The 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V is the Automaker’s Quickest Car Yet
Cadillac doesn’t see why electrification has to come at the cost of fun.
The Detroit luxury marque has just unveiled the high-performance 2026 Lyriq-V. Not only is the midsize SUV the company’s first all-electric model to wear the vaunted V badge, but it’s also its quickest vehicle yet.
The announcement shows Cadillac’s V series isn’t going anywhere, even as its lineup expands to include more electric models. Launched in 2003, the line is the automaker’s answer to BMW’s M division and Mercedes-Benz AMG sub-brand. Each V-series model, like the 682-hp Escalade-V, features a slew of performance upgrades that boost power and performance to a level rarely associated with luxury vehicles.
The standard Lyriq is available with two powertrains. The first, a single-motor rear-wheel-drive unit, makes 340 hp and 325 ft lbs of torque, while the second, a dual-motor all-wheel-drive unit, makes 500 hp and 450 ft lbs of torque. The V-series model, on the other hand, features a dual-motor rear-wheel-drive unit that generates 615 hp and 650 ft lbs of torque. That boost does come at a slight trade-off. The Lyriq-V, like the other two versions of the EV, gets its juice from a 102-kWh battery pack, but the extra power means its range comes in at 285 miles compared to the standard AWD’s model’s 305 miles.
Still, we doubt anyone considering the high-performance model will be that put off by the efficiency hit. That’s because while the Lyriq Q may not be a track beast, it can still really move. Cadillac says the EV can shoot from zero to 60 mph in 3.3 seconds. That’s significantly quicker than the 4.6 seconds it takes the standard AWD model to do the same. It’s also quicker, the brand claims, than any other model in its 122-year history. You can still depend on the SUV as a daily driver, though. A revised suspension ensures a smooth and comfortable ride, even when the pedal is to the metal.
The Lyriq-V features an all-new head-up display
Cadillac
An upgraded powertrain isn’t the only thing that separates the V model from other Lyriqs. The exterior has been spruced up just a tad, with a more aggressive lower front fascia, new rocker panels, and body-color lower trim. There’s also V-series badging and the option of carbon-fiber accents. The interior, meanwhile, looks almost identical to that of the standard Lyriq but does feature an all-new head-up display that offers dual-plan augmented reality, a unique steering wheel, and more V-series badging.
The Lyriq V will go into production later this year and launch as part of Cadillac’s 2026 model year lineup. The high-performance model will start at $79,900, which is around $20,000 more than the standard RWD version and $11,000 more than the AWD version.
Click here for more photos of the 2026 Cadillac Lyriq V.
