The Lyriq electric sports utility has a new flagship - and it’s here next year.

THE fastest road car yet made by Cadillac - also the first electric model to bear the make’s V-Spec performance designation - will be here next year.

In wake of General Motors in North America unveiling the Lyriq-V, the distributor for New Zealand and Australia has confirmed it will also be selling this go-fast version of the fully battery-wed Lyriq that is about to come on sale here.

In a message from its regional headquarters in Melbourne, Australia, General Motors Speciality Vehicles said start of sales will be in early 2026, with pricing and specification being announced prior, at a later date this year.

It promises what will stands as a flagship above the $117,000 Luxury and $119,000 Sport variants soon to sell here, from a sole outlet in Auckland intended to serve the entire country, will delver “signature performance blended with craftsmanship and technology.”

Whereas the Luxury and Sport have a 388kW/610Nm, all-wheel drive electric powertrain, the V goes to 454kW and 880Nm.

It appears to feed from the other derivatives’ 102kWh battery, which delivers 530km between charges for the mainstream editions, but 458km in the V.

Cadillac has yet to reveal what impact the extra oomph has on the V-spec’s range. However, they say the performance model will deliver 0-100kmh in just 3.3 seconds in performance mode called ‘Velocity Max1’, a new benchmark for the brand.

“V-Series captures the spirit of Cadillac, embodying our relentless pursuit of engineering excellence through our racing and production vehicles,” said John Roth, vice president, Global Cadillac.

“Lyriq-V takes this commitment a step further in the EV era, pushing our performance pedigree of V-Series to new heights with a powerful, personalised and high-tech driving experience that fits perfectly into our customers’ lives.”

Though it delivers with a ‘Competitive Mode’, enabling a suite of traction management features specifically engineered to increase vehicle agility, GM has enforced the derivative is not merely a sporty drive.

They instead contend it is a truly complete luxury vehicle with a multifaceted, iconic character and performance-driven features, which will include a unique styling and a signature sound.

As with other V-Series models, which have never officially opportuned to New Zealand as they have all been left hand drive, the Lyriq-V is identifiable by a unique lower front fascia and side rockers, body coloured lower trim, and available carbon fibre accents. The Black Crystal Shield badge integrates choreographed lighting, a brand signature.

The V-Series logo adorns the rear doors and the tailgate, while a unique chin spoiler and rockers and V-pattern mesh on the front lower grille further distinguish the Lyriq-V from other models.

Unique to Lyriq-V are 22-inch wheels with a dark sport finish and it will come standard with a black painted roof. Colours include the hue shown here, which is called Magnus Metal Frost and is exclusive to the type.

Production of the V-Spec starts in soon at the General Motors’ Spring Hill manufacturing plant in the US state of Tennessee, which is where the Luxury and Sport are also built.