The power of American luxury has arrived in Japan

It may be hard to tell from Japan, but Cadillac is doing well. While it's true that the company's former glory as a representative of America has faded, its brand value in North America remains strong.

This is evidenced by the extensive lineup in the US. In Japan, sedans have disappeared and the lineup is comprised solely of SUVs, but that's not the case there. SUVs are a given, but sedans like the CT4 and CT5 are still going strong, and the high-performance V-Series model is also popular. Cadillac Racing's racing activities also support this, as its racing-style driving seems to be highly regarded. And with Cadillac Racing participating in F1 from 2026, there's no end to the news.

Among them, the BEV series stands out. In addition to the Lyric, which we will be focusing on here, there is also the Optic, Vistic, and Escalade IQ. They offer a range of sizes in BEV. It is impressive that the Lyric also has a V series in the home country.

In Japan, the BEV market is not very active, so only the Lyriq is available. Moreover, it was only released in March of this year, a long time after its world premiere.
So, there aren't many media outlets that talk much about Cadillac, but when I saw the Lyriq, I was impressed by the overwhelming strength of its design. I found it appealing as it incorporates Cadillac tradition while also proposing something new.

Historic Cadillac's vision for the future

This is evident from the styling, and although the proportions are crossover-like, the hood gives the viewer a low, sporty image. It has what is known as a "low and wide" feel. The body has no decorative ornaments and is made up of a simple surface structure. And yet, it still has that Cadillac feel, as you'd expect. The signature LED lights at the front, which shine vertically, express their identity.

The same can be said for the rear. The low-positioned vertical LED rear combination lights pay homage to the 1967 Eldorado, expressing the fact that the big coupe, nicknamed "The Land of Gold," was an iconic Cadillac at the time. The car measures just under 5m in length and just under 2m in width, making it the second largest in the BEV series after the Escalade IQ.

The power unit is a BEV powered by two motors, producing a maximum output of 384kW and a maximum torque of 610Nm. It is an AWD system with one motor on each front and rear wheel. The lithium-ion battery, housed in a long wheelbase, has a capacity of 95.7kMh. The driving range per charge is said to reach 510km, which is not bad. With normal use, it should be possible to get by with charging once a week. Charging is supported via standard 100V or 200V charging, as well as Japanese-spec rapid charging.

The interior's eye-catching 33-inch advanced color LED display is a cutting-edge design, curved and cutting edge. It's a product of a country that's home to Silicon Valley. And yet, it's beautifully combined with the wood paneling. This is perhaps the result of the years of experience the brand has built up as a luxury brand. It exudes a new era of luxury.

My impression after driving it is that it's a little different from the driving that brings out the characteristics of an electric motor like a Tesla. The driving feeling is closer to a gasoline car, and it feels like you're driving a large-displacement engine. The torque is delivered naturally, and there's no sudden peaky acceleration. If you drive it for a long time, you'll forget that it's being driven by a motor.

Of course, that's only when driving in the default "Touring Mode," but switching to "Sport Mode" completely changes the driving experience. It's more responsive, allowing you to experience the acceleration typical of a BEV. Other drive modes include "Snow/Ice Mode" and "My Mode." "Snow/Ice Mode" applies control earlier in response to changes in behavior, so it seems like it would be more effective on rainy days.

The Cadillac Lyric is priced at 1100 million yen. If you're looking for a luxury BEV that stands out from the crowd, it's definitely worth considering.

Tatsuya Kushima

Motor journalist and columnist. Currently, he is the media site editor-in-chief and media business producer for the surfing magazine "NALU." She has previously served as editor-in-chief of many men's magazines, golf magazines, car magazines, airline in-flight magazines, etc. In addition to media activities, he is a member of the Japan Car of the Year selection committee, a member of the Japan Cigar Association, a Japan Boat of the Year selection committee, and the creative director of men's golf wear ``The Duke's Golf.''