The 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V is the second high-performance electric SUV to appear from General Motors’ luxury brand, though it’s not quite as powerful as the first.
It incorporates a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain producing 387kW of power and 880Nm of torque, up 163kW and 400Nm on the regular Optiq.
Cadillac claims this 2470kg battery-powered SUV can complete the 0-60mph (0-96km/h) sprint in 3.5 seconds with launch control activated.
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For context, a similarly sized Porsche Macan 4S has 380kW of power and a 0-60mph claim of 3.9 seconds with launch control, though the Macan Turbo shades the Optiq-V with up to 470kW and a 3.1-second claim.
Cadillac’s own Lyriq-V produces 459kW/880Nm, giving it a 0-60mph time of just 3.3 seconds using launch control.
While the Lyriq-V has been confirmed for an Australian launch in 2026, along with the regular Optiq and larger three-row Vistiq, GM Australia and New Zealand has previously indicated the Optiq-V isn’t on the cards for local release.
“No, [Optiq-V isn’t] coming here. We’ll have a Lyriq-V,” GM ANZ managing director Jess Bala told CarExpert in May.
“We haven’t done a V-Series here before, so we want to assess that one first and then we have to look at different regulations within battery architectures and things like that.
“So we’ll start with Lyriq-V, and we’ll continue to assess if there are opportunities that arise.”
A GM ANZ spokesperson had no further comment when asked today about the Optiq-V’s chances, and the official press release notes availability only in North America, the Middle East and Israel.
The Optiq-V features the same 85kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) battery as the regular Optiq, though range under the stricter US EPA test cycle drops to 443km, down from 486km.
It’ll be GM’s first EV with a native North American Charging Standard inlet, allowing it to be compatible with Tesla’s Supercharger network in North America. On a DC fast-charger, GM says the Optiq-V can gain 113km of range in 10 minutes.
Cadillac has followed largely the same formula with the Optiq-V as with the Lyriq-V. To that end, both have five-link rear suspension with Continuous Damping Control adaptive dampers, as well as Brembo front brake calipers.
The luxury brand says it prioritised a “harmonious balance of aerodynamics, weight distribution, agility and safety”, and in addition to the suspension upgrades it says the Optiq-V has “tighter steering”.
A V-Mode, activated by pressing the V button on the steering wheel, allows drivers to save performance-focused settings including a Competitive Mode that “enables a suite of traction management features”, plus unique propulsion sounds.
The Optiq-V is distinguished from the regular Optiq by unique front-end styling, with the trademark V-Series grille mesh pattern found in the lower grille.
There’s also a revised upper grille area, a high-gloss black front splitter, and body-coloured lower trim, while down back there’s a gloss black diffuser.
A carbon-fibre front splitter, rear diffuser, and rear mid-spoiler are available in a special carbon package.
The Optiq-V rides on 21-inch satin graphite alloy wheels with low-profile tyres and a laser-etched V-Series badge; 21-inch wheels with a “dark sport finish” are optional.
A fixed panoramic glass roof with a black surround is standard, while Magnus Metal Frost metallic matte grey exterior paint – as seen on the Lyriq-V – is optional along with the featured Deep Ocean Tintcoat.
Indeed, Cadillac has taken the blue of the V-Series logo and gone to town with it. Those Brembo front brake calipers can be had in blue or red, blue accents can be found within the rear quarter windows, and prominent blue accents can be found inside the cabin.
You can have the Optiq-V with either a Noir (black) interior or two-tone Noir and Sky Cool Grey, but both come standard with Santorini Blue accents.
There’s blue trim across the front of the dash, on the doors, and even the seats feature blue piping. The front seatbacks are also finished almost entirely in blue.
The Optiq-V gets a unique darker patterned accent fabric woven from yarn made from 100 per cent recycled materials, while the centre console has genuine woven carbon-fibre trim.
V-Series logos can be found embroidered on the seats, etched on the sill plates, and dotted elsewhere in the cabin.
Otherwise, the basic layout of the Optiq’s interior carries over, including a 33-inch curved display incorporating the digital instrument cluster and infotainment touchscreen.
The infotainment system features Google built-in, with embedded Google apps such as Google Maps and more available to download through the Google Play Store. There’s also a standard 19-speaker AKG sound system with Dolby Atmos.
Like almost every Cadillac, Super Cruise hands-free highway driving is standard. This Level 2+ autonomous driving technology is yet to be offered in any Australian-market GM vehicle.
The Optiq-V is priced from US$68,795 (~A$105,000), while the core Optiq lineup is priced from US$54,390 to $57,090 (~A$83,000 to $87,500). Production starts in the autumn (our spring) of 2025.
“V-Series continues to help forge Cadillac’s performance legacy by providing customers an exhilarating driving experience,” said John Roth, vice president of global Cadillac.
“Optiq-V will be a significant addition to the V-Series portfolio bringing in new customers to the brand and emphasizing Cadillac’s global impact.”
It’s just a tenth of a second slower to 60mph than the supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing sedan when equipped with a 10-speed automatic transmission.
Though the Optiq-V and Lyriq-V (pictured above) are quick, they’re quite different from the traditionally V8-powered models that have worn the V-Series nameplate over the years.
Cadillac’s first V-Series model was the 2004 CTS-V sedan, which featured an overhead-valve 5.7-litre V8 (later a 6.0-litre) shared with the Chevrolet Corvette, mated with a six-speed manual transmission.
It was soon joined by the STS-V sedan and XLR-V convertible (pictured below with the first CTS-V), which used a supercharged version of Cadillac’s Northstar overhead-cam V8, mated with a six-speed automatic.
These lasted a single generation, but the CTS-V went for two more generations, both with supercharged V8 power.
V-Series models were later joined by tamer VSport models, which swapped V8 power for twin-turbo V6s. That said, not every hardcore V-Series model has packed a bent-eight, with the BMW M3-rivalling ATS-V for example being the first V with a twin-turbo V6.
In recent years, Cadillac revised its V-Series strategy, rolling out models like the CT4-V and CT5-V that are less powerful than previous Vs (the CT4-V even comes with a four-cylinder engine, a first for a V-Series), but replacing the full-fat ATS-V and CTS-V models with new CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing models.
It also introduced the first ever Escalade-V, marking the first time the V-Series name has been used on an SUV.
We’ve missed out on all of these hot combustion-powered Caddys, and will continue to do so as GM ANZ has confirmed the luxury American brand will be EV-only in Australia.
