Cadillac’s highly anticipated electric SUV, the Lyriq, has finally landed in Germany, but with a price tag that might give potential buyers pause. While the base model in the United States starts at $58,590, German customers will have to fork out almost $30,000 more, with prices kicking off at ā¬80,500 (approximately $86,500).
The discrepancy in pricing is partially due to the different specifications offered in each market. Unlike the U.S., where customers can choose between rear-wheel and all-wheel drive, the German market will only have the all-wheel-drive version available, starting at ā¬80,500. Additionally, the German lineup will feature only the Luxury and Sport trim levels, omitting the base Tech version found in the U.S. For a more accurate comparison, the cheapest all-wheel-drive Lyriq in the U.S. is the Luxury model, starting at $66,190.
Interested buyers in Germany can experience the Lyriq firsthand at test drive locations in Berlin and Munich, with Cologne joining the list in June. Cadillac also has plans to open retail sites in Frankfurt and Hamburg later this year.
However, breaking into the German market won’t be a walk in the park for Cadillac. With Volkswagen, Mercedes, Audi, and BMW dominating the sales charts year after year, convincing buyers to switch from these premium local brands to an American one with minimal presence in Europe will be a tough sell.
Despite the challenges, the Cadillac Lyriq boasts impressive specs, including a 102 kWh battery pack powering two electric motors delivering 528 hp and 450 lb-ft (610 Nm) of torque. It can accelerate from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 5.3 seconds, supports 190 kW charging, and offers an estimated WLTP driving range of around 530 km (329 miles).
Although GM’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driving system is not included in the German model, Cadillac assures buyers that essential driver assistance features such as lane departure warning and automatic emergency braking remain intact. The company has also fine-tuned the chassis, steering, and brakes to better suit the preferences of European drivers.
Cadillac initially introduced the Lyriq to the European market last year through a direct-to-consumer sales model in Switzerland. Besides Germany, the Lyriq is expected to be available in Sweden, France, and other European markets in the near future.