General Motors has confirmed the Cadillac Lyriq-V will still reach Australia, even as 2026 progresses without its arrival, and an updated edition of the standard Lyriq is also headed to local buyers.

The Lyriq marked the American luxury marque's entry into the Australian market, with initial customer handovers beginning in early 2025. GM Australia and New Zealand had previously announced in late 2024 that the high-output Lyriq-V would follow in 2026.

During the local introduction of the Optiq and Vistiq, GM ANZ managing director Jess Bala avoided specifying an exact arrival window for the Lyriq-V but assured it remains on track.

She noted ongoing discussions about the best approach for introducing the model, describing it as a specialised offering that nonetheless represents an exciting chance to showcase the quickest Cadillac produced to date.

Bala explained that the current trio of models - the Optiq, existing Lyriq and Vistiq - are being used to build brand stability and demonstrate the full range, paving the way for later decisions on the V variant once the dealer footprint grows.

Optiq deliveries are set to start in the third quarter of 2026, followed by the Vistiq in the fourth quarter, as the company works with partners to broaden its retail presence beyond the existing Sydney centre and Melbourne test facility.

Bala firmly rejected any suggestion that the Lyriq-V might be cancelled for Australia, stressing it is definitely still planned once current activities including recent F1 exposure and network growth are consolidated.

The Lyriq-V uses the same 102kWh battery as the standard model yet produces 459kW and 880Nm through its dual-motor all-wheel drive setup, representing gains of 71kW and 270Nm.

This enables a 0-96km/h sprint in 3.3 seconds in V-Mode, making it marginally quicker than the supercharged V8 CT5-V Blackwing with automatic transmission.

Range is rated at 471km WLTP, compared with 530km for the regular Lyriq, while other changes include lowered suspension with Continuous Damping Control, quicker steering and Brembo front brakes.

Interior updates feature a revised steering wheel and more supportive front sports seats, though the augmented reality head-up display may not feature on right-hand drive examples.

The Lyriq-V is already offered in Japan as another right-hand drive market, with production at the Spring Hill plant in Tennessee alongside the regular Lyriq that gains minor 2026 updates.

Those changes include the addition of an augmented reality head-up display, fresh paint options, an expanded 23-speaker AKG audio system, removal of the stop/start button and a new hands-on lane-centring feature.

Bala indicated the timing for introducing the updated Lyriq will be managed to balance existing stock and customer demand, likely occurring late this year or early next, with the specific model year depending on the rollout schedule.

Thirteen examples of the current model year Lyriq remain available locally, with pricing recently adjusted to position both variants at $90,000 before on-road costs to qualify for tax benefits.