Cadillac’s V-Series performance vehicles are some of the most exciting new models you can buy today, but the brand won’t lean on internal combustion for its thrills forever. The Detroit luxury automaker recently confirmed that it would continue building performance cars in the EV age, an encouraging sign for enthusiasts concerned about the lack of variety in the current roster of electric cars when it comes to body style and weight.
A company executive said to “stay tuned” for more on where Cadillac plans to take its V lineup in the future, noting that the brand would “offer performance variants no matter the propulsion.” Cadillac plans to shift to an all-electric catalog by 2030.
So far, Cadillac’s V cars have leaned on high-powered V6 and V8 engines to deliver their thrills. The CT5-V Blackwing and Escalade-V offer superb blown V8 engines, and both sound like the gates of hell opening at full throttle. It’s difficult to imagine an electric model capturing that personality, but EVs have no trouble being quick.
Cadillac’s EV lineup is currently very small but set for an expansion this year. The Lyriq is a popular electric model and is ramping up production to meet demand. Its second EV, the ultra-expensive, bespoke Celestiq, recently started production, but the multiple-six-figure price tag and completely custom build process limit it to a select few buyers. We’ll learn more about the Optiq and Vistiq SUVs later this year, along with the Escalade IQ, but Cadillac hasn’t said anything about offering performance versions of those models yet.
General Motors’ EV hopes took a hit at the beginning of 2024, as several models lost access to federal tax credits due to changes in the rules. The Cadillac Lyriq lost credits, but GM expects the SUV to regain eligibility early this year. The Optiq should be eligible for credits when it arrives. Other GM vehicles affected by the changes include the Chevrolet Blazer EV, Chevrolet Equinox EV, Chevrolet Silverado EV, and GMC Sierra EV.
