The Name Game: Cadillac's Future EVs Ditch Alphanumerics in a Questionable Way, but at Least There's an Actual Flagship

by Steph Willems

Published: March 5th, 2020

the name game cadillac s future evs ditch alphanumerics in a questionable way but

Yesterday was EV Day at General Motors, with the automaker revealing a $20 billion roadmap to electric vehicle dominance. By 2025, a slew of EVs riding atop a new modular platform (and powered by an innovative new battery) will find a home in every GM brand, segment, and price point, the automaker claims.

Some of those vehicles already have names. Perhaps we were too quick to call for the return of traditional naming conventions at Cadillac.

Caddy’s bid to out-European the Europeans by ditching boring old words led to the creation of dissimilar models with similar monikers. XT4 and CT4, XT5 and CT5, XT6 and CT6. It was all too much. The names lacked both recognition and presence.

In yesterday’s presentation, GM announced that Caddy’s first emissions-free vehicle will carry the Lyriq name. The sharp-edged crossover appears next month, with launch details to follow.

Lyriq. Hands up if this name, as well as its spelling, rubs you the wrong way. Frankly, the same can be said for the wording of this tweet:

Building on more than a century of innovation, the journey begins April 2nd and it’s electrifying – introducing the first-ever Cadillac Lyriq pic.twitter.com/v0YcfPKCoI

— Cadillac (@Cadillac) March 4, 2020

But there’s more!

As reported by Car and Driver, GM had a second tidbit waiting for journos at the Warren, Michigan presser. It seems the demise of the flagship CT6 sedan will not spell the end of big Cadillac passenger cars, as there’s a range-topping EV model on the way. Its name? Celestiq.

The four-passenger fastback model will be hand-built near Detroit, arriving sometime after the release of the Lyriq. GM President Mark Reuss remarked on Cadillac’s need for a glitzy halo, saying, “Do you think the Cadillac brand is in good shape? It’s not.”

Lyriq and Celestiq. It’s quite possible you’ve got an opinion on these monikers, so feel free to air them in the comments section.

As for future Cadillac product, it doesn’t end here. A large, Escalade-sized electric SUV is said to be on the way, arriving near the middle of the decade. This vehicle will carry the same platform and enormous battery pack (up to 200 kWh) used by the upcoming GMC Hummer EV pickup. One has to wonder about its name.

[Images: General Motors]

#Cadillac #CadillacCelestiq #CadillacLyriq #Celestiq #EVs #FutureModels #GeneralMotors #GM #Lyriq #ProductPlanning

Steph Willems

More by Steph Willems

Comments

Join the conversation

2 of 32 comments

RHD on Mar 06, 2020

Terrifiq names for plastiq qars. No, Cadillac, no, no, no! Was "Lyric" already taken? That would be a terrific car name. They need to be thinking about culture and class, more along the lines of "Symphony", not street gang monikers. The loss of jobs when Cadillac finally goes under will be Tragiq.

Like Reply
CRConrad on Mar 08, 2020

I think Cadillac ought to get off this shtiq before they even really get on it.

Like Reply

Recent Comments

Analoggrotto Does anyone seriously listen to this?
Thomas Same here....but keep in mind that EVs are already much more efficient than ICE vehicles. They need to catch up in all the other areas you mentioned.
Analoggrotto It's great to see TTAC kicking up the best for their #1 corporate sponsor. Keep up the good work guys.
John66ny Title about self driving cars, linked podcast about headlight restoration. Some relationship?
Jeff JMII--If I did not get my Maverick my next choice was a Santa Cruz. They are different but then they are both compact pickups the only real compact pickups on the market. I am glad to hear that the Santa Cruz will have knobs and buttons on it for 2025 it would be good if they offered a hybrid as well. When I looked at both trucks it was less about brand loyalty and more about price, size, and features. I have owned 2 gm made trucks in the past and liked both but gm does not make a true compact truck and neither does Ram, Toyota, or Nissan. The Maverick was the only Ford product that I wanted. If I wanted a larger truck I would have kept either my 99 S-10 extended cab with a 2.2 I-4 5 speed or my 08 Isuzu I-370 4 x 4 with the 3.7 I-5, tow package, heated leather seats, and other niceties and it road like a luxury vehicle. I believe the demand is there for other manufacturers to make compact pickups. The proposed hybrid Toyota Stout would be a great truck. Subaru has experience making small trucks and they could make a very competitive compact truck and Subaru has a great all wheel drive system. Chevy has a great compact pickup offered in South America called the Montana which gm could make in North America and offered in the US and Canada. Ram has a great little compact truck offered in South America as well. Compact trucks are a great vehicle for those who want an open bed for hauling but what a smaller more affordable efficient practical vehicle.