A storied American brand, Cadillac is set to launch in Ireland after the Charles Hurst retailer group signed a "major distribution deal” with General Motors Europe. A new Cadillac dealership will shortly be unveiled in south Dublin as part of a one-million-Euro investment in bringing the brand to an Irish audience for the first time.
Which Cadillacs are coming to Ireland?
Examples of the Cadillac Lyriq and Vistiq are already in the country, and the Cadillac Optiq will follow soon after. Unsurprisingly, they're all EVs; in fact, they're all electric SUVs. The Lyriq, already on sale in Germany, Sweden, France and Switzerland, is available to order immediately.
What's a Cadillac Lyriq?
It's a large luxury SUV that doesn't really look like an SUV thanks to its curvy bodywork. It's five metres long and has a wheelbase (the distance between the front and rear wheels) of over three metres, making it larger in most dimensions than the Range Rover Sport, for example, though the Lyriq is nearly 200mm closer to the ground for a sportier appearance.
Underneath is a big, 102kWh battery pack, and while full Irish specifications have yet to be confirmed, it's understood that this should enable a range of up to 530 kilometres on the WLTP cycle for the single-motor, rear-wheel-drive variant. That produces up to 370hp and 440Nm of torque.
An all-wheel-drive version of the Lyriq uses two motors for up to 522hp and 610Nm of torque, though it's not yet clear if the high-performance derivative - called Lyriq-V - will be offered to Irish buyers. That V badge is Cadillac's equivalent to BMW's M, incidentally, and the Lyriq-V makes over 620hp.
Irish pricing for the Lyriq has yet to be confirmed, though we know it costs from about €100,000 in Switzerland.
Looks impressive, now tell us about the Cadillac Vistiq
The Vistiq is perhaps more in line with what most Irish motorists will expect of a large Cadillac SUV, as it's even bigger and bulkier than the Lyriq. Saying that, it's built on the same three-metre wheelbase and uses the same electrical components.
Separating the two cars - and hinted at by the Vistiq's upright style - are their interior layouts. The Vistiq is a three-row car, presumably with seating for up to seven people, depending on how the cabin is configured.
Bit big for me, what about the Optiq?
Ah, this one appears to be the most relevant to the Irish market. Cadillac calls it's a compact SUV in the States, but it appears to sit - size-wise - between the BMW X3 and X5, so it's not small in the least.
Again, specifications for Ireland have yet to be confirmed, but the Optiq should make use of an 85kWh battery and the choice of rear-wheel drive using a single electric motor or all-wheel drive using two. The former produces up to 320hp, the latter 446hp.
Any word from Charles Hurst on all this?
Jeff McCartney, Charles Hurst Group Operations Director, said: "Committed to an all-electric future, Cadillac leads in design, craftsmanship, and innovation and is successfully winning new customers around the world for its powerful performance, luxury and pioneering technology.
"As one of Ireland's leading, longest-established car retailers with history and motoring heritage as long as the iconic GM brand, we're thrilled to partner with Cadillac Europe and to be the first to bring this compelling brand to Irish customers for the first time as part of a major investment.”
Lasse Grundstroem, Chief Commercial Officer for GM Europe, said: "We're thrilled to bring the Cadillac brand to Irish customers in partnership with the Charles Hurst Group, whose deep local expertise and commitment to customer service make them an exceptional launch partner.
"Ireland's forward-looking sustainability vision and tech-savvy customer mindset are a perfect match for our all-electric portfolio. With Ireland now our fifth European market, this launch marks another exciting milestone in Cadillac's expansion across the continent.”
For more information on how you can view the Cadillac models in Dublin, phone Charles Hurst Group on 01 6498559, or visit www.charleshurstgroup.co.uk/cadillac to register your interest.