More details will be announced as the automaker moves closer to launch.

Last week we learned that Cadillac was going to become the lead brand for the next generation of electric vehicles at General Motors. The luxury Detroit automaker would soon announce a lineup aimed at industry leader Tesla. What we did not know was how long it would take for us to get our first details on the upcoming Cadillac EV.

Well, the first announcement has come more quickly than we expected. Late Sunday afternoon, Cadillac dropped the images of its first fully electric vehicle, following the XT6 reveal.

The vehicle shown is not a "compact crossover" as GM calls the Chevy Bolt EV. Instead, the upcoming Cadillac EV will be a 3-row SUV. While details are still scarce, Cadillac says the new electric vehicle platform will be incredibly flexible. The automaker adds that the platform has a "relatively short design and development lead time". But the announcement does not simply hint at the future of GM's electric vehicle platform. It is also a step towards re-invigorating Cadillac.

Barra Comment Plus Background

Mary Barry commented on the upcoming fully electric SUV. She hints it's the beginning of a new era for Cadillac.

One of the things that’s going to make Cadillac, Cadillac again is being leading in innovation and technology. We’re very intent on continuing aggressively to accomplish that ... This is just the tip of the iceberg.

We had been hearing for some time about a future crossover based on the Bolt that would launch as a Buick. Previously, GM CEO Mary Barra had announced that multiple vehicles would be launching on the Chevy Bolt platform. So far, that has not come to pass. After the announcement that Cadillac would become the tent pole brand for the new EV platform, it is no surprise that the Cadillac EV is the first to be officially announced.

For the past several years, Buick and Cadillac have been the primary focus of the automaker's efforts in China. But the most important aspect for Americans is that this was announced on the U.S. media site at a North American event. This likely indicates this vehicle is not merely a play for the Chinese market.

This article will be continually updated as we receive further details.

Gallery: Cadillac Shows Off First Fully Electric Crossover On New EV Platform

Press release below:

DETROIT — Cadillac furthered its recent product blitz today with the reveal of the brand’s first EV. This will be the first model derived from GM’s future EV platform. GM announced on Friday that Cadillac will be at the vanguard of the company’s move toward an all-electric future.

“Cadillac’s EV will hit the heart of the crossover market and meet the needs of customers around the world,” said Steve Carlisle, president of Cadillac. “It will represent the height of luxury and innovation while positioning Cadillac as the pinnacle of mobility.”

The Cadillac EV’s name and additional details will be revealed closer to launch. Today’s announcement is part of Cadillac’s aggressive product acceleration announced this week — in addition to revealing the all-new XT6 crossover, the company also hinted at both a future Escalade and an upcoming performance sedan. Overall, Cadillac will introduce new models at the rate of roughly one every six months through 2021.

GM’s future EV platform, which Cadillac will be the first to use, will be flexible. It will allow the company to respond quickly to customer preferences with a relatively short design and development lead time. The Cadillac portfolio will eventually benefit from a variety of body styles that can be spun off this architecture.

The most advanced components within this platform are the drive units and battery cells, both of which are being designed for maximum usability throughout GM vehicle lineups in different countries. The EVs can be configured in front-, rear- or all-wheel drive, and the output of their battery systems will be adjustable based on vehicle and customer needs.

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