REDESIGNED SUV UPS ANTE WITH HIGH-TECH UPGRADES
WARREN, MICH. Set to launch in the third quarter this year, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade has been completely redesigned to deliver improved driving dynamics and significantly greater passenger and cargo capacities, along with pioneering new technologies.
“It’s the brand name people recognize,” says Bob Benbow, marketing manager for the XT6 and Escalade.
At the General Motors Design Dome in Warren, Mich., Cadillac took several journalists through a two-hour marketing and engineering deep dive into the fifth generation of the brand’s flagship.
Comprehensive upgrades include a huge curved Organic Light Emitting Diode (OLED) screen, the first AKG automotive audio system, improvements to the brand’s well-regarded Super Cruise driver-assistance technology, a new multi-link independent rear suspension, plus a significant increase in length and wheelbase that means far more comfort for third-row passengers and increased cargo room.
These improvements are designed to appeal to Escalade’s core buyers who, Benbow says, are very brand-loyal and model-loyal. Perhaps more interesting and possibly surprising, the average age of the typical Escalade buyer is “late 40s, the lowest of all Cadillac models.” Benbow says the big luxury segment is very healthy, especially in the U.S.
Yet, for those hoping the new Escalade would lead the Cadillac brand’s stated goal of electrifying its entire model range over the next decade, prepare for disappointment — at least for the SUV’s initial run. The standard engine continues to be a 420-horsepower, 6.2-litre V8, this one with variable valve timing, stop/start and “Dynamic Fuel Management” technologies as nods to efficiency.
For the first time, the Escalade will also be offered with an optional Duramax 3.0-L in-line six turbodiesel. Horsepower is rated at 277, though its 460 pound-feet of torque — a boon when trailering — matches that of the gas V8. Both engines are paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission with electronic shift control, and a trailering package is standard on all models.
From an external styling standpoint, the most recognizable difference between the current model and the new one happens up front. Designers have maintained Cadillac’s signature vertical lighting, but added a horizontal headlamp to reinforce the SUV’s strong face. At the back, the tall, vertical rear light continues, but adds deep three-dimensional layers and finishes with detailed etching. And 22-inch wheels are standard.
The new Escalade will offer Cadillac’s Sport trim for the first time, featuring a black mesh grill and black trim across the exterior. Luxury and Premium Luxury models showcase a bright finish, while Platinum models top the range with unique interior and exterior details.
Here’s a look at some of the 2021 Escalade’s technologies. Curved OLED display technology: Escalade’s first curved OLED display offers more than a diagonal 38 inches of total display area, with twice the pixel density of a 4K television. The technology delivers a full-spectrum colour range with perfect blacks. The system includes three screens: a 7.2-inch control-panel driver-information centre, a 14.2-inch cluster display behind the steering wheel, and a 16.9-inch infotainment screen. The OLED is as thin as a sheet of paper and its curvature positions the displays for optimal visibility.
Augmented-reality navigation:
This is a new available feature with the 2021 Escalade’s turnby-turn navigation. A live street view in front of the vehicle is projected on the centre display with turn indicators and other directional information overlaid on the scene. It includes features such as direction-based audio prompts. For example, a “turn left” audio prompt comes through the left speakers to further emphasize the navigation instruction — with the volume increasing as the turn approaches.
Super Cruise: The Escalade, says Mario Maiorana, chief engineer for Super Cruise, is the first full-size SUV with Super Cruise driver-assistance technology. It enables hands-free driving on more than 320,000 kilometres of compatible highways in the U.S. and Canada, using Lidar map data, high-precision GPS, a state-of-the-art driver-attention system, and a network of cameras and radar sensors.
The 2021 Escalade features an enhanced Super Cruise system with several new features and improvements, including automated lane change, which allows the driver to direct the system to perform a single lane change using the turn signal to indicate the direction of the desired move.
Air Ride adaptive suspension:
This is available as a new system that combines with Magnetic Ride Control. The air suspension delivers automatic load-levelling and ride-height adjustments continuously at all four wheels. In highway driving, the system automatically lowers the ride height to improve aerodynamics, and a driver-selectable setting lowers the suspension 51 mm to aid passenger entry and exit when the vehicle is parked. Drivers can also raise the body for additional ground clearance. Electronic limited-slip differential: This optional system offers more precise traction and power engagement for the rear wheels. Its infinitely variable clutch engagement delivers torque to the wheel with the most traction, including when cornering and in wet weather conditions.