Will the Lyriq be music to your ears? Cadillac unveils its first fossil-fuel-free crossover


Simon Wilgress-Pipe
  • English
  • Arabic

Cadillac is finally dipping its delicately manicured toe into the pool of electric motoring with the new Lyriq, a fully fossil-fuel-free crossover.

It’s based on a vehicle the manufacturer had been showing off in concept form around various motor shows (prior to the cancellation of such large-scale events in light of the coronavirus pandemic, of course).

Cadillac says this new vehicle “makes a bold design statement that introduces a new face, proportion and presence for the brand’s new generation of EVs”.

So much for that, but the Lyriq is certainly a bundle of smoothness and clean lines. It has a low roofline that conveys a certain sense of agility, yet the appearance as a whole retains the sense that it is a capable vehicle.

A closer look shows a black crystal grille at the front, a feature that is unique to the vehicle and not something you’ll find on any of its automotive brothers and sisters.

The range for the Lyriq is expected to be just shy of 500 kilometres. When it comes to speed and power, there are scant details, but Cadillac promises “thrilling performance”.

Inside, you can expect the usual kit and caboodle that the US carmaker prides itself on, with a 33-inch LED display that spans the entire viewing area for the driver, which should be interesting to behold.

The Lyriq is the first vehicle to mirror a bid by General Motors, Cadillac’s parent company, to overhaul its Chinese line-up with a greater emphasis on electric cars and smart-driving technology.

The group's new regional manager for that area, Julian Blissett, told Reuters it would renew its focus on luxury Cadillacs, roll out bigger but greener SUVs, and target entry-level buyers with low-cost micro electric vehicles.

No word on when the Lyriq will be launched in the Middle East yet – rumour has it the vehicle won’t be with us until the middle of 2021 at the earliest – but reports suggest prices should be in the region of $60,000 (Dh220,000) when it finally does arrive.

So what is Spicy Chickenjoy?

Just as McDonald’s has the Big Mac, Jollibee has Spicy Chickenjoy – a piece of fried chicken that’s crispy and spicy on the outside and comes with a side of spaghetti, all covered in tomato sauce and topped with sausage slices and ground beef. It sounds like a recipe that a child would come up with, but perhaps that’s the point – a flavourbomb combination of cheap comfort foods. Chickenjoy is Jollibee’s best-selling product in every country in which it has a presence.
 

From Zero

Artist: Linkin Park

Label: Warner Records

Number of tracks: 11

Rating: 4/5

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Tips for avoiding trouble online
  • Do not post incorrect information and beware of fake news
  • Do not publish or repost racist or hate speech, yours or anyone else’s
  • Do not incite violence and be careful how to phrase what you want to say
  • Do not defame anyone. Have a difference of opinion with someone? Don’t attack them on social media
  • Do not forget your children and monitor their online activities

Janet Yellen's Firsts

  • In 2014, she became the first woman to lead the US Federal Reserve 
  • In 1999, she became the first female chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisers 
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David Haye record

Total fights: 32
Wins: 28
Wins by KO: 26
Losses: 4

ELIO

Starring: Yonas Kibreab, Zoe Saldana, Brad Garrett

Directors: Madeline Sharafian, Domee Shi, Adrian Molina

Rating: 4/5

The%20Beekeeper
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Formula Middle East Calendar (Formula Regional and Formula 4)
Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia

Crazy Rich Asians

Director: Jon M Chu

Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan

Four stars

Company%20profile
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What can victims do?

Always use only regulated platforms

Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion

Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)

Report to local authorities

Warn others to prevent further harm

Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence

Groom and Two Brides

Director: Elie Semaan

Starring: Abdullah Boushehri, Laila Abdallah, Lulwa Almulla

Rating: 3/5

THE BIO

Bio Box

Role Model: Sheikh Zayed, God bless his soul

Favorite book: Zayed Biography of the leader

Favorite quote: To be or not to be, that is the question, from William Shakespeare's Hamlet

Favorite food: seafood

Favorite place to travel: Lebanon

Favorite movie: Braveheart

Expert advice

“Join in with a group like Cycle Safe Dubai or TrainYAS, where you’ll meet like-minded people and always have support on hand.”

Stewart Howison, co-founder of Cycle Safe Dubai and owner of Revolution Cycles

“When you sweat a lot, you lose a lot of salt and other electrolytes from your body. If your electrolytes drop enough, you will be at risk of cramping. To prevent salt deficiency, simply add an electrolyte mix to your water.”

Cornelia Gloor, head of RAK Hospital’s Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy Centre 

“Don’t make the mistake of thinking you can ride as fast or as far during the summer as you do in cooler weather. The heat will make you expend more energy to maintain a speed that might normally be comfortable, so pace yourself when riding during the hotter parts of the day.”

Chandrashekar Nandi, physiotherapist at Burjeel Hospital in Dubai
 

2.0

Director: S Shankar

Producer: Lyca Productions; presented by Dharma Films

Cast: Rajnikanth, Akshay Kumar, Amy Jackson, Sudhanshu Pandey

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The Vile

Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah

Director: Majid Al Ansari

Rating: 4/5