Optiq-V Will Be Cadillac’s Second High-Performance EV

Cadillac’s push into battery-electric power includes a new line of high-performance models and it has confirmed a second V-Series EV, a version of the new Caddy Optiq that, in standard form, just recently began rolling into U.S. showrooms. Here’s more from Headlight.News.

General Motors has dropped a teaser image of its next high-performance luxury EV, the 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V.

The new model will become the second all-electric take on Caddy’s familiar V-Series line-up, following the Lyriq-V into showrooms. Both are now scheduled to debut during the 2026 model-year.

The goal is to expand “the brand’s performance offering,” the automaker said in a statement, “Building on Optiq’s agile drive, Cadillac engineers delivered a unique package prioritizing precision, a dynamic suspension and tight steering for an exhilarating driving experience.”

What is the Optiq-V?

Cadillac began its EV roll-out two years ago with the debut of its mid-range Lyriq and has so far confirmed five separate models – with more reportedly on the way. Optiq serves as the entry into the brand’s battery-electric line-up. Starting at $54,000 – before factoring in a $1,495 delivery fee – it sits right at the median price of today’s EVs.

All versions of the standard Optiq feature a twin-motor, all-wheel-drive powertrain making a combined 300 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, Those motors draw power from a usable battery capacity of 85.0 kilowatt-hours, Optiq getting an EPA-rated 302 miles of range.

Caddy hasn’t revealed details about the Optiq-V but one can get a sense of where it’s going by checking out the numbers for the larger, more expensive Lyriq-V. The standard AWD package makes 515 hp and 450 lb-ft of torque, enough to get from 0-60 in just over 5 seconds. The Lyriq-V punches up to 615 hp and 650 lb-ft, cutting launch times to 3.3 seconds.

If existing models are any indication, other mechanical upgrades are in the works, possibly to the current electric crossover’s frequency dependent dampers. In conversations during a drive event with the standard Optiq package, Caddy officials sidestepped the possibility a V-Series package might include the more sophisticated magnetic ride control suspension on the Lyriq-V.

The V-Series

Cadillac has turned the V-Series into a full-on sub-brand set to rival the likes of Mercedes-AMG and BMW’s M line. It was first introduced in March 2004 for the 2005 CTS line and has since become an upgrade offered on all models using internal combustion engines.

The prospect of carrying the V-Series over to electric Cadillac models seemed a given as the automaker launched what it described as a shift to an all-electric future. It offered a first hint of what might be in store in August 2024 with the rollout of the Opulent Velocity concept. Bryan Nesbitt,then  executive director of Global Cadillac Design – and now overall head of design for parent General Motors — described it as a “future vision of luxury performance.”

From the beginning, Caddy’s V-Series has been about more than raw power. We can expect to see some notable upgrades to the 2026 Optiq’s design, as well, with some external mods specifically meant to improve aerodynamics and handling. The cabin is all but certain to see sporty tweaks such as aluminum pedals, possibly a unique steering wheel and upgraded fabrics, in line with the rest of the V-Series line-up.

More Cadillac News

• First Drive: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ
• First Drive: 2025 Cadillac Optiq
• First Look: 3-Row Cadillac Vistiq EV

What’s next for Caddy’s EV rollout?

Cadillac got off to a slow start with its EV transition, a series of technical glitches setting back plans for the Lyriq, though it began building momentum roughly a year ago. In the U.S., the luxury brand delivered 5,800 Lyriqs during the first quarter of this year, up 499% from the 968 handed over to consumers during Q1 2024.

While it only recently began rolling out of a plant in Mexico, Cadillac was able to deliver 1,716 of the Optiq models during the quarter. As the entry model in the brand’s electric line-up, officials expect it to outsell Lyriq and other Caddy EVs.

Among the other three models so far confirmed, the brand’s traditional flagship is also making an appearance in battery-electric form. The new Escalade IQ is then set to be followed by the three-row Vistiq. Orders are already being taken for the ultra-exotic Celestiq, a largely hand-built grand touring EV that starts around $300,000.