Cadillac wants to ride on the electric car to reinvest in the European market, where the brand was no longer present only through importers. In addition to the large Lyriq crossover, Cadillac will offer its Optiq SUV here, which the manufacturer has chosen to present to the European press in its new Parisian Cadillac City showroom. The Optiq has already been launched in the Chinese market, where it is produced through a joint venture between GM and SAIC.
By European standards, the Optiq remains an imposing model, measuring 4.82 m long, a few centimeters longer than a Tesla Model Y (4.75 m). If its style takes up current Cadillac codes, the Optiq allows itself some originalities, such as its patterned quarter windows or its two-part taillights.
The interior can be dressed in original materials, such as fabric or denim. The quality of the finishes, however, is not at the level of premium German brands.
A large curved panel running Android Automotive OS
The interior is especially impressive with its large 33″ diagonal curved screen, bringing together the instrumentation and the infotainment system under Android Automotive OS, with Google services.
Cadillac also offers its Super Cruise autonomous driving system, which allows you to take your hands off the wheel in North America. The car still monitors its driver via a camera, since it remains necessary to supervise the system. To work perfectly, it requires that the roads be scanned beforehand. When it is launched in Europe, the Optiq may therefore not offer as advanced a version of the system as in the United States,
for example, but remote updates will be made.
If the rear passengers benefit from sufficient knee room, the headroom is limited and much lower than that of a Tesla Model Y, for example. The floor is flat, but a little high, as is often the case on electric cars that integrate their battery there.
The trunk volume of 744 liters seems easy to use. It increases to 1603 l by folding the bench seat.
The Cadillac Optiq is equipped with a useful 85 kWh battery and two electric motors to offer four-wheel drive, in its version dedicated to the American market at least. Thus equipped, it announces up to 224 kW (305 hp) of power, 481 Nm of torque, a mass of 2355 kg and an estimated range of 300 miles, or approximately 482 km, on the stricter American EPA cycle than the WLTP used in Europe. The charging powers of the Optiq are not specified.
Its energy recovery when lifting the foot is adjusted via paddles behind the steering wheel and a “one pedal” mode is offered.
The Optiq will be available in two versions, Luxury and Sport, and sold from $54,000 in the United States. It remains to be seen its price in France, where Cadillac will assert its premium positioning.