- Cadillac officials have told us they believe V-Series customers are ready to go electric.
- They contend “performance is performance” regardless of the powertrain.
- Going electric could usher in a new era of performance as the upcoming Escalade IQ is more powerful than the CT5-V Blackwing.
2024 marks the 20th anniversary of the V-Series and its impact is far greater than sales alone. During a press conference last week, Cadillac officials revealed the V-Series is a conquest king that introduces new people to the brand.
In particular, some V-Series models have a conquest rate of up to 80%. That’s an impressive figure, but it’s only part of what makes V-Series so important as these customers often go onto buy multiple vehicles. It also goes without saying the performance line helps to elevate the brand as well as appeal to enthusiasts.
More: Cadillac’s Opulent Velocity Concept Is The Electric Hypercar Of The Future
However, the future is knocking on the door and it’s electric. This raises serious questions about whether or not Cadillac V-Series customers will stick around after the roar of the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 has faded.
While there will undoubtedly be moans and groans, officials told us they believe customers will rally behind EVs. In the end, “performance is performance” regardless if it comes from an internal combustion engine or a pair of electric motors.
Electrification could also take the V-Series to new heights as the Escalade IQ produces 750 hp (559 kW / 760 PS) and 785 lb-ft (1,063 Nm) of torque in Velocity Max mode. That’s far more than the aforementioned V8, which develops 668 hp (498 kW / 677 PS) and 659 lb-ft (892 Nm) of torque in the CT5-V Blackwing. It’s also worth noting more power is possible as the GMC Hummer EV Pickup offers up to 1,000 hp (746 kW / 1,014 PS).
Only time will tell how things pan out, but strong Lyriq sales are an encouraging sign. Second quarter deliveries surged 441% to 7,294 units, which made the electric crossover Cadillac’s second best-selling vehicle, both for the quarter and year-to-date.
