More Names Emerge From Cadillac's Future

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

Here at TTAC World Headquarters, we’re all in lockstep agreement that Cadillac’s electric vehicle naming strategy is both awesome and timeless. Names like Lyriq and Celestiq defy any and all attempts at derision and joke-making.

With that lie out of the way, let’s move on to the next addition to the brand’s EV stable: Symboliq.

Cadillac Society recently uncovered the new addition to the growing lineup in the electronic bowels of a Swiss patent office. General Motor applied for the name on July 22nd.

While Caddy’s EV ambitions came into clearer focus this month, the names applied to the next three models remained cloaked in haze. This helps break up the clouds a bit.

The name “Lyriq” is bound for Cadillac’s first all-electric model, a midsize crossover due for a reveal later this year, with production following in 2021. Celestiq is reserved for a hand-built, ultra-high-end halo car. Elsewhere in the plan, a small, more attainable crossover will capture eco-conscious buyers in the XT4 arena, while a three-row EV crossover will tempt those who’d otherwise consider an XT6.

Meanwhile, the Escalade stands to gain a clean-running sibling. Might we suggest the name Diaboliq?

Sure enough, a quick perusal of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s listings shows Symboliq and Cadillac Symbolic among the automaker’s recent applications. And not only that — “Optiq” is there, too.

Optra? No. Optiq. This Cadillac’s all American, thank you very much.

Unfortunately, none of these applications reveal exactly which model the name will land on. And GM’s still missing one of the five. Regardless, it’s clear that the automaker’s not easing up on the development throttle, despite the new challenges and pressures posed by the pandemic. The company aims to introduce 20 EV models by 2023, with the briefly mothballed Detroit-Hamtramck assembly plant in Detroit serving as GM’s green nerve center and dedicated EV production base.

The first of the Cadillac crowd, the Lyric, is destined for an August 6th reveal.

[Image: General Motors]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Mcs Mcs on Jul 28, 2020

    The problem is with the company name itself. Motors was the worst general ever. He lost big time at the battle of Vega Run where his troops overheated and 10's of thousands were left dead at the side of the road. He was again embarrassed at The Cimarron where he sent in an embarrassingly inferior force. His 8-6-4 strategy was a disaster. In fact, he was so bad, he lost several divisions including those led by Olds and Pontiac. Why would you name a company after a guy like that?

    • Lie2me Lie2me on Jul 28, 2020

      Because in 1948 the General's design commanders, Harley Earl and Franklin Quick Hershey repurposed the fins off a P-38 and forever changed the automotive styling battleground with his 4-wheeled rocket ships

  • Teddyc73 Teddyc73 on Jul 28, 2020

    Cadillac ditches names and goes with alpha numeric like every other brand and everyone complains. Cadillac gets creative and develops new names for a bunch of new products and everyone complains. You people are nuts.

    • Art Vandelay Art Vandelay on Jul 28, 2020

      The names don't resonate with people and the cars have been lackluster for years. If they get the cars right, people will start to come back but they haven't really earned the benefit of the doubt here so people will look at it like this

  • Dukeisduke Is the Volvo EX30 even on sale yet? It was pulled from the NACTOY awards because they were having software problems with the vehicle.
  • Wjtinfwb If you've only got 5k to spend on transportation, I cannot imagine a worse way to spend it than on a GM orphan from Sweden that's 15 years old with 150k on the clock and limited plus expensive parts availability and dwindling techs who'd even want to work on it. Go find a similar vintage Camry or Accord with 150k miles or even a Ford or a Chevy, whatever. Hell, even an old Jaguar is less of a crapshoot than a Saab. At least you can still get parts.
  • Kwik_Shift Brands that were considered from China include BYD, Dayun, Great Wall Motors, Maxus, Nio, Omoda/Chery, Seres, XPeng, and Zeekr. KG Mobility from South Korea also made the list of candidates.That's a lot of car companies from there ready to head here.
  • Analoggrotto Clean sweep and unanimous victory for the world affluence engine of 22nd century : Hyundai/Kia/Genesis. Toyota and Lexus, for 120 years of history have not been able to capture the zenith superlative status of Hyundai Motor Corporation the most awarded, decorated and revered automotive corporation in the history of historical. Featuring best ever, first ever and greatest ever e-ATPs the Hyundai Genesis Kia lineup is posed to become the envy of every country club, ivy league college and fortune 500 corporation in the world. I've been taking a roadtrip in my loaner Elantra N, visiting colleges from east to west, elite universities of higher learning to inspect their parking lots. WHat did I find? Leagues of Genesis models, outnumbering Lexus 3 to 1. When I interviewed faculty and staff at these places of greater learning, their response was unanimous : they chose HMC for the ATPs.
  • Mikey 2019 Chevy Impala Premier FWD with 20 inch factory Bridgestones. I'm looking at replacing tires at the 65,000 KLM's (40,000 miles ) mark ....It doesn't thrill me .. I'm pricing Michelin Cross Climate 2 tires ouch !! ..Up here in Canuckastan ....Big $$$$$
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