2025 Cadillac Optiq Finds the EV Party

• 2025 Cadillac Optiq SUV will be the brand's entry-level electric offering, powered by an 85-kWh battery sending juice to two electric motors.

• The smallish SUV, measuring 190 inches in length, will be offered solely as a dual-motor, AWD model when it goes on sale later this year, and will be sold in Sport and Luxury trims.

• The Optiq is estimated to offer a range of 300 miles, with a target starting price of $54,000.

Cadillac took the wraps off the Optiq in Paris, revealing the latest addition to its battery-electric lineup in what has been a busy era for EV rollouts.

The Optiq SUV is set to play the role of the entry-level model in the luxury division's EV lineup, welcoming shoppers who may not necessarily be early adopters to the electric party while also offering the expected luxury features inside.

Based on GM's Ultium platform the Optiq will be offered solely in dual-motor, all-wheel-drive form, while aiming to offer 300 miles of range courtesy of its 85-kWh battery. (That's Cadillac's estimate for now, but it should land pretty close to the eventual EPA numbers, which we'll know closer to the model's actual arrival).

The two motors will serve up an estimated 300 hp and 354 lb-ft of torque, which should make the Optiq a reasonably quick runabout with city-friendly dimensions and plenty of range for its size.

"The Ultium Platform allows us to fit enough muscle into a smaller package to provide a thrilling performance, delivering a sensation of isolated precision," noted John Cockburn, chief engineer.

The Optiq will be offered in Sport and Luxury flavors, with Cadillac choosing the keep the menu simple while targeting a starting price of $54,000 before destination and taxes.

This will place it within striking distance of quite a few similarly-sized electric crossovers and SUVs, not all of them with luxury interiors, in what has become a very busy price category with quite a few overlapping offerings from German and Japanese automakers.

But Cadillac will keep its distance from the dual-motor versions of the updated Tesla Model Y, aiming for a different look, driving experience, and interior accommodations. It also probably won't change its MSRP every few weeks.

The Optiq will seek to set itself apart from the competition with features like a fixed glass roof, DC fast-charging ability that will be able to add up to 79 miles in approximately 10 minutes, and adjustable regenerative braking, in addition to what Cadillac claims are best-in-segment second-row space and cargo capacity.

But it won't try to squeeze in a miniature third row of seats, as this will be a compact SUV, after all.

The interior will feature a large 33-inch LED touchscreen, as the genre now requires, with Cadillac also seeking to impress buyers with PaperWood veneer and accent fabric that uses yarn created entirely from recycled materials in another nod to the EV world's interior trends.

GM's Super Cruise driver-assist system will be standard, as will a 19-speaker AKG Audio system and Dolby Atmos.

"Cadillac has always defined American luxury, and Optiq is an example of how our bold, innovative spirit is propelling us into the EV future," said John Roth, vice president, Global Cadillac.

The Paris reveal of the Optiq is more about the design and basic drivetrain stats rather than minute details, so we'll have to wait a bit longer for a more in-depth introduction to this EV. But the details revealed thus far hint at a promising entry that should be just right on time, as EV shoppers struggle to find affordable luxury SUVs.

Production won't start until this fall, with trim pricing and other details expected to be revealed closer to the model's market launch.

Will the Tesla Model Y maintain its grip on this segment in the coming years with regular updates, or will a variety of new models from other automakers eventually displace it? Let us know what you think.