Cadillac Lyriq V Will Be A Classy High-Performance EV

A luxury electric crossover with even more power. Increasingly, automakers are keen to slap their most hallowed high-performance badges on new EVs. The message is clear: electric power and exhilarating driving experiences can co-exist. That's why AMG versions of Mercedes' EQ models are on the way and why Audi now has an RS e-tron GT. Cadillac looks to be following the lead of the Germans.

 Coinciding with the reveal of the Cadillac Lyriq this week, the brand said that a high-performance V variant is being considered. So we decided to envision what a Cadillac Lyriq V would look like. Compared with the regular Lyriq, the V version imagined here has unique detailing for the front grille, a unique lower lip, different wheels, and black exterior detailing that replaces some of the chrome on the standard car. The black roof contrasts nicely with the red paint. As with the normal Lyriq, there are some who believe the face is a bit too fussy. 

Then again, it might translate better in the metal. Although a Lyriq V isn't confirmed, Cadillac global vice president Rory Harvey does seem quite open to the idea. "If you looked at Cadillac in the past, having sporty variants has been part of our heritage," he said. "That is something we're looking at and evaluating moving forward." Harvey made these comments at the Shanghai Auto Show which is being held this week. Although we don't know how much power a V-badged Lyriq may have, the standard model boasts 340 horsepower, 325 lb-ft of torque, and a 100-kWh battery pack. 

That's not too far off the 355-hp output of the Audi e-tron, as long as you don't hook up the e-tron's available boost mode. The standard Lyriq has an estimated range of 300 miles so a high-performance variant might come in with a slightly reduced amount. Either way, we hope that Cadillac's evaluation ends with us getting a real Lyriq V and, who knows, maybe even a Blackwing special?