Music to Certain Ears: Cadillac Explains the Lyriq

Steph Willems
by Steph Willems

The decision to saddle the first all-electric Cadillac model with a name like “Lyriq” was made all the more eyebrow-raising when the second-in-line EV Caddy’s name cropped up: Celestiq. Stop it already! What’s going on here, many asked. While eager for a break from the de Nysschen days of alphanumeric gobbledygook, some were not ready for this particular naming convention.

So what’s the deal here? Cadillac explains.

Speaking to Cadillac Society, the division’s global brand strategy boss, Phil Dauchy, laid it all out. This may be news you can use, if you can wrap your head around it.

Cadillac is poised to go all-in on adding “iq” the the end of existing words affixed to electric vehicles, signalling “that Cadillac is bringing a different type of vehicle to market, one that works in concert with man, nature, and machine,” Dauchy said. For the Lyriq, the name was chosen because of the brand’s top-ranked appearances in song lyrics.

(It’s worth noting that some studies have shown the most-mentioned automotive brand to be Mercedes-Benz.)

Debuting on August 6th, the Lyric will kickstart a Cadillac EV lineup that will eventually include the Celestiq, a full-size passenger car of some description that will serve as the pinnacle of the range. A true luxury car, the model, expected in 2023, is said to carry a $200k sticker.

Speaking to that model, Dauchy said, “When you see [the Cadillac Celestiq], its size, presence and scale all connote the emotion associated with the name.” A quick check of the dictionary shows the word “celestial” to mean heavenly or supremely good, so those are good things to dangle above a high-end automobile, yet the question remains as to why Cadillac felt the need to conjoin all electric models with a common naming trick.

Maybe Cadillac is just too used to its CT- and XT- names. Having part of the lineup remain alphanumeric while the other adopts a truly individualistic strategy (Fleetwood, Eldorado, Seville, etc) might somehow confuse consumers. At the very least, with “iq” tacked onto the end of each name, it would be more apparent that the model in question is an electric one. As well, Dauchy feels the names roll off the tongue better, though the jury’s definitely out on that assertion.

For starters, you’ll have some pronouncing it “celest-eek,” with others opting for “celest-ick.” To this writer, the name rubs entirely the wrong way, but to each his or her own.

[Images: General Motors]

Steph Willems
Steph Willems

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  • Buickman Buickman on Jul 14, 2020

    could they be any dumber?

    • Lorenzo Lorenzo on Jul 14, 2020

      Yes. Yes, they can - there's a whole world of dumber to tap into. The top brass of GM in general, and of Cadillac in particular, practically live in that world. Don't play Scrabble with them without a dictionary handy.

  • Johnster Johnster on Jul 14, 2020

    It sounds like the name of one of those over-priced, over-advertised, over-prescribed, scarey prescription drugs. https://www.drugs.com/lyrica.html

  • Lorenzo Heh. The major powers, military or economic, set up these regulators for the smaller countries - the big guys do what they want, and always have. Are the Chinese that unaware?
  • Lorenzo The original 4-Runner, by its very name, promised something different in the future. What happened?
  • Lorenzo At my age, excitement is dangerous. one thing to note: the older models being displayed are more stylish than their current versions, and the old Subaru Forester looks more utilitarian than the current version. I thought the annual model change was dead.
  • Lorenzo Well, it was never an off-roader, much less a military vehicle, so let the people with too much money play make believe.
  • EBFlex The best gift would have been a huge bonfire of all the fak mustangs in inventory and shutting down the factory that makes them.Heck, nobody would even have to risk life and limb starting the fire, just park em close together and wait for the super environmentally friendly EV fire to commence.
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