What I particularly enjoyed about my time with the 2025 Cadillac Optiq, was how young and refreshing it felt, especially coming from a brand like Cadillac. Wanting to rejuvenate its brand image for years in hopes of attracting a new generation of buyers into its showrooms, Cadillac finally met its transitional moment in the electric vehicle (EV) space, with stylish and capable models such as the Lyriq and the upcoming Vistiq. The Optiq is the perfect manifestation of that gestation process, as it comes through as one of the most hip premium EVs I’ve driven this year.
It therefore comes as no surprise to find out that Cadillac will soon give it the high-performance V treatment. What is probably one of the industry’s worst-kept secrets, the 2026 Cadillac Optiq-V could give Cadillac’s most affordable EV the performance edge it needs in order to be taken seriously by enthusiasts alike.
2026 Cadillac Optiq-V Will Be Fully Revealed In June 2025
For now, Cadillac is only teasing us with the upcoming Optiq-V through two leaked images and a very vague statement to confirm its arrival. We therefore still know nothing about its technical specifications, its acceleration, range, charging or price. But we can make assumptions that it’ll inherit some of the Lyriq-V’s components, and by extension, the Chevrolet Blazer EV SS’s hardware as well.
If this is the case, then we could expect Cadillac’s baby EV to push out north of 600 horsepower thanks to a 102-kWh battery, complete the 0 to 60 MPH run in under 3.5 seconds and hit the quarter mile in the 11-second timeframe. From Cadillac’s press release:
Cadillac has confirmed the OPTIQ has earned the V-Series badge. The 2026 OPTIQ-V will be part of Cadillac’s fifth generation of the V-Series portfolio, elevating the brand’s performance offering. Building on OPTIQ’s agile drive, Cadillac engineers delivered a unique package prioritizing precision, a dynamic suspension and tight steering for an exhilarating driving experience!
There’s no exact release date just yet, but Cadillac did invite us to a virtual backgrounder on June 2nd where we’ll be able to see the vehicle in its entirety. The official reveal will most likely happen a week later. My assumption is that we’ll see the first Optiq-Vs on our roads around the end of this year. Hopefully, we’ll get to drive one by then.
Can The Optiq-V Convince CT4-V Buyers To Go Electric?
As of now, the model that’s in charge of conquesting new, younger buyers towards the Cadillac brand is the subcompact CT4 sedan. For those looking for something a little sportier, along the lines of an Acura Integra Type S, an Audi S3/RS 3 or BMW M240i/M2, Cadillac will extend the CT4 to V and V Blackwing specifications. Unfortunately, sedans aren’t exactly what people are buying these days, and EVs are rapidly gaining ground with the younger demographics. Can the Optiq fill the CT4’s shoes?
- The Optiq-V could share its components with the Chevrolet Blazer EV SS.
- It could make north of 600 horsepower.
- The vehicle will be revealed in June 2025.
Of course, someone who currently owns a CT4-V Blackwing equipped with a twin-turbocharged V6 and a manual transmission probably couldn’t care less about a fully electric Optiq-V. And there’s already a rumor going around that the CT4 and CT5 sedans might soon be replaced by a next-generation EV. But there’s still a business case here around making Cadillac’s most affordable EV crossover even cooler through the coveted V treatment.
One area where the Optiq really impressed me was in the way its interior was designed with a clever combination of colors and materials. It also wears some quirky exterior design cues that help drive the point home that it’s the most fun and rebellious member of Cadillac’s electric offerings.
Here’s to hoping Cadillac will continue in that direction with the Optiq-V. Make it silly, make it loud through pumped-in audio and, of course, make it fast and handle like stink. We’ll circle back here in June once we know more about Cadillac’s latest high-performance EV.
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