A month after the single-motor FWD Cadillac Optiq broke cover in China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, a new listing appears revealing the dual-motor AWD version of the electric Cadillac SUV. The new Optiq will sit below the larger Lyriq and compete with the likes of the Tesla Model Y, so you could say it’s one of Cadillac’s most important new models to date.
From the outside, the flagship AWD trim of the Cadillac Optiq doesn’t look any different from its high-spec FWD sibling, sharing the same glossy black accents around the bodywork and the 20-inch alloy wheels. Actually, the only way to tell them apart is from the badges on the tailgate which are there to indicate the powertrain variant. However, we also get an early look at a blue-painted example featuring a slightly different pattern for the covered grille.
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Dual-Motor Cadillac Optiq / China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology
Unsurprisingly, the AWD model retains the same footprint as the 2WD Optiq, meaning it measures 4,822 mm (189.8 inches) long, 1,912 mm (75.3 inches) wide, and features the same 2,954 mm (116.3 inches) wheelbase. The only difference is the listed height of 1,643 mm (64.7 inches), which is 1 mm higher than the FWD Optiq. Finally, the dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrain comes with a weight penalty of 82 kg (181 lbs), for a total of 2,300 kg (5,071 lbs) curb weight versus the 2,220 kg (4,890 lbs) of the FWD model.
More importantly, the electric powertrain comprises a front-mounted electric motor producing 192 hp (143 kW / 194 PS) and a rear-mounted electric motor producing 91 hp (68 kW / 92 PS). The spec sheet doesn’t mention the combined output but the AWD Optiq is expected to match the power levels of the mechanically-related AWD Buick Electra E5, which offers a combined 283 hp (211 kW / 287 PS) and 343 lb-ft (465 Nm) of torque. The single-motor FWD Optiq offers 201 hp (150 kW / 204 PS) or 241 hp (180 kW / 245 PS).
Despite the extra power, the top speed of the EV remains limited to 180 km/h (112 mph), but acceleration numbers are expected to be improved. The electric motors will source energy from a lithium-ion battery pack of unknown capacity made by SAIC. Note that the Buick Electra E5 has a 79.7 kWh battery which is good for a 375 miles (603 km) range, figures that could also be mirrored by the Cadillac SUV.
The Cadillac Optiq is expected to debut in China within the second half of 2023, with production starting soon in the SAIC-GM plant in Wuhan. While one could believe that the SUV is a China-only affair, the Optiq’s resemblance to a camouflaged prototype spied testing on US soil, makes us believe that it could be offered in North America. After all, it has been officially confirmed that at least one of the three upcoming Cadillac EVs for 2023 will be produced in multiple locations.
