Cadillac fashions its EV future with new Optiq

At a glamorous event in Paris, with the Opéra Garnier as the backdrop, Cadillac presented one of its most important new models, the Optiq. Technically the compact premium EV had already been shown in China in 2023, before going on sale there. Then it was shown again in the US, but Cadillac billed Paris as the big one and pulled in its execs for the occasion, as well as a collection of celebrities and Parisian socialites.

There were designer labels galore, but the catwalk star was the Optiq. 176mm shorter than the Lyriq, it still has a wheelbase of 2,954mm, although it is slightly taller at 1,644mm. It’s narrower too, but lead exterior designer for Optiq, Dillon Blanski insists that the frontal design makes it look wider than it actually is. The key objective though, was to make it look dynamic.

“Dynamic for us was all about bold, athletic styling and it really comes across with the long wheelbase, short front and rear overhangs, as well as a really fast profile,” he says. That profile is accentuated by the tapered roofline towards the rear. It’s topped off by a rear spoiler that has been designed to ensure there is no need for a rear wiper. It’s an achievement Blanski refers to as a passion project of both the design and engineering teams.

Another key focus was creating a harmony of the line work and ensuring it flows through the body into the graphics. The main one is on the c-pillar, a graphic on the acoustic laminate glass that is unique to the Optic and echoes elements of the famous Mondrian crest. There’s a nod to the past in the c-pillar itself too, with a shark fin look similar to that on the CTS coupe.

Going even further back into the Cadillac history books, Blanski says the vertical signature lighting front and rear hints at the famous fins of the 1950s Eldorado. Unlike the exuberant Cadillacs of old though, the Optiq features much cleaner lines and flush surfaces.

The brow across the front conveys that sense of width and sits above the black crystal grille with its laser-etched pattern. At its centre is the Mondrian crest itself, but the modernised logo is replicated on the back of the IP and lit as a signature element visible to those outside. The crest is also used as the push button to open the tailgate. Blanski says the team didn’t want customers having to feel around to find a button and so they chose this as a more practical solution.

Where the exterior is all about dynamism and harmonious lines, the interior showcases a more playful approach than the executive premium appeal of the Lyriq.

“We have challenged the automotive code,” says Laetitia Lopez, CMF design manager at Cadillac. She refers to the interior as being fashion forward with bold tones and comfort through texture, play and the use of conscious and responsible materials.

This is immediately evident in the multiple layers of the IP. Soft touch plastics top and bottom are split by a recycled fabric that also adorns the door tops. Lopez sees fabric as becoming the key decoration in the design of the interior, but also allowing designers to create a more homely feel.

“We are not going for minimalist, but rather for modern opulence,” she says. It’s fitting for a brand that is pushing to become a key player in the premium EV space. Achieving it also means conveying style through other key touch points. This includes the centre console which has the option of a paperwood veneer made from tulip wood and recycled paper. Other premium points include the climate control buttons with their metallic look and feel, as well as the look of hand stitching on the upholstery.

The Optiq uses the same curved 33-inch LED dual screen layout for the instrumentation and infotainment. With 9k resolution it is crystal clear with easy access to icons and menus with minimum distraction. Lighting is another key area for Lopez and her team. In the Optiq the aim was not to have lighting that overwhelms, but rather complements the textures while providing the option of personalisation depending on mood.

The results are a crossover that combines executive appeal with comfort, fashion and a touch of playfulness. In some ways it is hard to connect it to the Cadillac we know, the brand renowned for the exuberance of its models from the last century and the brawn of more modern vehicles like the CTS and the Escalade.

However, this is new Cadillac, a brand that wants to be seen as urban and fashionable. To further showcase that, the launch of the Optiq was combined with the opening of the latest Cadillac City experience centre, in the heart of Paris’ upmarket shopping district. It’s a curated boutique space blending historical architecture with modern design. That’s fitting for a brand that is maintaining links to its past, but recreating itself for the future, one in which it expects the design of the Optiq to play a significant part.