Cadillac’s Lyriq and Celestiq could come to Australia in right-hand drive

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The Cadillac name could be returning to Australian shores sooner rather than later, more than 15 years after the brand pulled the pin locally. 

According to reports from GM Authority, some upcoming models from the brand are set to be produced in right-hand drive.

This is set to be limited to electric vehicles only, pointing towards Cadillac’s upcoming Lyriq SUV and even the ultra-luxury Celestiq super saloon.  

A right-hand-drive, all-wheel-drive Lyriq electric SUV, for instance, has been previously spotted in prototype form, and could be the most likely model to be locked in for a future Cadillac Australia lineup. 

Right-hand-drive production could also target markets such as Japan, New Zealand and even the United Kingdom.   

Future electric Cadillacs are based on GM’s BEV3 platform that also underpins models such as the Chevrolet Blazer EV and the Buick Electra. 

The platform is also set to underpin other future electric vehicles such as the Chevrolet Bolt, Cadillac Celestiq and the Honda Prologue.

If Cadillac was to officially reenter Australia, it could bring well-equipped luxury offerings to rival the likes of Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, and could help power the electric vehicle space in our local market.   

Cadillac Lyriq the most likely car for Australian roads  

The brand’s upcoming electric SUV, the Lyriq, is likely to be hot on the cards for GM’s Cadillac presence in Australia. 

Featuring GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous technology and offered overseas in either rear- or all-wheel drive, the Lyriq uses a huge 100.4kWh battery pack and has a range of up to 500 kilometres. 

The SUV is capable of producing up to 372kW and will be able to charge at speeds of up to 190kW (DC). 

The Lyriq is offered in three variant trim levels – Tech, Luxury and Sport – in the US, with each offering a large 33-inch LED display in the interior as well as Cadillac’s Smart System safety suite. 

The Lyriq is a large car, measuring in at 5019mm in length, 2207mm in width and 1633mm in height, with a wheelbase of 3098mm. The Lyriq will be able to tow up to 1500kg.

Cadillac has tried in Australia in the past

Cadillac had not been sold in Australia for decades – more precisely 1969 – however it was revived very briefly nearly 40 years later. 

In 2008, Cadillac, part of General Motors, decided to sell its rear-wheel-drive CTS sedan model on local shores, with a 227kW 3.6-litre V6 engine. 

At the time, GM was driving the brand back to Australia with the intent on targeting BMW’s 3 Series and the Audi A4. 

Interestingly, at the time, Cadillac was also planning to manufacture a V12 model, with rumours suggesting that two V6 engines would be mated together as one. 

However, plans to sell the CTS passenger car locally were cancelled within 12 months before the cars ever went on sale. 

A quick background on the Cadillac brand 

For those unfamiliar with the brand, Cadillac – known officially as the Cadillac Motor Car Division – represents the luxury area of General Motors, much like how Lexus is the luxury arm of Toyota. 

Founded in 1902, Cadillac has produced several iconic road models such as the DeVille, Eldorado, Seville, and later, the CT4, CT5, CT6 and Escalade. 

But Cadillac hasn’t just been about luxury. High-performance variants such as the Escalade-V, CTS-V and CT6-V have also been available in the brand’s home market of the United States.