- The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V is here, with dual electric motors good for 615 hp and 650 tq
- The souped-up sport-ute comes with Brembo-branded brakes standard, too
- What anxiety? A 102-kWh battery provides an estimated 458 km range
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Plunging ahead with all things electric, Cadillac has introduced a hot “-V” variant of its tony Lyriq crossover. With dual motors cranking out 615 horsepower and a 102-kWh battery good for an estimated acceleration sprint from zero to 96 km/h (60 mph) in 3.3 seconds, this trim cranks the wick on the base Lyriq in a number of meaningful ways.
But first, a note about its name. Even though it’s officially called the “Lyriq-V,” it’s important to note that spox for the brand refer to this car as a “V-Series,” underscoring the reality that – at least on the internal-combustion side of things – there is an even hotter “-V Blackwing” designation that lives above this trim. Engineers made clear this is not a Blackwing, so we’ll have to wait and see how long it takes for Cadillac to remix those Lyriqs.
Underneath the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V is a pair of electric motors heaving out 615 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. With the help of all-wheel-drive and a so-called Velocity Max mode, this can shove the car from rest to highway speeds in an estimated 3.3 seconds. Revised final drive ratios also help in this regard. At present, the most powerful Lyriq is a dual-motor variant good for about 515 horses and 450 lb-ft of twist, so this represents a significant step up the performance ladder. And, no—the engineers didn’t turn a Nürburgring lap time.
Range for the V is an estimated 458 kilometres, though probably not after repeated deployments of that 3.3-second acceleration time. Other trims can top 500 clicks on a charge but are far less powerful.
The need to retain some sort of aerodynamic prudence in order not to scupper range likely precluded outrageous styling changes from the standard Lyriq, though this annoyingly Type A author would have liked a bit more visual drama in the V. Not everyone does, and Cadillac is probably sensible to take the path it chose. It’s worth noting spox say 76% of Lyriq customers last year (in the States) were conquest sales from another brand.
Cadillac would like its customers to think of this rig as more than a quarter-mile rocket ship, so it has endowed the Lyriq-V with standard Continuous Damping Control said to be specifically calibrated for this trim, meaning this is a valve-based system and not magneto-rheological.
Same goes for the V-specific steering ratio and V-Mode button that now sprouts from the steering wheel. The latter permits programming a myriad of settings for when you either want to impress or startle the tar out of yer passengers. Gummy 40-series Continental Contact 6 summer tires are standard, but all-season Michelins are available for no charge if you really insist.
Inside, those V-branded seats are allegedly unique to the trim, complete with bolster controls. The panoramic fixed-glass sunroof, 23-speaker audio system with Dolby Atmos, and 33-inch Jumbotron of an infotainment display are all shared with other Lyriq trims. The latter does have some V-specific programming for the performance setting options mentioned above, including the V button on the wheel; and branding like a V-Series illuminated sill plate appear.
Cadillac made it clear the brand does not feel the Jeep Wagoneer S is a core competitor to the Lyriq-V, nor does it think Tesla is a “core luxury brand” across all its models, instead choosing to preen about competitive advantages in range, style, and ‘Cadillac’ personality.
With the brand jumping into F1 this year, models like the Lyriq-V are part of the push to really globalize Cadillac as a brand. The statement being made by the timing of this announcement – it’s happening on the eve of the Rolex 24-hour endurance race, further tying Cadillac to the global eye – should not be ignored in terms of what top brass are trying to do with the brand.
Canadian pricing will be shared closer to its introduction, though it wears an MSRP of $79,990 in America. Production of the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V kicks off early this year at GM’s Spring Hill manufacturing plant in Tennessee.
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