The Cadillac IQ Lyriq V went on sale in China on June 1, priced at RMB 399,900 (about USD 55,200 at 1 USD ≈ 7.25 CNY). Only 124 units will be built, marking General Motors’ 124-year anniversary. With a dual-motor silicon-carbide drivetrain, 465 kW combined output, 863 Nm of torque, a 3.3-second 0–100 km/h sprint and a 95.7 kWh battery good for roughly 600 km of CLTC range, the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V is the most extreme version of GM’s Ultium-based Lyriq ever offered to Chinese buyers, and arguably the most serious U.S.-branded performance EV ever sold in China at this price.
Why the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V matters
U.S. brands have struggled to compete on EV performance in China against Chinese rivals like the Zeekr 007 GT, the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra and the Lotus Emeya. The Cadillac IQ Lyriq V is GM’s clearest attempt yet to plant a performance EV flag in the Chinese premium segment. At RMB 399,900, it sits in the same price band as the Tesla Model Y Performance and the BMW i4 M50, but with significantly stronger straight-line acceleration. The 124-unit production cap is symbolic, not commercial — but the message is strategic: SAIC-GM still has the will to put a U.S. performance EV badge on a Chinese dealership floor.
Cadillac IQ Lyriq V: Performance specs at a glance
- Powertrain: dual-motor all-wheel-drive with silicon-carbide inverters.
- Combined power: 465 kW.
- Combined torque: 863 Nm.
- 0–100 km/h: 3.3 seconds.
- Battery: 95.7 kWh.
- Range: about 600 km CLTC.
- Wheels and brakes: 21-inch wheels with 275 mm tyres, six-piston Brembo front brakes.
- Chassis: V-tuned CDC continuously variable dampers, launch control, race mode and a top-speed mode.
That spec sheet puts the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V just behind the Tesla Model Y Performance on launch acceleration, but well ahead on torque and audio experience. It also makes it the fastest factory Cadillac ever sold in China.
Design and interior: V-series specific touches
Exterior changes on the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V include a unique satin silver “Liuguang” paint, a large front splitter, side dive planes, a rear diffuser and a roof spoiler. Inside, Cadillac has fitted a dedicated “Yekong Daailan” deep-blue cabin theme, V-specific instrument cluster UI, sports seats with adjustable side bolsters and a 23-speaker AKG audio system with Dolby Atmos plus a V-series-tuned synthetic engine sound profile. It is one of the few premium EVs in China that has bothered to ship a Dolby Atmos head unit with V-series exclusive tuning.
Ownership benefits: GM is loading the deal
To anchor the limited-volume launch, SAIC-GM is bundling the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V with one of the most generous ownership packages on a China-market EV today:
- RMB 20,000 brand-agnostic trade-in subsidy.
- Three-year unlimited-mileage warranty on the whole car.
- 24-month financing from 0.99 percent.
- Lifetime free basic connectivity data.
- Five years of free 8 GB/month entertainment data.
- Lifetime warranty on the three-electric system (battery, motor, electronic controller).
- Lifetime V-CLUB membership for the first owner.
Cadillac IQ Lyriq V vs Chinese performance EVs
Versus the obvious Chinese rivals, the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V is priced significantly below the Zeekr 007 GT halo trim and the Xiaomi SU7 Ultra, but offers similar power output and arguably stronger brand prestige in the international market. Against the BMW i4 M50, it brings more torque and a longer CLTC range. Against the Tesla Model Y Performance, it brings a much more luxurious cabin but loses on software ecosystem. In short, it is the most “old-school luxury” performance EV in the segment, deliberately positioning itself away from the Chinese tech-first incumbents.
Editor’s note from Han Liu
The 124-unit production cap on the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V is the most important detail. SAIC-GM is not trying to win volume share at this price; it is trying to remind Chinese buyers that Cadillac still builds proper performance EVs. If this launch is followed by a wider V-trim rollout in 2027 across the IQ Lyriq line, GM may finally have a credible performance EV story in China. If it stays a one-off, it will be remembered as a marketing exercise rather than a strategy.
Frequently Asked Questions about the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V
How much does the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V cost in China?
The Cadillac IQ Lyriq V is priced at RMB 399,900 (about USD 55,200). Production is limited to 124 units to celebrate Cadillac’s 124th anniversary.
How fast is the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V?
The car uses a silicon-carbide dual-motor all-wheel-drive system rated at 465 kW combined and 863 Nm of torque, with a 0–100 km/h time of 3.3 seconds.
What is the range of the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V?
The 95.7 kWh battery delivers about 600 km of CLTC range, with V-tuned CDC continuously variable dampers and launch, race and top-speed modes for performance driving.
Will the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V be sold outside China?
GM has not yet confirmed export plans for the Cadillac IQ Lyriq V in this 124-unit limited run. Given the U.S. market already has its own Lyriq-V variant, the China-only branding here suggests this trim is built specifically for the SAIC-GM dealership network.
Source: Autohome.com
Reviewed by Han Liu, Editor, iEVChina.
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