Cadillac officially unveils new Optiq midsize electric SUV

Olek Novak

Contributor

The brand has confirmed the Optiq will be the fourth vehicle to join its growing global EV range

Cadillac has officially unveiled its new Optiq electric SUV, confirming it will be the fourth vehicle to join its global EV range – however, there’s no official confirmation on an Australian release just yet.

Images of the Optiq had previously leaked in China earlier this year, however this is the vehicle’s first formal reveal by the brand that last week announced a highly publicised launch into the Australian market.

These are the first official images of the Optiq that the US automaker has unveiled

The US automaker states that the Optiq will effectively be the entry point for its EV lineup in North America, slotting in under the Lyriq large SUV which has been confirmed as the vehicle to spearhead Cadillac’s Australian expansion.

What do we know about the Optiq so far?

The midsize Optiq shares a similar front fascia with the Lyriq, however overall it employs a more compact and traditional SUV shape as compared to the more swooping and stately design of its larger brother.

Further details around the Optiq midsize SUV are scarce – including any photos of its interior – with the brand stating that additional information, features and pricing will be outlined next year.

While the exterior has been revealed, no photos have been released of the Optiq’s interior

However, while detailed specifications have not yet been officially confirmed, reports have circulated with information found in a filing for the new vehicle with the Chinese Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) earlier this year.

These reports indicate dimensions coming in at 4822mm in length, 1912mm in width and 1642 in height, as well as a single electric motor setup with two power outputs ranging from 150kW to 180kW for the Chinese market, where the vehicle will also be built.

These dimensions place the Optiq as smaller than the Lyriq, which is 4996mm long and 2207mm wide – although it does come in marginally higher, with the lower and lengthier Lyriq coming in at 1623mm in height.

Cadillac Lyriq 2024 front 3/4 2 — The larger Cadillac Lyriq will be the first vehicle the US brand will launch in Australia next year

Unlike the Lyriq large SUV, which will rival the likes of the BMW iX, Audi Q8 E-tron and Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV, the smaller Lyriq would compete against midsize rivals such as the Audi Q4 E-tron, Genesis GV60, Mercedes-Benz EQB, and Tesla Model Y.

Optiq could be the brand’s next EV to join Australian lineup

While not yet confirmed for Australia, the brand has made no secret of pointing to an expected “portfolio” of Cadillac SUVs that we can expect to come to Australia.

Cadillac Escalade IQ 2024 front — Cadillac has filed a number of trademarks locally including for the Optiq and Escalade IQ (pictured)

Trademarks have previously been filed locally for both the Optiq and Escalade IQ badges, as well as an as yet unrevealed ‘Vistiq’, foreshadowing a potential expanded range for the brand domestically.

A midsize premium SUV would certainly be a good fit within the booming Australian SUV market, and it is certainly possible, with all Cadillac electric vehicles having been engineered from inception to be capable for right-hand drive.

As the fourth electric vehicle in Cadillac’s global EV lineup, the Optiq joins the previously mentioned Lyriq large SUV and Escalade IQ – an EV iteration of the iconic four-wheel drive – as well as the Celestiq super-sedan halo model.