2025 Cadillac Optiq Photos, engines & full specs

Cadillac continued its range of vehicles ending in the IQ lettering with the Optiq model introduced at the 2023 Guangzhou Auto Show, a crossover that promised both luxury and an environmentally friendly car.

General Motors worked hard to develop the Ultium platform, which was used for more vehicles, including the Chevrolet Silverado EV pickup truck. The idea was familiar, though, since it was showcased on the 2002 GM Autonomy concept car, with the main difference being that the concept used fuel cells and the Ultium platform used batteries. Cadillac, GM’s luxury brand, made a few vehicles based on this platform, and all of them had the IQ lettering in their name, such as the Lyriq or the Escalade IQ. Besides these vehicles, GM also produced the Hummer EV and the Chevrolet Blazer EV based on the same architecture.

The 2025 Optiq unveiled by Cadillac at the Guangzhou Auto Show was a crossover. It featured a front fascia where the automaker’s crest took center stage on the redesigned front panel that mimicked a grille crisscrossed by diagonal lines. The specific IQ-range tall, slim LED daytime running lights and fake side scoops flanked the upper panel. On the lower apron, the automaker installed a real grille that cooled the electrical system. Even if it was an electric car, it still needed some cooling areas, although not as big as an ICE vehicle.

From its profile, the crossover featured flared wheel arches adorned by black moldings, which created the sensation of a vehicle with larger wheels. Still, those were not tiny at all. Furthermore, the black side sills made the car look taller to the ground, like a proper off-roader. The flush door handles popped out from the bodywork when needed, but these were retracted while the vehicle was driven. Even if the door mirrors didn’t look that futuristic, these were a better solution than rearview cameras.

Thanks to the contrasting roof color and side pillars, the Optiq looked both luxurious and sporty at the same time. At the back, the raked-forward tailgate was adorned at the top by a roof spoiler that also sported the third brake light. Cadillac installed slim LED taillights on the C-pillars and the rearmost edges of the quarter-panels. A final design touch was for the rear bumper, which also sported a black lower area, like the side sills.

Inside, the automaker created a luxurious cabin fitted with bolstered front seats available in Nappa leather. The minimalist-looking dashboard sported a curved glass panel covering both the instrument cluster’s display and the touchscreen atop the center stack. The car shared some elements with the Lyriq, including the panoramic sunroof. In the back, the wide bench seat could accommodate up to three passengers thanks to the low, flat floor.