GM Shows Off New EV Platform, Teases Cadillac Lyriq And Confirms Chevy Bolt EUV

GM’s electric vehicle offense is kicking into high gear as the company has announced Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet and GMC will all be getting EVs.

While we already knew the GMC HUMMER EV would be unveiled on May 20th, the company has confirmed its next electric vehicle will debut in April.

Teased at the 2019 North American International Auto Show, the model will be an electric crossover from Cadillac. The automaker is keeping details under wraps, but they confirmed it will be called the Lyriq.

Little is known about the vehicle at this point, but the teaser video suggests the model will have a fully enclosed grille with an illuminated crest logo.  The company also released a new teaser image of the Lyriq and it appears far more rounded than in the original renderings.

Details are hard to make out, but we can see a rakish windscreen that flows into a sloping roof.  There’s also an angular rear window and a prominent spoiler.

New Chevrolet Bolt and Bolt EUV

GM will also introduce a third electric vehicle this year.  It’s a “new version” of the Chevrolet Bolt and it will be launched in late 2020.  The company was tight-lipped on specifics, but previous reports have suggested the electric hatchback will receive a minor facelift.

Details are limited, but we can expect a host of exterior and interior changes.  However, it remains unclear if the powertrain will be upgraded as the 2020 Bolt saw its range increase 21 miles (34 km) to 259 miles (417 km) overall.

Less than a year later, Chevrolet will introduce the 2022 Bolt EUV.  The model will be launched during the summer of 2021 and become the first non-Cadillac vehicle to offer the Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system.

The model was accidentally revealed in 2017 and recently surfaced in China as the Buick Velite 7.  It will be an electric crossover that rides on an “advanced version of the current award-winning Bolt EV architecture.”

China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology indicated the model will measure 167.9 inches (4264 mm) long and have a wheelbase that spans 105.3 inches (2675 mm). If those figures are correct, the Bolt EUV should be 3.9 inches (99 mm) longer than the Bolt and have a 2.9 inch (74 mm) longer wheelbase.

More EVs Are On The Horizon

Besides the aforementioned models, GM released a mysterious teaser image showing the front of four electric vehicles.  The one of the far left appears to be a Cadillac, while the other three are anyone’s guess.

GM also released a teaser video showing the company’s new electric vehicle platform underpinning an assortment of models.  The first appears to be a compact crossover, while the second looks like a coupe.  As a result, it’s likely the “Lux Low Roof” model which is expected to be a Cadillac ELR successor.

The clip then shows an electric pickup which presumably the GMC HUMMER EV.  Next is a crossover coupe which could be a production version of the Buick Enspire concept.  The final vehicle appears to be the Cruise Origin, Cruise Cargo Pod or a commercial vehicle.

An All-New Platform For An All-New Electric Era

Besides teasing an assortment of upcoming models, GM revealed their third-generation global EV platform which will be powered by proprietary “Ultium” batteries.

Speaking of the latter, GM says their Ultium batteries are “unique in the industry because the large-format, pouch-style cells can be stacked vertically or horizontally inside the battery pack. This allows engineers to optimize battery energy storage and layout for each vehicle design.”

This modular design allows GM to create battery packs with capacities ranging from 50 to 200 kWh.  The latter is downright massive as many EVs – including the Audi E-Tron, Mercedes EQC and Jaguar I-Pace – have capacities of less than 100 kWh. GM didn’t reveal detailed specifications, but confirmed the batteries could offer a range of 400 miles (644 km) or more.

The batteries will power new electric motors that have been developed in-house.  They will support front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive and performance all-wheel drive applications.  Speaking of the latter, GM reiterated high-performance models will be able to rocket from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in as little as three seconds.

Most of the upcoming EVs will have 400-volt battery packs and a fast-charging capability of up to 200 kW.  However, electric trucks will have 800-volt battery packs and a 350 kW fast-charging capability.

GM didn’t say much about the platform, but confirmed it is “flexible enough to build a wide range of trucks, SUVs, crossovers, cars and commercial vehicles with outstanding design, performance, packaging, range and affordability.”

GM also noted future electric vehicles will be more affordable as their joint venture with LG Chem will drive battery cell costs below $100/kWh.  The company added EVs are less complex as they’re planning “19 different battery and drive unit configurations initially, compared with 550 internal combustion powertrain combinations available today.”

Thanks to these changes, GM says their EV program will be profitable.  The company also pointed to forecasts calling for “EV volumes to more than double from 2025 to 2030 to about 3 million units on average.”  The company thinks those estimates are conservative and EVs will be even more popular.