My first acquaintance with an electric Cadillac was the model LYRIQ that I was in Monte Carlo and drove at the international media run. However, my relationship with Cadillac as a brand goes back much further. In fact, all the way to 2004 and the XLR model that I photographed for Slitz magazine, where I then worked as a photographer when rock artist Martin Westerstrand was their motor editor. For Slitz we also did articles on the Cadillac SRX and Cadillac CTS V, a car we borrowed from Exclusive Cars.

In 2008, we borrowed the Cadillac CTS model, which became the second car I ever wrote an article about. After that Cadillac arranged for me to borrow a Cadillac Escalade ESV in Los Angeles when I was there with snowboarder Hans Åhlund. We were going up to Lake Tahoe where Hans was going to be in a snowboarding show. The snowboarding show was organised by the snowboarder Marc Frank Montoya and was held at his hotel The Block. It couldn't have been a better time to turn up in an Escalade ESV.

Later I had to borrow a Cadillac ATS in Dubai when I was there with Will Wright. That trip led to something completely unexpected. Will knew the people at W Motors from before and thanks to him I ended up at their headquarters. There, I became the first journalist in the world to test drive and write about their model Lykan HyperSport. A car that cost $3.5 million at the time and had diamonds and sapphires in the headlights. A journey I will never forget.

But now this article is about the Cadillac OPTIQ and my test drive of the model during the media drive that Cadillac invited me to. The drive took place in Spain and started from a hotel just north of Montserrat which is north-west of Barcelona. Montserrat is both a mountain and a monastery located nearby. Many media runs have been held here for the environment and the roads are absolutely stunning. On previous visits, we have usually stayed in Barcelona but this time Cadillac had accommodated us in a wine hotel a bit from Montserrat called Oller del Mas. The wine with dinner that night was an experience in itself.

The Cadillac OPTIQ is the brand's new all-electric compact SUV and a key model in its global electric vehicle initiative. It is based on GM's Ultium platform and will be launched in Europe with two motors and electric all-wheel drive. The power output is around 300 horsepower and the battery is just over 85 kWh, giving a range of around 480 kilometres according to WLTP depending on equipment and wheel size. The chassis is designed to give a more European feel to the steering and handling while retaining the soft comfort that Cadillac is known for.

The interior of the OPTIQ is modern and clearly positioned in the premium segment. The first thing you notice is a large curved screen that combines instrumentation and infotainment in one sweep across the driver's field of vision. The material choices are more lavish than traditionally associated with American electric SUVs of this size and the environment is stripped back, bright and technologically orientated. The sound system is a customised AKG Studiosystem with 19 speakers supporting Dolby Atmos for a three-dimensional soundstage. The quality is so clear and immersive that I could immediately enjoy my own DJ mixes that I record with my vinyl discs.

Regenerative braking can be controlled both automatically and manually via a paddle on the steering wheel and One Pedal driving works smoothly in everyday traffic. The cabin is also spacious with good rear legroom and a boot that works well in everyday European traffic. I really appreciated that on this day as driving often gets active on the roads around Montserrat. The combination of the One Pedal system and the powerful regenerative braking also saves on the brakes, which can otherwise easily overheat when driving hard on long downhill sections.

The OPTIQ also plays an important role in Cadillac's modern history. It marks the entry into a segment long dominated by European manufacturers and shows how the brand wants to position itself in the electric car era. It is smaller than the LYRIQ and designed to suit denser urban areas where demand for premium electric SUVs is growing rapidly. With OPTIQ, Cadillac wants to combine American comfort and design with technology and driving feel that feels just right on European roads.

After two days with the OPTIQ on the roads around Montserrat, I leave Spain with a clear sense that Cadillac is on the right track. The OPTIQ is well thought out, modern and well adapted to the European market. It shows that Cadillac does not just want to be part of the electric car series, but actually has something of its own to contribute. It will be very interesting to see how it is received when it lands in Sweden.

Cadillac OPTIQ

Price: From 740 000 SEK  

Motor: Electric

Power: 304 hp, 480 Nm  

Transmission: All-wheel drive with twin electric motors (AWD)  

Acceleration: 0-100 km/h 6.3 s  

Top speed: 184 km/h  

Consumption (WLTP): approx. 19.9 kWh/100 km (equivalent to ~1.99 kWh/mile)  

Range: up to 425 km (WLTP)  

Service weight: approx. 2 376 kg  

Dimensions (length/width/height): 4 820 / 1 913 / 1 644 mm