Let’s face it, GM already has most of the pickup market covered. Chevy for the everyman, GMC for those who like to remind their neighbors they’re a little better off, and the Hummer EV for people who enjoy vaporizing their wallets, and maybe the planet, too, considering the thing weighs as much as a small moon.

But what if GM decided to go all-in on absurdity and create a Cadillac pickup, a luxury flagship so over-the-top opulent it’d make a Rivian R1T and a Tesla Cybertruck look like something you’d pick up at the Hertz counter? Well, thanks to some overly ambitious renderings, we now have a glimpse of what such an exercise in unnecessary excess could look like.

Read: Our First Impressions Of Cadillac’s 2026 Vistiq With Blackwing Levels Of Electric Power

This digital fever dream comes courtesy of Kelsonik, a talented render artist who decided to take GM’s GMC Sierra EV and dip it in a vat of Cadillac styling cues. GM’s flagship brand has been out of the pickup game for quite some time but isn’t unfamiliar with building high-end trucks, having previously offered a pickup version of the Escalade known as the EXT.

Rather than grafting the current Escalade’s face onto the Sierra EV, this design borrows from the all-electric Lyriq instead. Since the Sierra EV’s front fascia is significantly larger than the Lyriq’s, the Cadillac elements had to be stretched, meaning the grille and those vertical LED daytime running lights now tower like skyscrapers. Strangely enough, it works. The whole look suits the bulk and shape of a pickup surprisingly well.

Illustrations Kelsonik

Few other changes have been made to the Sierra EV’s base design, though the Caddy’s wheels are a little larger and, mercifully, it ditches those ugly orange reflectors on the fenders (seriously, who signed off on those at GM?).

More: Everything We Know About The Jaguar Type 01 Electric Sedan

Perhaps the closest thing to a modern-day Cadillac pickup we’ve seen was brought to life by a customization shop in Miami three years ago. Doms Garage Miami started with a regular Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and then proceeded to graft on the front fascia of an Escalade. Remarkably, the finished result looked excellent.

So, what do you think? Should GM dive back into the luxury pickup market and give us the Cadillac truck we never asked for but now kind of want? Or is this best left as a render-fueled fantasy? Let us know how you’d design your dream luxury truck or if this idea belongs in the automotive hall of “what could’ve been.” Either way, we’re listening.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by CAR DESIGN | RENDERINGS (@kelsonik)

We’re constantly hearing about an EV downturn and how automakers are changing their electrification strategies because consumers aren’t consuming. And sure, sales of electric cars are down in countries like Germany, but in the US people are still buying EVs, and they’re buying more of them than they did 12 months ago.

EV registrations climbed 5 percent in October versus the same month in 2023, topping out at 101,403, according to data from S&P Global Mobility. And it wasn’t Tesla driving that growth, but legacy automakers.

Related: Global EV Sales Shatter Records In November Thanks To China’s Unstoppable Growth

Chevrolet’s EV sales jumped 38 percent to 6,741 helped by demand for the Blazer and Equinox, while Cadillac Lyriq registrations grew threefold to 2,489 and the Hummer shifted 1,015 electric trucks, four times as many as it did last October. 

Like the Equinox, Honda’s Prologue, which is built on the same GM platform and in the same Mexican GM plant, wasn’t available in 2023, but made its presence felt this year. It found 4,168 homes, only 12 fewer than Chevy did of its version. Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 facelift also gave its sales numbers the desired nip and tuck, boosting registrations from 3,555 to 4,485.

Although the overall number of EV sales is up, the rate of growth has slowed and some models registered fewer deliveries than previously. The Ford Mustang Mach-E, for instance, was down from 3,949 to 3,479 according to S&P Global Mobility’s spreadsheet and Rivian R1S sales dropped by more than 500 to 2,456. There are also fears that the EV segment relies heavily on tax credit availability to boost demand, and public interest could wane if Trump pulls the plug on the incentives when he takes office.

BEST SELLING EVs USA

Tesla’s registration numbers actually fell by 1.8 percent, and if you remove Tesla from the equation, EV sales increased not by 5 percent, but by 11 percent. And this isn’t a blip for Tesla: the automaker’s numbers have fallen in seven of the first 10 months of 2024, Auto News reports, and that’s despite the facelifted Model 3 and Cybertruck being new for this year. While the Model 3 gained ground, the Model Y fell back, sales tumbling from more than 25,000 to under 22,000.

But before anyone gets the idea that Tesla is falling behind in the EV race, we should make clear that it still outperformed the second best-selling brand’s EV models six times over. Or every single brand in the 2nd to 12th spots combined.

EV REGISTRATIONS USA

It’s been a lengthy 16 months since the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ first debuted, but only now has the automaker confirmed its full specs, including the electric SUV’s driving range. The Escalade IQ boasts an impressive GM-estimated range of 460 miles (740 km), setting a new standard for the Escalade lineup.

As anticipated, the electric SUV commands a premium price tag, starting at $130,000 ($129,990, to be exact) and topping out at $150,490 before factoring in a $2,290 destination and handling fee or optional add-ons. For perspective, this represents a considerable jump over the gas-powered Escalade, which starts at $89,950 for the base RWD model and maxes out at $121,890 for the long-wheelbase ESV Platinum trim. That said, the IQ still slots below the $164,990 V-Series ICE flagship.

More: EV Depreciation Shocker As Mercedes EQS Loses Almost Half Its Value In A Year

And that’s without factoring in the reality that, like most—if not all—EVs, the Escalade IQ is likely to experience significantly steeper depreciation compared to any other major vehicle types. This might be something worth considering for buyers weighing the commitment of a six-figure investment.

Four Trim Options

Cadillac is going to sell the Escalade IQ with a single powertrain option. The entry-level model is the Luxury 1 and comes standard with huge 24-inch polished wheels with black accents, an illuminated grille, basic LED headlights, and Galvano door handles.

Shoppers who want something that looks a little sportier can opt for the Sport 1, priced from $130,490. It has most of the same features as the Luxury 1 but sits on different 24-inch wheels with black center caps, features body-colored door handles, perimeter lighting, and Hudson Metallic nameplates.

Then we get to the two range-toppers, the Luxury 2 and the Sport 2, priced from $149,990 and $150,490, respectively. These models add trick new slim HED vertical headlights, better seats, a 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference audio system, power-adjustable second-row massage seats, and some extra standard safety features, including a wired trailer view camera. The Luxury 2 and Sport 2 can also be optioned with the Executive Second Row Seating Package.

2025 CADILLAC ESCALADE IQ MSRP

This option, priced at $7,500, adds an 8-inch rear screen, second-row executive seating with heating, and ventilation, a 10-point power massage function, dual wireless chargers, a custom rear floor console, tray tables, and a 40-speaker AKG audio system.

One Powertrain, Plenty of Power

As mentioned, regardless of trim, the Escalade IQ packs the same all-electric powertrain: a mammoth battery with over 200 kWh of capacity powering dual electric motors. Together, they produce 680 hp and 615 lb-ft (834 Nm) of torque. Enable the Velocity Max drive mode, and output spikes to 750 hp and 785 lb-ft (1,063 Nm), launching the luxury SUV from 0 to 60 mph (96 km/h) in under five seconds.

Read: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Is A $130k Flagship Electric SUV With 450 Mile Range

There’s no word on how long it takes to fully charge the massive battery, but Cadillac says the 800-volt electrical architecture means up to 100 miles (161 km) of range can be added in 10 minutes through a DC fast charger.

Depreciation is a fact of life, but what you buy has a big impact on resale values down the line. To help consumers, J.D. Power has released their 2025 U.S. ALG Residual Value Awards which highlight the vehicles that are projected to hold the highest percentage of their manufacturer’s suggested retail price after three years of ownership.

The winners aren’t exactly a surprise as Honda and Lexus walked away with top honors for the fourth consecutive year. J.D. Power’s Danny Battaglia credited part of this success to Honda’s pricing discipline as well as Lexus’ restraint on incentives, which can negatively impact resale values of older vehicles.

More: 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona Starts At $59,595

Besides being named the best premium brand, Lexus picked up the most model-level awards. Class honors went to the IS, LS, NX, RX, and TX. Their mainstream counterpart, Toyota, also picked up awards for the Camry and GR Supra as well as the Tundra and Land Cruiser.

Japanese models dominated the rankings as Honda scored wins for the Civic, Passport and Odyssey, while Subaru picked up accolades for the Crosstrek, Forester, and WRX. Other awards went to the Acura Integra and Nissan Kicks.

American brands might have played second fiddle, but GM racked up five wins. The Chevrolet Corvette was named the best “midsize premium sporty car,” while the Cadillac Escalade was the best large premium SUV. GMC also picked up awards for the Sierra 3500 HD as well as the Hummer EV Pickup and SUV.

Interestingly, the soon to be launched Dodge Charger Daytona was named the best electric car. While it remains to be seen what resale values will look like three years from now, electric coupes are virtually unheard of in America so the Charger Daytona doesn’t really have any competition.

Sticking with EVs, the Tesla Model 3 was dubbed the best premium electric car. The Hyundai Kona EV, on the other hand, was named best electric SUV.

Awards were also given to the BMW X1 and 5-Series, Jeep Gladiator and Wagoneer, and Kia Telluride. Mercedes’ only win was for the Sprinter, which took the commercial van class.

Update 12/18: Cadillac has revealed full pricing details for the upcoming electric Vistiq, months ahead of its planned Spring 2025 market launch, as discovered by Car&Driver. While we already knew the base Luxury trim would start at $77,395 (or $78,790 including destination), we now have a clearer picture of the entire lineup. The available trims include the Sport, Premium Luxury, and the range-topping Platinum that starts at $97,890.

And yes, checking enough option boxes means this three-row EV can easily push past the $100,000 mark. It seems six-figure price tags are becoming more common in Cadillac’s electric lineup, as evidenced by the recently introduced Escalade IQ, which starts at $130,000.

2026 CADILLAC VISTIQ PRICING

Cadillac’s electric vehicle lineup continues to expand, and we recently had the opportunity to go hands-on with the 2026 Vistiq. It’s a three-row luxury crossover that slots neatly between the Lyriq and Escalade IQ, and is designed to appeal to active families, offering a blend of technology, luxury, and space.

Set to go into production early next year, the Vistiq follows in the footsteps of the Lyriq and adopts split lighting units as well as an expansive black crystal shield grille. The latter has unique patterns that help to distinguish the various trims as Luxury variants have a linear motif, while Sport versions wear a mesh-like design.

Imposing Exterior Design

Michael Gauthier / Carscoops

The profile is striking for a crossover and exterior designer Zhou Fang told us it was partially influenced by the CTS Sport Wagon. Besides that cool touch, there’s streamlined bodywork, flush-mounted door handles, and angular rear pillars. They’re joined by unique third quarter glass sporting a Cadillac Mondrian graphic. This will likely prove divisive, but the company claimed it provides additional privacy for rear seat passengers.

Elsewhere, there are 21-inch wheels with three-dimensional center caps. 22- and 23-inchers will also be available as an option. Buyers will also find eight exterior colors ranging from Polar White and Argent Silver to Opulent Blue and Radiant Red.

More: 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Is A $130k Flagship Electric SUV With 450 Mile Range

In terms of size, the Vistiq measures 205.6 inches (5,222 mm) long, 86.7 inches (2,203 mm) wide, and 71 inches (1,804 mm) tall, with a wheelbase that spans 121.8 inches (3,094 mm). That means the model is 7.1 inches (180 mm) longer than the XT6 and has an extra 9.1 inches (231 mm) between the wheels.

A Spacious And Luxurious Interior

Michael Gauthier / Carscoops

The Lyriq-like styling continues in the cabin, which sports a “stately and architectural” aura. It’s dominated by a familiar 33-inch display, but this isn’t a simple rehash as the Vistiq has a unique dashboard as well as a floating center console. The latter houses an 8-inch Command Center as well as a dual wireless smartphone charger.

More: 2026 Cadillac Lyriq-V Is Caddy’s First EV-V

Speaking of equipment, the crossover sports heated, ventilated and massaging front seats, a five-zone climate control system, and a 23-speaker AKG Studio audio system. They’re joined by an ambient lighting system, unique speaker grilles with a herringbone pattern, and a panoramic sunroof which is accompanied by a second glass panel over the third-row.

Given this is an EV, there are a handful of eco-minded touches. Among them are a leather-free steering wheel and fabrics created from 100% recycled materials.

Cadillac officials billed the cabin as being closer to the Escalade IQ than the Lyriq, although it felt like an elevated version of the latter. There’s nothing wrong with that and customers will find real metal accents as well as carbon fiber, black ash, or lumen open pore wood trim.

The front seats are unsurprisingly comfortable and spacious, while the same can be said about the second row as they offer 40.2 inches (1,021 mm) of legroom. Occupants will find the usual range of adjustments as well as an 8-inch Command Center of their own.

The third row is the Vistiq’s raison d’être and this 6’ 2” reviewer found plenty of headroom as well as enough legroom to be comfortable on short trips. While the spec sheet lists foot space at a mere 30.6 inches (777 mm), second-row passengers can slide forward to make things slightly less cramped. It’s also worth noting that entry and egress is decent, but unremarkable.

While adults won’t want to spend much time in the third-row, Cadillac doesn’t treat occupants as third-class citizens. Quite the opposite as they’ll find padded armrests, air vents, cup holders, and USB-C charging ports. There’s even some brightwork back there, which is a nice touch.

When it comes time to haul cargo, owners will find 15.2 cubic feet (430 liters) of room behind the third row. That increases to 43 cubic feet (1,218 liters) by folding the third-row seats down and 80.2 cubic feet (2,271 liters) by putting both rows flat.

615 HP And 300 Miles Of Range

Motivation is provided by a 102 kWh lithium-ion battery, which feeds a dual-motor all-wheel drive system developing 615 hp (459 kW / 624 PS) and 650 lb-ft (880 Nm) of torque. That’s almost as much as the CT5-V Blackwing and it means the 6,326 lb (2,870 kg) crossover can rocket from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.7 seconds with Velocity Max mode enabled.

Besides being fast and powerful, the Vistiq can go the distance as Cadillac is expecting a range of approximately 300 miles (483 km). While that’s a considerable distance, it trails the Lucid Gravity as well as the Mercedes EQS SUV. On the bright side, the model can tow up to 5,000 lbs (2,268 kg).

When it comes time to charge, owners can party like it’s 2011 as the crossover uses the Combined Charging System (CCS) standard. That’s a surprise as GM announced plans to adopt the North American Charging Standard (NACS) in the summer of 2023 and GM vehicles gained access to Tesla’s Supercharger network in September.

Fast Charging

While the lack of an NACS port is disappointing, Cadillac said a DC fast charger can deliver up to 79 miles (127 km) of range in as little as 10 minutes. At home, a 240V 11.5 kW AC charger can deliver up to 28.5 miles (45.9 km) of range for every hour of charging. With the available 19.2 kW charger, owners can expect up to 46.7 miles (75.2 km) of range per hour.

On the topic of charging, the Vistiq has a bidirectional vehicle-to-home capability. Cadillac didn’t go into many details, but mentioned an available GM Energy V2H Bundle, which will allow owners to transfer power from the vehicle to their home during a blackout.

Charging aside, the crossover has a multi-link front and five-link rear suspension with semi-active dampers. Premium Luxury variants add an Air Ride Adaptive suspension, which features 3 inches (76 mm) of adjustment as well as an aero mode that automatically works to reduce drag on the highway.

Customers will also find an available Active Rear Steer system, which enables the rear wheels to turn for improved maneuverability. Cadillac didn’t share full numbers, but the system enables the crossover to have a turning diameter as little as 38.2 feet (11.6 meters). That’s tighter than the XT5 and XT6, and isn’t much wider than the XT4.

Pricing And Trims

We’ll learn full equipment details closer to launch, but Cadillac said the Vistiq will come standard with Super Cruise, Blind Zone Steering Assist, Forward Collision Alert, and Side Bicyclist Alert. The model will also be offered with a Night Vision system that uses an infrared camera to show pedestrians or animals that might be ‘hidden’ by darkness.

The Vistiq will be available in Luxury, Sport, and Premium Luxury trims at launch, with prices beginning at $78,790, including destination charges. This marks an $18,175 increase over the Lyriq, yet it’s still a whopping $51,200 less than the Escalade IQ.

Cadillac is killing off its smallest and cheapest SUV, the XT4, which starts at just under $38,000. Production will officially grind to a halt at GM’s Fairfax plant in Kansas come January 2025, marking the end of the line for the first – and only – generation of the crossover after seven years on sale. This decision leaves buyers with two options: upgrade to the larger, pricier XT5 – which starts at nearly $44,000 – or take their business to rival brands.

The reality is they’re already shopping elsewhere and Cadillac knows it. XT4 sales are down 12 percent this year despite the model receiving a makeover for the 2024 season that brought sharper styling and a Lyriq-style dashboard featuring a curved infotainment display and Google integration.

Related: 2025 Cadillac XT4 Drops Base Trim, Adds Safety Features

The Fairfax facility was due to build both the XT4 and Chevy’s new Bolt EV – scheduled to begin production in late 2025 – next year, but parent company GM says the plant will now only be used to make the Bolt. Fairfax currently also builds the Chevrolet Malibu sedan, but production of the mid-size sedan ends this month.

GM had already announced in September that almost 1,700 jobs would be lost at the site while it underwent a $390 million transformation into a modern EV center. The layoffs begin on November 18 when 686 full-time workers and 250 temporary staff are shown the door, followed by another 759 job cuts on January 12, Reuters reported.

The automaker does intend to get the workers back on site later in 2025 for the start of Bolt production, but that’s a long time to wait without a paycheck.

Cadillac cut like-for-like XT4 prices by between $400-700 for 2025, but it also dropped the base model, effectively bumping the minimum spend from $39,090 to $41,990. The latest versions offset that burden by coming equipped with the Active safety package – adaptive cruise, lane-keeping, surround-view camera – that was previously a $1,825 option.

The XT4 only lasted a single generation, having made its debut in 2018 as Cadillac’s take on the Chevrolet Equinox. It’s also built in Shanghai, China, where production is expected to continue.

Source: Reuters

Cadillac’s Lyriq is getting a high-performance Lyriq-V spinoff for the 2026 model year. GM’s fanciest brand confirmed today that the SUV would be the first Cadillac EV to get a hot variant, and says it will debut early next year.

The announcement offered nothing in the way of spec details, but two images and a short teaser video drop a few clues about what the BMW iX M60 rival will offer. Although the exterior makeover is subtle, the Lyriq V looks tangibly meaner than the stock EV thanks to its more aggressive bumpers and color-coded bodykit.

Related: The Lyriq Is Cadillac’s Second Best Seller This Year As Other Models Struggle

Brembo brake calipers are visible behind fat multispoke alloy wheels and the body looks noticeably closer to the ground in V form. And just in case those cues aren’t obvious enough, there are V badges on the nose and tail and one at the base of each rear door.

A driver in the video can be seen pressing a V button on the Lyriq‘s steering wheel to engage a performance driving mode, and although we don’t know what that does to the power and handling, Cadillac does promise every electric V will offer “exceptional performance, competitive range, and standard all-wheel drive.”

All-wheel drive versions of the regular Lyriq come with 500 hp (507 PS / 373 kW) and 450 lb-ft (610 Nm) of torque, but we can expect the V model to deliver far more of both. Chevy’s Blazer EV, which uses the same GM Ultium platform as the Lyriq, already offers 595 hp (603 PS / 444 kW) in SS trim.

The 2026 Lyriq-V doesn’t only have its sights set on stealing sales from the likes of BMW, Tesla, and Audi in the US, but right across the globe. Cadillac says it will build the SUV in both left- and right-hand drive and sell it initially in North America, Australia, and New Zealand, with availability in other markets coming later in 2025.

The Cadillac Lyriq’s electric drivetrain and sharp styling haven’t only won it new fans in America – it’s also earned the SUV a chance of victory in the prestigious German Car Of The Year (GCOTY) competition.

Forty judges assessing entries for GCOTY 2025 named the Lyriq the best luxury vehicle over €70,000 ($76,000), making it the only US car to be in with a shot at the overall title. The result will be announced on November 13 when the 2024 winner, VW’s ID.7 electric sedan will have to vacate its throne.

Related: Nearly Half Of The 2025 NACTOY Semifinalists Are EVs

But the Lyriq has its work cut out if it’s to take the outright win. The victors in the other four categories are the Citroen e-C3/C3, which took best compact vehicle under €35k ($38k), the BMW 5-Series/i5 which was awarded best premium car under €70k, the Audi Q6/SQ6 e-tron, GCOTY’s best new energy vehicle, and the Porsche 911 GTS T-Hybrid, which scooped best performance car.

You might have noticed that each one of those cars bar the Lyriq hails from Europe, and three are German. And maybe you’re not surprised by that, assuming that proud Germans might favor their own industry. But a glance at the list of previous winners shows that the judges are open-minded when it comes to new cars.

Though the ID.7 won in 2024, the MG3, Kia EV9, and Hyundai Ioniq 6 were victorious in the compact, luxury, and new energy categories, and the Genesis GV60, Range Rover, and Ferrari 296 won rounds in 2023, the year the VW ID.Buzz took home gold. The two overall winners in 2022 and 2021 were both from the Far East: Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 and Honda’s E.

The Lyric was shortlisted for the utility category in the 2023 North American Car and Truck of the Year (NACTOY) competition alongside the Genesis GV60 and Kia EV6 but lost out to the Kia in the final reckoning.