 horsepower and 650 pounds-feet of torque. The final drive ratios have also been adjusted to make for more explosive acceleration. Cadillac says the revised powertrain is good for a 0-60 mph time of 3.3 seconds when the Velocity Max mode is employed, making this the quickest Cadillac ever made — even quicker than the extraordinary CT5-V Blackwing. The Lyriq-V pulls that electricity out of a 102-kilowatt-hour battery pack that Cadillac says is big enough to give it a 285-mile range, which is only just average these days.
Other performance modifications have been made to the Lyriq-V, as well, such as Brembo front brakes designed for repeated fade-free high-speed braking; their calipers are available in red paint. The Lyriq-V will also feature a standard electronically controlled adaptive sport suspension that helps it sit lower than a standard Lyriq, as well as a quicker steering ratio for more aggressive handling characteristics.
The drive modes have also been updated, with a V-Mode button allowing drivers to save a customized set of settings for engaging in high-performance driving. It’s activated by pushing the dedicated “V” button on the steering wheel or via the drive mode screen on the 33-inch LED display. A Competitive Mode is also available that tightens up the Lyriq-V’s handling, and launch control is used for delivering that 3.3-second 0-60 run when in Velocity Max mode.
Looking the Part
Along with the performance upgrades, the Lyriq-V gets some visual enhancements, as well. It gets a unique front bumper and side rockers, body-color trim and optional carbon-fiber accents. The front grille panel is in black, and the V-Series logo appears on the rear doors and liftgate. Like on other V-Series vehicles, a V-pattern mesh is employed on the front lower grille. The wheels are 22-inch dark-painted units unique to the Lyriq-V and come shod with standard summer tires (all-seasons are available). The Lyriq-V’s roof will be painted black as standard, and the SUV will offer an exclusive Magnus Metal Frost hue.
On the inside, Cadillac has spiffed up the Lyriq’s already lovely interior with some V-Series-specific trim. The steering wheel is unique to the V and has the aforementioned V-Mode button, a sport rim with sculpted hand grips and an aluminum Regen On Demand paddle. V-specific equipment includes power-adjustable seat bolsters for front seats, unique graphics for the digital displays, illuminated sill plates, and available Nappa leather seating with optional V-Series patterns and embroidery.
Standard equipment in the Lyriq-V will include things like a panoramic fixed glass roof, the 23-speaker AKG Studio Audio System with Dolby Atmos programming and a new-to-Lyriq “dual-plane” augmented reality head-up display. GM’s Super Cruise hands-free semi-autonomous cruise control will be standard, as well, along with three years of OnStar connected multimedia service. Finally, a new “multi-layered sound experience” will come with the Lyriq-V, perpetuating the V-Series performance brand’s reputation for not only being fast, but sounding fast, as well. Both interior and exterior sounds will be selectable and tied to the SUV’s performance.
Pricing and Availability
The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V will have a starting price of $79,990, including destination fee, with production starting in the first quarter of this year and deliveries happening mid-year.
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