In case you missed it, Cadillac just took its next significant step toward the fore of GM's electric vehicle effort, unveiling the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq - a mid-size battery-electric crossover coming to fight luxury EVs like Audi's e-tron. From Cadillac's performance targets, it seems the Lyriq would be a competitive vehicle were it released today, with DC fast-charging at rates above 150 kW, and a minimum of 300 miles of range on a full charge, but whether those specs will measure up when the Lyriq launches in over two years' time remains to be seen.

But one figure that seems entirely promising is the target price tag: less than $75,000 to start.

That price target comes by way of Cadillac President Steve Carlisle, WardsAuto reports, and it sets the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq up to come in priced below the fast-selling Audi e-tron, and just modestly above the smaller Jaguar I-Pace. Of course, both the e-tron and the I-Pace might add driving range or undergo other revisions that might change the balance, but we don't expect their respective prices will budge much as a result.

Of course, the Cadillac Lyriq's sub-$75,000 price tag is necessary not just to allow it to compete with similar offerings from Jaguar and Audi, but so that it can contend with internal combustion luxury vehicles, as well. Carlisle says Cadillac absolutely plans for the Lyriq to be a volume product within the brand's portfolio.

"We expect Lyriq takes its fair share" of battery-electric vehicle sales, he says.

In preparation for the 2023 Cadillac Lyriq, slated to launch late in 2022, as well as the onslaught of other battery-electric models set to follow, GM last week announced plans to help build another 2,700 EV fast-charge stations with EVgo over the next five years. That would triple the size of the country's largest network and put DC fast-charging within reach of a much greater share of American drivers.

When asked whether the Cadillac Lyriq would offer free fast-charging to customers, Carlisle said it was something under consideration. Yet even without free charging, at less than $75,000, Cadillac's forthcoming luxurious electric crossover is a relative bargain.