General Motors (GM) has introduced the Cadillac Optiq-V, a high-performance electric vehicle that challenges assumptions about the company’s shift away from traditional horsepower in favor of electrification. The Optiq-V ranks among GM’s fastest vehicles, gas or electric, with power and features aimed at enthusiasts.
The standard Cadillac Optiq offers 300 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque through a dual-motor all-wheel-drive system. The Optiq-V significantly increases those figures, delivering 515 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque, enabling a 0-60 mph sprint in just 3.5 seconds in its Velocity Max mode—only two-tenths of a second slower than the Lyriq-V, Cadillac’s quickest EV to date.
This boost in power affects driving range, with the Optiq-V estimated to cover 275 miles on its 85 kWh battery, compared with 302 miles for the standard model. The Optiq-V also adds a suite of performance and handling features, including a configurable V-Mode, track-optimized Competitive Mode, Launch Control, and Brembo brakes with customizable red or blue calipers. GM’s Super Cruise advanced driver assistance system is standard.
A notable technical advancement is the inclusion of a Tesla-developed North American Charging Standard (NACS) port on the Optiq-V, the first GM EV to adopt this connector. This offers expanded access to Tesla’s extensive charging network, although current V3 Superchargers have shorter cables optimized for Tesla vehicles with ports in different locations, requiring some users to double park until upgrades to V4 stations are implemented.
The Optiq-V also features updated styling, with blacked-out 21-inch wheels, front bumper, and lower lip, plus an optional carbon fiber package for key aerodynamic elements. It will be available in two limited edition metallic colors: Magnus Metal Frost gray and Deep Ocean Tintcoat blue. Pricing starts at $68,795 including destination charges, which is $14,405 more than the base Optiq AWD model and roughly $11,000 less than the Lyriq-V, which starts at $80,090.
GM’s expanded lineup of high-performance EVs, including the Lyriq-V, Chevy Blazer EV SS, and now the Optiq-V, signals the company’s continued investment in electric performance vehicles. As one industry observer noted, “high performance isn’t going out with the gas engine,” contradicting some narratives about GM’s electric transition.
