Cadillac returns to Europe with the electric car Lyriq
Cadillac is making a discreet return to Europe after years of absence with its new electric model, the luxurious Lyriq, announced its management on Monday.
The brand of the American giant General Motors (GM) will launch this imposing SUV in France on March 23, which is already on sale in Switzerland and Sweden.
Cadillac aims to capitalize on its image of "American luxury," emphasized Jaclyn McQuaid, GM Europe's general manager, during a press conference in Paris.
Launched in 2022, the Lyriq has sold tens of thousands of units in the United States and 5,000 units in China, where it is also manufactured.
Its sporty silhouette designed by Frenchwoman Magalie Debellis and its 528-horsepower engine contrast with its weight of 2.7 tonnes. To offer an estimated range of 530 kilometers, the Lyriq is equipped with a massive 102 kWh battery (designed by GM), equivalent to the largest Teslas.
The Lyriq is "strong, proud. It's not made for someone who wants to blend into the landscape," emphasized Jaclyn McQuaid. Despite its 5 meters in length, it remains "manageable" and could appeal to customers who were considering a smaller vehicle, according to her.
Cadillac has adapted it to the tastes of European drivers, including making its suspensions firmer.
No price has been announced for France, but it is priced at 916,000 crowns in Sweden (about 82,000 euros).
GM left Europe in 2017 with the sale of its Opel brand to PSA (now Stellantis). The latest CTS sedans or Escalade SUVs were sold by importers.
The group is returning cautiously, with a sales model exclusively online, "a novelty for GM," emphasized Jaclyn McQuaid, and "GM will learn by doing," she said.
After France, the Lyriq could soon be sold in Germany and the United Kingdom, Ms. McQuaid indicated.
And GM is expected to offer other models soon: the group does not intend to "sell a single car for a long time" in Europe, the executive emphasized.
The group, a pioneer in electric vehicles with the Chevrolet Bolt, is struggling to make a breakthrough. But GM CEO Mary Barra assured at the end of January that production of several models would increase, including the Lyriq and the GMC Hummer, and that new versions would be presented in 2024.
