2026 Cadillac Optiq-V Looks to Be a Pocket Rocket, Packs a 519-HP Punch
The 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V joins the lineup as the new crown jewel of the Optiq roster.
It uses the same dual-motor setup as the larger Lyriq-V, though output is slightly lower at 519 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque.
When production and sales start this fall, the Optiq-V will carry a $68,795 starting price.
Cadillac's V-badge-wearing lineup of EVs is about to get bigger with the introduction of the 2026 Optiq-V. The brand's compact electric SUV is undertaking the V-series treatment, giving it sportier looks and considerably higher performance.
By historical standards, the non-V Optiq is a quick little machine that we estimate can spring from zero to 60 mph in 5.2 seconds. But, as EV proliferation continues and our inner ears develop new standards for speed, the dual-motor's 300-horsepower setup just doesn't elicit excitement. On paper, the Optiq-V fixes that.
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The Optiq-V shares its dual-motor all-wheel-drive setup with the larger Lyriq-V, though the Optiq's smaller battery means it spits out 519 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque in comparison with the Lyriq's 615 horsepower. According to Cadillac, the updated powertrain is capable of a 3.5-second sprint to 60 mph. Range is down from the non-V—an unfortunate side effect of adding 219 ponies to the equation. According to Cadillac, the 85.0-kWh battery pack is good for an estimated 275 miles of range, or 25 fewer than the standard model.
Though certainly quick in a straight line, Cadillac says it doesn't just have a one-trick pony on its hands. During a video call with media, Alex Doss, the Optiq-V's lead engineer, told reporters that GM developed the performance model to be a canyon carver. That means six-piston Brembo front brakes, quicker steering, a retuned suspension, and Continental Sport Contact 6 summer tires.
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Visually, the V distinguishes itself from the regular Optiq with a unique front fascia and a special V pattern in the faux grille. A royal blue color scheme permeates inside and out of the Optiq-V's design, from the brake calipers to the rear quarter windows and throughout the interior from the dashboard to the seatbacks and the seatbelts.
Aside from the performance changes, the Optiq-V will also be the first GM product equipped with a native NACS charging port, so it has access to Tesla's vast Supercharger network. Cadillac is targeting an on-sale date and production timeline for sometime this fall. When it goes on sale, the new performance Optiq will start at $68,795.
Jack Fitzgerald
Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald's love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn't afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.
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