The OPTIQ is the vehicle that Cadillac needs if it’s to become a real player in the electric vehicle field. WWJ's Jeff Gilbert reports.
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00:00This is the vehicle Cadillac needs to really tap into the EV market.
00:06The Cadillac Optic, a compact electric SUV.
00:10Now that's the heart of the luxury market.
00:12It's the heart of the EV market.
00:14It's the heart of the overall market.
00:16So this is what they call a gateway vehicle.
00:19Affordability is still on a lot of people's mind. It's important.
00:22And bringing an execution like Optic at around $55,000,
00:26we know is going to be incredibly important.
00:28And it's going to get us on some radar screens of some customers
00:30that we haven't necessarily been on.
00:32We were looking at a younger, typically younger, you know,
00:35older millennial, 29 to 49-year-old that really values technology,
00:40that really values exceptional audio, exceptional driving experience.
00:44We have had a blast driving the Optic through a number of windy roads here
00:49just north of San Francisco.
00:51The vehicle is handled quite well.
00:53And in some cases, when you've got one pedal driving on,
00:57you don't even have to tap the brake.
00:59Cadillac taking us to San Francisco,
01:02where we headed north over the Golden Gate Bridge,
01:05hands-free, thanks to Super Cruise.
01:07For the record, I'm shooting video of my drive partner here.
01:10Then we went into switchback country,
01:13where we saw how that low center of gravity
01:15made the driving better than your average SUV.
01:19San Francisco was also chosen because it's the home of Dolby Audio
01:24and their new Atmos system, which is more than surround sound,
01:28as we get a demonstration of how you can remix a classic tune
01:32to make it sound extra special inside a vehicle.
01:36If I could be successful at one thing tonight,
01:38it would be demonstrating to you that a Dolby Atmos mix experience
01:42is a meticulously curated creative expression.
01:46300 horsepower, 320 miles of range, standard safety features,
01:50and standard Super Cruise make the Optic a very nice package for any vehicle
01:56and a pretty compelling choice for those who are considering an EV.
02:00I'm MotorBeat reporter Jeff Gilbert.