High IQ move? 2025 Cadillac Optiq could be the next luxury electric car to come to Australia following the Lyriq

The Optiq could be Cadillac Australia’s next all-electric model following the Lyriq large SUV as the brand looks to expand its portfolio and gain a better foothold Down Under.

Shown at the Los Angeles Motor Show, Cadillac is spruiking the Optiq as part of “its expanding global electric car portfolio” and competes in the booming mid-size SUV segment against premium all-electric rivals like the Audi Q4 e-tron, BMW iX3, Genesis GV70 Electrified, Lexus RZ and Mercedes EQC.

We already know Cadillac Australia won’t stop with just the Lyriq, and lowering the point of entry to the brand with a model like the Optiq could be a prudent move as it tries to steal the limelight away from established players.

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Details for the US-market version are still being kept under wraps, but the official press release states the Optiq “will act as the entry point for Cadillac’s EV line-up in North America” and that the “spirited driving dynamics are designed to appeal to global luxury customers”.

Cadillac is promising more detailed information next year, including pricing for the US.

However, this isn’t the first time the Optiq has been seen, as it was revealed earlier this year in China and thought to be exclusive to that market at the time as it is built in conjunction with Shanghai Automotive Industry Corporation (SAIC).

And we can turn to the Chinese market for clues as to what to expect from the Optiq.

The Optiq could be Cadillac Australia’s next all-electric model.

Two powertrain options are on offer, a 150kW or 180kW version, that feature a single electric motor – as revealed by the Chinese Ministry of Information and Technology (MIIT) back in July.

The documentation also states the Optiq will measure 4822mm long, 1912mm wide, 1642mm tall and features a 2954mm wheelbase, sizing it up closely with its luxury electric vehicle (EV) rivals. Kerb weight is also said to be 2220kg.

No details on battery size or driving range have surfaced, however.

If the Optiq does indeed follow the Lyriq to Australian shores, expect a price tag around $100,000. The most affordable car in the class, the yet-to-launch Audi Q4 e-tron 45, kicks off at $88,300, before on-road costs.