Cadillac Escalade SUV redo was no small feat
Cadillac pulled the considerably large covers off its all-new Escalade sport utility vehicle Monday night in New York.
A luxury version of the full-size Chevrolet Suburban that General Motors Co. unveiled in September, the fourth-generation Escalade seats seven or eight and will be available in two-wheel or all-wheel drive. It will go on sale next spring.
Cadillac hopes the gargantuan SUV will see success similar to the rest of its lineup this year. Sales at GM’s upscale division are up about 29% through September compared with the same period last year.
The automaker is looking to get another boost soon from the thoroughly redesigned CTS sedan, which is aimed at rivals such as the BMW 5-Series and Mercedes E-Class.
“Cadillac’s growth provides the ideal stage for the all-new Escalade to take a major leap forward,” said Bob Ferguson, senior vice president at Cadillac. “The clear objective is to once again assume the leadership position among luxury SUVs.”
To do so, Cadillac will need to lure buyers away from competitors such as Audi’s Q7 and the Lexus LX 570 with upgrades in fuel efficiency, styling, luxury and technology, said Karl Brauer, a senior analyst at Kelley Blue Book.
“But if it’s just a Suburban with really big chrome wheels and giant Cadillac badges, it will likely be ignored by premium SUV buyers,” he said. “They expect their SUVs to keep pace.”
Cadillac has sold more than 366,000 Escalades since it was introduced in the 2008 model year, with sales peaking at 37,535 in 2006. Since then, its popularity has faded; so far, the automaker has sold fewer than 8,300 Escalades in 2013.
On paper, the 2015 Escalade looks to address many key buyer concerns.
A 6.2-liter, V-8 engine that produces 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque is standard. Like many of GM’s new V-8s, this one comes with fuel-saving technologies such as directinjection and cylinder deactivation under light loads. All Escalades will come with a six-speed automatic transmission.
The redesign is thorough, with both the inside and out- side getting a new look. Outside, the front is relatively similar to its predecessor, though it now features full LED lighting and a more pronounced grille. The side of the SUV features more aggressive edges, while the rear is dominated by LED taillights that run from the top of the bumper to the top of the rear window.
Inside, the Escalade now gets Cadillac’s much-maligned CUE 12.3-inch touchscreen infotainment system. Such a system has found its way into Cadillac’s sedan lineup of ATS, CTS, and XTS, to the consternation of critics and buyers alike.
As was the case with the previous generation, the 2015 model will come in two sizes; regular, and extra large (officially dubbed ESV). The ESV model is 20 inches longer, giving thirdrow passengers an extra 10 inches of legroom and boosting cargo room about 60%.
Escalade fans will be able to see the real thing at November’s L.A. Auto Show, when GM will bring the Cadillac, GMC and Chevy versions of its full-size SUVs for display.