Cadillac still plans to bring its quickest vehicle ever to Australia, plus updates for its debut model

General Motors says the Cadillac Lyriq-V is still coming to Australia, even though we’re almost halfway through 2026 and the high-performance electric SUV has yet to arrive, while an updated version of the regular Lyriq is also bound for Down Under.

The Lyriq debuted the American luxury brand in Australia, with customer deliveries commencing early in 2025. Prior to this, in October 2024, General Motors Australia and New Zealand (GM ANZ) confirmed the hot Lyriq-V would arrive here in 2026.

When asked at the local launch of the Optiq and Vistiq exactly when the Lyriq-V will arrive here, GM ANZ managing director Jess Bala declined to provide exact timing, but promised it’s still coming.

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“We’re talking through at the moment actually how we want to bring that one to market. It’s such a niche vehicle again, but at the same time a good opportunity for us as the fastest Cadillac ever,” she told CarExpert.

“For now, we’re utilising the three we’ve got – Optiq, current Lyriq and Vistiq – to stabilise the brand, show the full portfolio that we’ve got, and once we’ve done that along with the footprint expansion it’ll give us the opportunity to talk about when and how to bring the V to market.”

Deliveries of the Optiq, which slots in under the Lyriq, will commence in the third quarter (July to September) of 2026, with the flagship Vistiq following in the fourth quarter (October to December).

GM has confirmed it's working with dealer partners to expand its local retail network, which currently comprises just one 'experience centre' in Sydney plus a test drive location in Melbourne.

When asked if there’s a chance the Lyriq-V won’t end up coming here, Ms Bala was adamant it’s still planned for a local launch.

“No. It’s still coming. We’ve got so much happening right now, we want to maximise all of that. Obviously we had F1 three to four months ago, now we’ve got our expansion, the full portfolio... let’s get the brand up even more,” she said.

“We’ve had a lot of great increased awareness and extra customers coming in, so let’s get that going, and then we can talk about bringing V in, but [it's] definitely still part of the plan.”

The Lyriq-V features the same 102kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) battery as the regular Lyriq but delivers higher outputs of 459kW and 880Nm from its dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain – up 71kW and 270Nm.

This gives it a claimed 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of just 3.3 seconds in V-Mode or Velocity Max mode, making it 0.1 seconds quicker than the supercharged V8-powered Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing sports sedan when equipped with an auto.

The Lyriq-V offers 471km of WLTP range, down from 530km in the regular Lyriq.

Other mechanical changes include lowered suspension with Continuous Damping Control, a quicker steering ratio, and Brembo front brakes.

Inside, there’s a new steering wheel and more heavily bolstered front sports seats.

While the V features an augmented reality head-up display, it appears this may be missing from right-hand drive models, as it is in the Optiq and Vistiq.

The Lyriq-V is already on sale in one right-hand drive market, Japan, where the electric performance SUV will be built to order, with customer deliveries to commence in early 2027.

It’s produced in right-hand drive at GM’s Spring Hill, Tennessee plant in the US, alongside the regular Lyriq which has received some minor updates for 2026.

These include the availability of an augmented reality head-up display and new paint colours.

The 19-speaker AKG Studio sound system has also been upgraded to feature 23 speakers, while the stop/start button has been removed and there’s now a hands-on lane-centring function available for roads where the hands-free Super Cruise system won’t work.

“We need to balance the current customer interest, enquiry, conversion, etcetera. Get them all into their product, and then manage the lead time out of the US,” Ms Bala told CarExpert when asked if GM ANZ is waiting to shift existing stock first.

“So I would say at least until late this year, if not early next year.”

“Timing’s got to be right in terms of when we move to that, and then what that model year will be will be depending on when and how we do that,” added GM ANZ marketing director Heath Walker.

A total of 13 model year 2025 (MY25) Lyriqs remain in inventory on Cadillac’s Australian website.

The manufacturer’s recommended list price (MRLP) of both the Lyriq Sport and Lyriq Luxury was recently dropped to $90,000 before on-road costs, bringing it under the current Luxury Car Tax (LCT) threshold for fuel-efficient vehicles and therefore making it eligible for Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) exemptions. Both variants are currently being offered for $95,000 drive-away nationwide until June 30, 2026.

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