Cadillac Lyriq Show Car vs. Lyriq Production Vehicle: Comparison

The Cadillac Lyriq 2023 has certainly come a long way since the luxury brand launched the Lyriq show car in 2020. Now, ahead of the upcoming launch of the luxury electric crossover, we take a closer look at the subtle differences between the show car and its production-seeking sibling.

Starting with the front end, the first noticeable difference lies in the turn signal. The Lyriq 2023 gets a narrow yellow turn signal just below the hood line that the show car doesn’t have. There is also a slight difference in the shape of the hood cut, with the appearance of the hood tilting more gradually than the sharp angles of the production model. The Lyriq 2023 also has a more pronounced black separation between the unlit grille and the animated lighting, something that isn’t too noticeable on a show car.

Furthermore, production models featured running lights (thin horizontal units) that were wider (more elongated) than those on show cars. It also has black “winglets” that run horizontally across the bezel, creating a more pronounced separation between the running light and the main headlight (vertical unit). Also note the stylish lines added to the production model’s silver trim surrounding the vertical headlights. The silver trim on the show car bumper is smooth by comparison.

The Lyriq 2023 also has a yellow marker light mounted right in front of the front wheels, whereas the show car lacks this element at all.

When looking at the driver’s side of both vehicles, we notice the charging port door is much smaller on the production model, a result of the splitting of the lower end of the front panel. Both cars have a similar wheel design, but the production model uses 22-inch wheels compared to the 23-inch unit on the show car. Additionally, production models have exposed wheel nuts, while show cars have hidden them under hubcaps.

Another major difference is the very thin mirror assembly that is mounted on the front door of the show car. In comparison, the Lyriq 2023 has a larger mirror housing.

Also note that the Cadillac Lyriq 2023 features a chrome greenhouse trim that follows the top line of the vehicle, connecting to the top taillight assembly. In show cars, this top trim doesn’t come into contact with the taillights.

The taillights themselves also feature a different lighting pattern, with those on the production model featuring a different staircase style pattern as seen from the side, with more negative space than the show car.

In addition, the rear of the two vehicles also has some differences. The production model has a more pronounced body cutline on the rear bumper. The license plate gap on the Lyriq 2023 is higher, designed to accommodate taller North American plates, while also featuring a different surface development. What’s more, the production model sported a Lyriq nameplate and torque-based badge that the show car didn’t have.

The production-ready Lyriq has a different lower bumper design with horizontally oriented reflectors, while the show car has a blockier bumper cover without reflectors. There’s also a black and silver trim strip outlining the lower taillight assembly on the Lyriq 2023. These tail lights do, in fact, carry the same staircase-style lighting pattern as on the top tail light assembly we mentioned earlier, setting it apart from the show car. Lastly, the production car also has a different fin-style center high-mounted stop lamp (CHMSL), which does not appear to be featured on the show car.

Find any other differences between the Cadillac Lyriq 2023 and the Lyriq show car not covered here? Let us know in the comments below, and be sure to subscribe Cadillac Society for Cadillac Lyriq news and round-the-clock Cadillac news coverage. We also invite you to join the latest discussions on our Cadillac forums.