The regular Cadillac Optiq is far from sluggish. However, the Optiq-V takes the performance to extreme heights.
- The Cadillac Optiq-V will outperform most gas-powered performance SUVs by a significant margin.
- The two electric motors generate 515 horsepower and assist in accelerating from 0 to 60 miles per hour in only 3.5 seconds.
- General Motors is transitioning to adopt the Tesla-style NACS charging port, with the Optiq-V being the first electric vehicle from GM to come equipped with this feature as standard.
When General Motors recently declared an investment of $1 billion in advanced V8 engine technology, The Daily Wire The company stated it was "redirecting its attention from electric vehicle motors back to horsepower and torque." This statement has since been removed. story However, today’s news could be quite painful for those who doubt: Cadillac has just introduced the Optiq-V, placing it among the quickest General Motors vehicles ever produced, whether gasoline-powered or electric.
The regular Optiq model is quite capable, offering 300 horsepower along with 354 pound-feet of torque through a twin-motor all-wheel-drive system. However, the Optiq-V takes it to another level: it boasts an impressive 515 horsepower, 650 lb-ft of torque, and can accelerate from zero to 60 mph in merely 3.5 seconds when inVelocity Max mode—a feat that’s only slightly behind by two tenths of a second. Lyriq-V that was released earlier this year.
The driving range can be affected by additional power; the Optiq-V is anticipated to provide around 275 miles based on General Motors' estimated range using an 85-kilowatt-hour battery. In contrast, the regular Optiq has been rated at approximately 302 miles according to Environmental Protection Agency estimates. This version includes several high-end features not available on the basic model, such as a customizable V-Mode (similar to Hyundai’s N Mode or BMW’s M1/M2 configurations), a performance-oriented Competitive Mode designed for tracks, Launch Control, and Brembo brakes featuring either red or blue calipers. Additionally, GM's sophisticated Super Cruise ADAS system is included as a standard feature.
The Optiq-V will mark General Motors' entry into electric vehicles equipped with a charging port compliant with the North American Charging Standard developed by Tesla. This opens up numerous additional charging options; however, there is an important caveat. The Optiq-V features its charging port on the front-left fender, whereas Tesla Superchargers typically position their ports at the back-left or front-right. Most initial versions of the V3 stations come with shorter cables intended primarily for use with Teslas. Consequently, owners may need to park parallel to another vehicle when using these older charger models. Upgrades to the newer V4 dispensers, designed for broader compatibility including longer cords suitable for various EVs like the Optiq-V, are necessary from Tesla before this inconvenience can be fully resolved.
As InsideEVs Deputy Editor Mack Hogan recently observed, during the NACS transition doesn't solve all charging issues like a magic solution not just yet, and you still need to have extensive expertise in EV charging knowledge.
Apart from those alterations, most of the modifications are primarily cosmetic. The front bumper, lower lip, and 21-inch wheels have been painted black, giving them a sleeker and bolder appearance. Additionally, Cadillac provides an optional carbon fiber kit featuring elements such as the front splitter, rear diffuser, and spoiler. This exclusive design will come in two specially crafted metallic hues: Magnus Metal Frost (a gray shade) and Deep Ocean Tintcoat (which has a blue tint).
The starting price for this model is $68,795, inclusive of the destination charge. This amount represents an increase of $14,405 compared to the base Optiq AWD but is approximately $11,000 less than the Lyriq-V, whose starting point is set at $80,090.
The Lyriq-V remains the fastest street-legal Cadillac, but compared to it, the Chevy Blazer EV SS , and now comes the Optiq-V; GM is emphasizing that high performance is not fading away with gasoline engines, contrary to what some media outlets might suggest.
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