Two Luxury Pickups Face Off

By Michael Jordan, Executive Editor
Date posted: 07-17-2007

Loving trucks is as American as the Marlboro Man. But just as that rough and rugged pitchman has ridden off into the sunset (probably coughing), rough and rugged trucks are a thing of the past. Even the lowliest Chevy Silverado is now packed with the kind of features and luxury once reserved for high-end sedans.

The 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT and 2007 Lincoln Mark LT are the pinnacle of this new breed of softer and gentler American pickup trucks. Part pickup, part recreational vehicle and part hot-rod sedan, these trucks put bling before balls...er...make that ball hitches. They reinvent the pickup truck as a luxurious recreational vehicle. Each is a grandly stylish device with both adventurous possibility and everyday utility.

If It Looks Like a Truck
Even a pickup truck guy can appreciate style, and these high-profile trucks are meant to make you think about the outdoors and your plans for the weekend. After all, if you want respect in suburban America, you're not supposed to carry a lunch bucket everywhere you go.

The Cadillac Escalade EXT has enough style for two trucks and maybe a couple of cars besides. It's angular and aggressive, a machine for driving and not just for hauling. And just so you know it's a Cadillac, it's been overlaid with lots of automotive jewelry, including big high-intensity headlights, a retro-style egg-crate grille, and layers and layers of chrome detailing.

On the other hand, the Lincoln Mark LT, is plainly a Ford F-150. But it's also Ford's most successful interpretation of the heavy-duty truck look since the Dodge Ram 1500 introduced this style so successfully in 1994. Like the Cadillac, the Lincoln sets itself apart with its own complement of jewelry, only they're the kind of chrome accents that you might find in a Harley-Davidson accessory catalog. The assembled, customized look is meant to be all about authenticity.

Recreation Room on Wheels
In case you haven't heard, the interior of a pickup truck isn't meant to be cleaned out with a garden hose anymore. Americans live in these trucks, and they need a cabin that amounts to more than just a cupholder big enough for a Big Gulp and someplace to toss the candy bar wrappers.

With the Escalade EXT, GM's oversize, work-grade truck interior has finally given way to carlike detailing. You're meant to travel in the EXT, not just shuttle from job site to job site. That's why the seats are sufficiently bolstered to be supportive enough for long journeys, and they're available with both heating and cooling functions.

A $3,990 complement of optional interior luxury features transforms the EXT into a luxury sedan. There's a complex audio system that plays DVD-audio as well as CDs, not to mention an MP3 player and satellite radio. Naturally there's a navigation system with an 8-inch touchscreen for the front-seat passengers plus a DVD player with a flip-down, 8-inch screen for the rear passengers.

This particular Lincoln Mark LT didn't quite have an Escalade-grade arcade of optional electronic gizmos, although you'll find nearly identical stuff among this truck's list of available options. Where the interior of the Escalade resembles some kind of recreational device from the sporting goods store, the Mark LT goes for luxury-car elegance, as if it were the reincarnation of the Lincoln Continental Mark III. The seats are as easy to slide into as the old man's big puffy chair in the family room, although they're not supportive enough for all-day comfort.

The interior of the Escalade EXT has one clear advantage over the Mark LT, and it lies in passive passenger safety. Both the Escalade and the Mark LT have front-passenger airbags, but only the Cadillac has curtain-type head-protection airbags for both front- and rear-seat passengers, plus front-passenger seatbelts with safety pre-tensioners.

Aside from the details, the cabins of both these trucks have been designed for real vacation travel, not just short trips to the lumberyard. The Escalade EXT affords 108.9 cubic feet of passenger volume, while the Mark LT is substantially larger at 121.8 cubic feet. Both make it possible to take a family vacation without having to invest in family counseling afterward.

A Real Truck Has a Cargo Box
What makes these vehicles different from other vehicles (and each other) is the cargo box, the essence of any pickup truck. We live in a country where the home-improvement store is a destination resort, and as anyone who has ever packed a load of grass sod in the trunk of a Honda Accord can tell you, a pickup truck is a fine thing to have on Saturday mornings.

What makes the Escalade unique is its Midgate, an access panel into the cabin from the cargo box that effectively lengthens the cargo box from 63.3 inches to 97.6 inches. It seems like an expensive indulgence, yet it enables a four-door cab and a cargo box to be integrated into a relatively compact package.

The Lincoln Mark LT has a more conventional answer to the cargo box question. For 2007 there are two LT models, both the standard LT with a 138-inch wheelbase and a 67-inch cargo box, and the long-bed LT (like our test truck) with a 150.5-inch wheelbase and a 79-inch cargo box.

Although the Escalade ultimately offers the larger bed, we should point out that using the Midgate opens the rear of the Caddy's cab to weather, plus it keeps you from locking the truck.

In standard trim, the four-wheel-drive Escalade EXT is rated for a 1,362-pound payload of people and gear, and can tow 8,600 pounds. Meanwhile the long-wheelbase, four-wheel-drive Mark LT can carry a load of 1,430 pounds, and it'll tow 8,500 pounds. Just like regular pickup trucks, both the Escalade and the Mark LT can be equipped with optional towing packages for more capacity.

Going Places
With a plain old pickup truck, all you need is an engine good enough for motivation, not speed. But once you transform a truck into full-time transportation, suddenly driving becomes the priority.

This four-wheel-drive Cadillac weighs in at 6,068 pounds, so it needs some serious motivation. GM's new all-aluminum, 6.2-liter V8 measures up with 403 horsepower and 417 pound-feet of torque. Even more important is its new six-speed automatic transmission, which not only improves the powertrain's response and acceleration, but also makes the whole truck feel effortlessly powerful.

Power plus short gearing helps this Escalade make a quick full-throttle getaway. You can even feel the front tires get a little light with the weight transfer, and 30 mph comes up in only 2.5 seconds while 60 mph turns up in 7.0 seconds. It's hard to believe so much weight gets through the quarter-mile in 15.5 seconds at 90.6 mph.

In comparison, the Lincoln Mark LT's iron-block 5.4-liter V8 puts down 300 hp and 365 lb-ft, although it has 5,870 pounds to move around, some 198 pounds less than the Cadillac. It reaches its respective power peaks at lower rpm than the Escalade, but it has to make things happen through a four-speed transmission, so the Lincoln feels like it slogs its way to the speed limit.

As a result, the long-wheelbase Mark LT lags behind the Escalade when it comes to performance and it takes 9.6 seconds to get to 60 mph. The Lincoln brings up the quarter-mile in 17.1 seconds at 80.9 mph.

The lighter Lincoln did, however, outstop the Cadillac, although neither is exactly the poster child for braking performance. Still, the Lincoln's 134-foot stopping distance from 60 mph is considerably better than the Escalade's 142-foot performance.

Driving Matters
The Escalade certainly doesn't make you feel as if it takes a lot of wrestling with physics to get where you want to go. Quick-ratio steering matched with light-effort assist isn't usually a happy combination, yet the Escalade manages to deliver easy carlike maneuverability with reassuring highway stability, and it never feels as if you're tugging at the front wheels with a length of rope.

The Mark LT also successfully gets beyond the usual truck stereotype when it comes to getting down the highway, but it's trying to be far more reserved than the Escalade, so every control feels carefully insulated from the road, as if you were driving a Lincoln Continental Mark III.

It's not entirely ridiculous to talk about cornering performance with these trucks. The Escalade has a 0.73g grip on the skid pad, using its big 285/45HR22 Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza tires to good effect. It carves up the slalom at 57.8 mph, and it went fast enough to require a little opposite steering lock (which apparently panicked the electronics sufficiently to trigger an inquiry from OnStar about whether we'd suffered some kind of airbag deployment).

The Lincoln Mark LT provided more thrills on the pavement thanks to its crude leaf spring rear suspension, but it circled the skid pad in a stable, understeering slide at 0.73g, its 275/55SR20 Pirelli Scorpion ATR tires hanging in there steadily. And just like the Escalade, the long-wheelbase Lincoln went through the slalom cones at 57.9 mph.

On the road, the Escalade has all the supple composure we've come to expect from the latest generation of trucks. The unique way the cabin's C-pillar is structurally tied to the cargo box makes the whole truck feel even more solid, while the coil-sprung rear axle responds relatively well to broken pavement. The Escalade feels large and comfortable, but it has a dimension of liveliness that makes it more enjoyable to drive.

The Lincoln also goes down the road very well, yet there's so much emphasis on stability that the truck always feels heavy, as if its responses have been thoroughly muffled. The LT gets you there in comfort and silence, but you rarely remember the trip along the way.

A Truck You Can Drive Every Day
Trucks sure have gotten nice. They're so nice that the things that separate one truck from another no longer have anything to do with the number of fertilizer bags you can pack into the cargo bed. Instead we tend to make our choice based on the way the cabin can make you forget you're hauling anything like fertilizer in the first place.

The 2007 Lincoln Mark LT offers a lot of luxury for the money, as it comes in at a base price of just $41,495. But even as you add options to bring up the luxury quotient, it still feels more like a pretty pickup than a real sporting device.

For us, the Mark LT seems too much like a Lincoln-ized Ford F-150, and it needs more style and especially a more sophisticated powertrain to be enjoyable. There's too much implement, not enough spirit.

The 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT pretty well defines what we want from this new breed of SUV-style pickups. It's a truck that doesn't apologize for being big and functional, yet it helps you enjoy the ride with plenty of style. Even better, it has plenty of driving spirit, the kind of performance that makes you excited to get into it every day. It's a must-drive, must-use proposition, not just casual transportation.

Cadillac makes you pay for the privilege, as its $53,705 base price indicates (a GMC Denali is a more affordable alternative), but the Escalade EXT shows the direction the American pickup must travel if it's going to stay relevant in this new era of breathtaking gas prices.

Having earned a position as the image and sales leader among large luxury SUVs, Cadillac Escalade enters 2008 looking to extend its considerable momentum. With three body styles – Escalade, and the extended length Escalade ESV and EXT luxury sport-utility truck – Cadillac offers the widest array of models in the segment. This broad lineup will expand even further when the Escalade Platinum edition and the Escalade Hybrid join the family later in 2008.

Completely redesigned for 2007, the ’08 Escalades feature integrated powertrain, chassis, safety and interior systems that deliver the most powerful, efficient luxury SUVs in the segment, led by a 6.2L all-aluminum V-8 engine with variable valve timing technology delivering 403 horsepower (301 kW)* and 417 lb.-ft. of torque (565 Nm).* The Escalade and Escalade ESV are available in AWD and 2WD configurations (2WD is new to Escalade ESV for ’08), while the Escalade EXT sport-utility truck features standard, full-time AWD.

Escalade sports a sleek, clean and athletic form with improved aerodynamics. It is instantly identifiable as a Cadillac and incorporates styling cues from Cadillac’s landmark Sixteen concept vehicle, including a detailed signature grille, front fender vent ports and layers of chrome accents.

It was Escalade that first introduced the exclusive Platinum series to Cadillac as a limited-edition model expressing the full extent of the brand’s luxury attributes. Details on the 2008 Escalade Platinum will be announced later in 2007.

Luxury and advanced technology also converge in the Escalade Hybrid, to be introduced in the 2008 calendar year. The Escalade Hybrid will feature GM’s two-mode hybrid propulsion system combining gas and electric engines for significant fuel economy improvements, while maintaining the traditional capabilities of a full-size SUV.

While conventional full hybrid systems offer only one electric mode that is used during low-speed driving, GM is teaming up with DaimlerChrysler and BMW Group to co-develop the patented two-mode hybrid system. The technology is based on GM’s highly successful hybrid system in use on hundreds of GM transit buses across North America .

The first mode of the system is for low speed and light loads. In this mode, the hybrid system can operate with electric power only, engine power only and any combination of engine and electric power. When the first mode operates as electric only, fuel consumption is reduced in heavy stop-and-go traffic by shutting off the engine for extended periods of time and moving exclusively under electric power at low speeds.

The second mode is primarily used at highway speeds. In addition to electric assist, the second mode integrates sophisticated electronic controls, such as Active Fuel Management, cam phasing and late-intake valve closure, to allow even more efficient engine operation with electric motors less than half the size of a traditional “one-mode” hybrid system. Full eight-cylinder engine power is provided when conditions demand it, such as passing, towing or climbing a steep grade.

Additional details about the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid will be announced later in 2007.

Design: unmistakably Cadillac

Details in elements such as wraparound fascias, styled mirrors and integrated running boards enhance Escalade’s flowing design, enabling a look that is both aggressive and elegant. The sleek, toned look includes a windshield angle of 57 degrees, which flows gracefully into the roofline. This also improves aerodynamic performance to a segment-best 0.363 coefficient of drag, which helps improve fuel economy and reduce wind noise.

The warm and inviting interior features a premium and distinct layout not shared by other GM full-size SUVs. The cabin, which comes in two colors, Ebony and Cashmere, also is spacious, with an instrument panel that is lower and moved forward in the vehicle.

The vehicle features a unique instrument panel; instrumentation gauges with white needles and blue light inlays with continuously lit, white-LED backlighting; Nuance leather-covered seats; leather-covered door trim and center console; fabric-covered interior pillars; and an available heated steering wheel. A power-assisted rear liftgate that opens and closes with the touch of a button also is standard.

Escalade delivers convenience with an industry-exclusive power fold-and-tumble second-row seat feature that eases access to the third-row seat, and a power-assisted rear liftgate that opens and closes with the touch of a button.

Escalade also includes an available eight-inch touch-screen navigation system, as well as a DVD system with a large, eight-inch flip-down screen. A segment-first Bose 5.1 Digital Surround Sound system is integrated into a family of radios that play DVD audio/video, CD audio/video, MP3s and XM Satellite Radio.

Power with a purpose

A 6.2L V-8 rated at 403 horsepower (301 kW)* and 417 lb.-ft. of torque (565 Nm)* is exclusive to the Escalade family. This all-aluminum engine uses v ariable valve timing (VVT) to optimize camshaft timing to improve low-rpm torque and high-rpm horsepower. The introduction of variable valve timing through the unique, dual-equal cam phaser is the industry’s first application of VVT on a mass-produced V-8 overhead-valve engine.

A Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission is matched with the 6.2L engine. One of the industry’s most advanced automatics, the 6L80 features clutch-to-clutch shifting and has a wide, 6.04:1 overall ratio – including two overdrive gears – that helps deliver an excellent balance of performance and fuel economy.

A strong frame and chassis support the Escalade’s robust powertrain and enable exceptional responsiveness and ride and handling smoothness. Large, four-wheel disc brakes and a Bosch ABS system help ensure braking performance. ABS works with the StabiliTrak stability control system’s rollover mitigation technology. This software algorithm technology uses sensors to proactively predict vehicle “tip-up” and apply appropriate brake force to help prevent such events.

Safe and sound

Escalade is designed to be among the industry’s safest and most secure vehicles, with numerous safety systems and crash-avoidance technologies. Occupant protection features include head curtain side air bags with rollover protection for all seating rows and an industry-first 360-degree front safety belt pretensioner activation system.

In keeping with Cadillac’s reputation for advanced technology, OnStar-equipped Escalade models feature Generation 7 technology and OnStar’s Turn-by-Turn Navigation, the first factory-installed, fully integrated GPS navigation system from OnStar. Turn-by-Turn allows consumers to talk to a live advisor, who in turn sends complete step-by-step directions to customers' vehicles through their OnStar system. These audio directions automatically play through the vehicle’s stereo as needed, triggered by the OnStar system’s GPS capabilities. This enables drivers to be led to their destination while keeping their hands on the wheel and eyes on the road.

PRESS RELEASE:
ESCALADE PLATINUM OFFERS UNPRCEDENTED LUXURY, STYLE AND EXCLUSIVITY

MIAMI – Cadillac announced the introduction of the 2008 Escalade Platinum, a special edition of the segment-leading large luxury SUV that takes Cadillac's dramatic design, elegance and technology to its fullest expression.

Making its world premiere alongside the upcoming Escalade Hybrid, Cadillac announced the Platinum edition will come to market in the spring of 2008 as the most luxurious model in the Escalade lineup. It rounds out a full series of Cadillac Platinum models, including the XLR Roadster, DTS luxury sedan and STS performance sedan. Each model in the Platinum lineup is characterized by elegant cabins featuring handcrafted leather, advanced technology and unique design details throughout.

"The new Platinum edition elevates and extends Escalade's position as the large SUV of choice among luxury consumers," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. "The growing Platinum series highlights the handcrafted details and technical sophistication of Cadillac's overall product renaissance."

Advanced technologies
Offered on Escalade and the extended-length Escalade ESV, the Platinum edition includes a blend of technical innovations and aesthetic enhancements. Escalade Platinum will be the world's first SUV to be equipped with Cadillac's advanced Magnetic Ride Control (MRC) technology.

Magnetic Ride Control, originally developed for performance vehicles such as the STS sedan, XLR Roadster and Chevrolet's legendary Corvette, is the world's fastest reacting suspension system and gives the Escalade Platinum more precise body motion control. It is a real-time damping system – "reading" the road in 1-milisecond intervals – that replaces conventional mechanical-valve shocks with electronically controlled shocks filled with a synthetic fluid containing minute iron particles. Under the presence of magnetic charge, the iron particles align to provide damping resistance almost instantly.

Segment-first, innovative LED headlamps
Escalade Platinum will be the first SUV – and one of the first vehicles of any kind – to offer Light Emitting Diode (LED) headlamps. Used previously only on concept vehicles or exotic sports cars, LED headlamps mark another step in Cadillac's application of advanced lighting technology and design.

LED headlamps emit a greatly more precise light pattern, while emulating the characteristics of natural daylight much more closely than traditional auto lighting. LEDs are environmentally friendly, using much less power and lasting more than 20 times longer than traditional halogen bulbs. LED headlamps will be an enhancement added to the Escalade Platinum in the summer of 2008, shortly after the start of production of the Platinum model itself in the spring of 2008.

"Escalade is world renown for making a distinctive design statement," Taylor said, "With the introduction of the world's first large luxury SUV hybrid as well as the new Platinum edition, Cadillac Escalade is now bringing some of the world's most sophisticated automotive technologies into the luxury SUV category."

Dramatic exterior, elegant interior
Escalade Platinum also elevates the already-dramatic design of Escalade. The exterior features a unique front fascia and grille patterned after Cadillac's acclaimed and hot-selling CTS sport sedan. The Platinum includes unique 22-inch wheels and wears exclusive Platinum exterior badges.

The cabin is the latest example of Cadillac's 21st-century return to handcrafted luxury details. The instrument panel, center storage console and door trim are wrapped and stitched by hand. They feature decorative French seams that convey an elegantly tailored look and feel. Materials include rich leather on the instrument panel, with unique wood inlays and aluminum trim.

Aniline leather is unique to the Escalade Platinum and is used to trim the first- and second-row seats. Contrasting-color stitching is used on the French seams for a distinctive, luxurious appearance and the seatbacks feature embroidered Cadillac wreath and crest insignias. The leather-covered seats are comfortable and convenient, with the industry-exclusive power fold-and-tumble second-row seat feature that eases access to the third-row seat.

Additional standard interior features include Platinum-specific door sills and floor mats, a heated steering wheel and heated and cooled cup holders and a power liftgate that opens and closes with the touch of a button.

Also, the DVD entertainment system adds screens integrated into each front seat headrest, in addition to the existing roof mounted screen. Each front-row headrest screen has its own driver and input controls. The headrest units can be operated independently or in tandem. This system enables passengers in different seats to watch or listen to different entertainment choices, while leaving ultimate control with the driver. Escalade Platinum models will include the acclaimed Bose 5.1 Digital Surround system, as well as the eight-inch touch screen for DVD-based navigation and control of the DVD, CD, MP3 and XM Satellite radio entertainment.

Plentiful power
Platinum models are powered by the Escalade's exclusive 6.2L V-8 rated at 403 horsepower (301 kW)* and 417 lb.-ft. of torque (565 Nm).* It is an all-aluminum engine that uses variable valve timing (VVT) to optimize camshaft timing to improve low-rpm torque and high-rpm horsepower. The introduction of variable valve timing through the unique, dual-equal cam phaser is the industry's first application of VVT on a mass-produced V-8 overhead-valve engine.

A Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission is matched with the 6.2L engine. One of the industry's most advanced automatics, the 6L80 features clutch-to-clutch shifting and has a wide, 6.04:1 overall ratio – including two overdrive gears – that helps deliver an excellent balance of performance and fuel economy.

*SAE certified.

What is it?
2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

What's special about it?
From the GM Department of Apparent Oxymorons (DAO) comes the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. You'll remember the DAO for its groundbreaking work on the Malibu SS and the Cadillac Cimarron.

The Escalade Hybrid uses the same two-mode gas-electric hybrid powertrain as the upcoming 2008 Chevy Tahoe and GMC Yukon. Scheduled to go on sale next summer, Cadillac isn't saying what the price hike for the hybrid will be as compared to the $55,640 standard Escalade. But it will surely be more than $10,000.

The hybrid powertrain will be offered only in the standard-length Escalade. Curiously, it comes standard with 22-inch chrome-clad wheels that are optional for the gas-only Escalade. Cadillac says, "Hybrid owners like to demonstrate that they are hybrid owners." Consequently, GM's green "H" logo appears twice on each side of the vehicle; once on the C-pillar and once in the fender vent. In case that's too restrained, Cadillac will apply the "HYBRID" sticker on the lower flanks, as seen in these photos. No, these are not just for the auto show floor. It is all somewhat less than subtle. But then nobody ever accused the Escalade of that anyway.

A 332-horsepower 6.0-liter V8 takes the place of the Escalade's usual 403-hp 6.2-liter V8. Like the Tahoe and Yukon hybrids (as well as the Chrysler's two-mode hybrids, the Chrysler Aspen and Dodge Durango), the Escalade uses an electronically variable transmission that packs two electric motor/generators into its case. The electric motors can augment engine power, return electrical power to the battery pack through regenerative braking, or provide motive force for the truck under low-speed, light-load conditions. To further improve fuel economy, the gas engine uses GM's cylinder-deactivation system to shut down four cylinders under light load conditions. The battery pack is a 300-volt nickel metal hydride block mounted under the second-row seat. Also, like its GM siblings, the Escalade Hybrid can be had with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive. And either version is a decent tow vehicle, able to pull 6,000 pounds in rear-wheel-drive form and 5,700 pounds with four-wheel drive.

Cadillac has yet to receive EPA fuel economy numbers for its new hybrid, but expects that it won't be quite as good as the Tahoe Hybrid. Chevy says a rear-wheel-drive Tahoe Hybrid will do 21 mpg in the city and 22 mpg on the highway. The four-wheel-drive model should return 20 mpg city and 20 mpg highway. The Escalade Hybrid's slight degradation in fuel economy compared to the Chevy is due to the Escalade's higher curb weight (around 150 pounds more) and less aerodynamic shape (0.36 drag coefficient for the Caddy vs. 0.34 for the Chevy). A standard Escalade gets 12 mpg city and either 18 or 19 mpg on the highway, depending on configuration.

Predictably, Cadillac does not expect to sell too many Escalade Hybrids. But it doesn't expect only a token few hundred sales either. The company says sales will be in the "thousands" per year. Cadillac sold about 60,000 Escalades last year.

What's Edmunds' take?
The Escalade Hybrid is silly, but only marginally more so than, say, a Lexus LS 600h.

• Exterior colors: Silver Coast Metallic (Escalade/Escalade ESV only), Xenon Blue (Escalade EXT only), Midnight Plum Metallic (Escalade/Escalade ESV only – late availability), Sapphire Blue Metallic (Escalade/Escalade ESV – only late availability), Midnight Green Metallic (Escalade EXT only – late availability)
• Revised grade braking performance

2013 CADILLAC ESCALADE LINEUP IS SEGMENT’S MOST DIVERSE, LUXURIOUS

An icon in the world of luxury SUVs, Cadillac Escalade is synonymous with style, technology, comfort and performance. For 2013, it continues to offer the most complete lineup in its segment, with three distinct body styles and the Platinum models. The model range includes the Escalade, the extended-length Escalade ESV and the reconfigurable Escalade EXT.

The Escalade and Escalade ESV are available in AWD and RWD configurations. The Escalade EXT sport-utility truck features standard, full-time AWD. All models are powered by a 6.2L V-8 with efficiency-enhancing continuously variable valve timing and Active Fuel Management technology.

Escalade Platinum is the highest expression of the brand’s dramatic design, luxury and technology. With features including segment-first LED headlamps and Magnetic Ride Control, the world’s fastest-acting suspension, it’s one of the most technically advanced vehicles in the segment. Platinum models are available on Escalade and Escalade ESV.

Also available is the Escalade Hybrid, which delivers 50-percent greater city fuel economy without sacrificing the luxury features that define all Escalade models. Please see the separate Escalade Hybrid release for complete details.

For 2013, there are revisions to the grade braking performance, as well as a few new exterior colors. Escalade EXT will offer Xenon Blue and Midnight Green Metallic (late availability), while Escalade and Escalade ESV add Silver Coast Metallic, Midnight Plum Metallic (late availability) and Sapphire Blue Metallic (late availability).

Escalade ESV

The Cadillac Escalade ESV is the largest member of the Escalade family, offering maximum passenger accommodations and cargo capacity. It is 21 inches (53.4 cm) longer than Escalade and offers up to 137.4 cubic feet (3,891 L) of cargo space behind the first row, with the second folded and third row removed. It features all the same elements and features as the standard Escalade, but adds an additional eight-inch flip-down screen for third-row passengers.

Escalade Platinum

The Platinum edition – offered on Escalade and Escalade ESV – includes a blend of technical innovations and aesthetic enhancements, including unique 22-inch, multi-spoke wheels and exclusive Platinum exterior badges. Magnetic Ride Control technology (available on all Escalade models with 22-inch wheels) and full-function light-emitting diode (LED) headlamps highlight the Platinum’s technology.

The LED headlamps emulate the characteristics of natural daylight much more closely than traditional auto lighting. LEDs are environmentally friendly, lasting 10 times longer than traditional halogen bulbs.

Inside the Escalade Platinum, the instrument panel, center storage console and door trim are leather wrapped and feature decorative French seams. Additional Platinum cues include Olive Ash and Walnut Burl woods with unique wood inlays, warm aluminum trim, full TEHAMA™ aniline leather-trimmed first- and second-row seats, full Nuance leather seating trim on the third-row seat – all embroidered with Cadillac wreath and crest insignias.

Additional standard interior features include Platinum-specific door sills and floor mats; a heated steering wheel; heated and cooled cupholders and a power liftgate that opens and closes with the touch of a button. In addition to the roof-mounted rear seat entertainment system, the Platinum Edition also includes dual DVD screens integrated in the rear of the front headrests. Each has its own player and controls, and they can be operated independently or in tandem.

Escalade design details

Standard and available exterior features include:

• High-intensity discharge headlamps with Twilight Sentinel feature and fog lamps are standard on the Base, Luxury and Premium Collections
• IntelliBeam headlamp feature is standard on the Luxury, Premium and Platinum Collections
• LED headlamps are standard on Escalade Platinum Collection and available on the Premium Collection
• LED taillamps are standard on all models
• Power retractable assist steps are standard on Premium Collection and Platinum Edition
• Power-assisted liftgate is standard on all models
• Eighteen-inch, seven-spoke aluminum wheels are standard on Base models
• Twenty-two-inch, seven-spoke chrome aluminum wheels are standard on the Luxury Collection and Escalade EXT Premium
• Twenty-two-inch, polished and painted aluminum wheels are standard on the Premium Collection (except Escalade EXT)
• Twenty-two-inch, multi-spoke chrome aluminum wheels are standard on the Platinum Collection
• Exterior colors:Black Raven, White Diamond Tricoat, Radiant Silver Metallic, Black Ice Metallic (Escalade / Escalade ESV), Crystal Red Tintcoat (Escalade / Escalade ESV), Mocha Steel Metallic (Escalade / Escalade ESV), Silver Coast Metallic (Escalade / Escalade ESV), Midnight Plum Metallic (Escalade / Escalade ESV – late availability), Sapphire Blue Metallic (Escalade / Escalade ESV – late availability), Xenon Blue Metallic (Escalade EXT) and Midnight Green Metallic (Escalade EXT – late availability).

Escalade interior

Escalade and Escalade ESV models seat up to eight, with generous cargo room available when the third-row seat is removed. Escalade EXT seats five. A unique instrument panel is a defining attribute of the interiors of all models. It includes gauges with white needles and blue light inlays with continuously lit, white-LED backlighting. Leather seating surfaces are standard, along with an array of power-assisted and high-technology features, including an enhanced navigation system with more features for 2012.

Escalade and Escalade ESV offer the industry-exclusive power fold-and-tumble second-row seat feature that eases access to the third-row seat, and a power-assisted rear liftgate that opens and closes with the touch of a button.

Standard and available interior features include:

• Three rows of seating are standard on Escalade and Escalade ESV models. The second row is offered as two bucket seats or a three-passenger bench, with a 60/40 split, and the third row features a 50/50-split design and is removable
• Escalade EXT includes a second-row bench seat
• Leather-trimmed, heated and cooled front bucket seats with 14-way seat adjusters are standard on all models
• Tri-zone automatic climate control is standard on all Escalade and Escalade ESV models; dual-zone climate control is standard on Escalade EXT
• Navigation radio with touch-screen operation is standard on all models and includes MP3/CD/DVD video/audio changer, voice recognition and USB Port
• SiriusXM Satellite Radio with three-month trial is standard on all models
• Rear-seat entertainment system is standard on Premium Collection and Platinum Edition and available on the Luxury Collection. Content includes DVD player with remote control, overhead display, two sets of wireless infrared headphones, auxiliary audio/video jacks, remote game plug-in and mute button in overhead console. Escalade ESV includes two overhead displays
• Bluetooth phone connectivity is standard on all models
• Heated and cooled cupholders are standard on Platinum
• Power-adjustable pedals are standard on all models
• Remote vehicle starter system standard on all models
• Power-operated sunroof is standard on Luxury and Premium Collection and Platinum Edition
• Interior color and trim choices: Ebony with Ebony accents, Cashmere with Cocoa Accents and Cocoa/Light Linen
• Platinum Edition interior contents include: Cut-and-sewn leather-wrapped instrument panel top pad and upper door panels, embroidered Cadillac insignias on all seats, Olive Ash Burl and Walnut Burl woods with wood inlays and warm aluminum on the instrument panel and console, heated and cooled cupholders, chrome trim around the climate vents and door handles, full TEHAMA™ aniline leather trim on the first- and second-row seats, full Nuance leather-trimmed third-row seat and DVD screens located on the backs of the front-seat headrests.

Escalade powertrains

All Escalade models are equipped with a 6.2L V-8 rated at 403 horsepower (301 kW) and 417 lb.-ft. of torque (565 Nm). It features variable valve timing, Active Fuel Management technology and E85 capability.

The fuel-saving Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission is paired with the 6.2L engine in all models and an intelligent all-wheel-drive (AWD) system is available on Escalade and Escalade ESV. AWD is standard on Escalade EXT.

Escalade chassis and suspension

All Escalade models are built on GM’s full-size SUV platform, incorporating a fully boxed frame, coil-over-shock front suspension, five-link/coil-spring rear suspension and rack-and-pinion steering.

Magnetic Ride Control is standard on Escalade Hybrid and the Platinum Edition. It is a real-time damping system that delivers more precise body motion control – “reading” the road every millisecond and changing damping in just five milliseconds. It replaces conventional mechanical-valve shocks with electronically controlled shocks filled with a magneto-rheological fluid containing minute iron particles. Under the presence of magnetic charge, the iron particles align to provide damping resistance almost instantly.

Additional chassis and suspension features include:

• Wide front and rear tracks – 68.2 inches (1,732 mm) front/67 inches (1,702 mm) rear – enhance handling and vehicle stability for a more confident road feel
• A stiff frame reduces vibrations transmitted to the passenger cabin, while the strength and accuracy of the fully boxed frame also enable precise mounting and tuning of chassis and suspension components
• External heavy-duty oil and transmission coolers are standard on all models
• A 3.42 axle ratio is standard on all models
• A locking rear differential is standard on all models.

Escalade safety and crash-avoidance features

Escalade features standard head curtain side air bags with rollover protection for all seating rows. The roof-mounted head curtain air bags include design features that provide increased rollover protection and occupant containment. These head curtain side air bags stay inflated longer than air bags developed only for side impacts, since rollover incidents can last longer. The deployment duration and other design features of the air bags combine to provide increased occupant protection and the ability to help keep occupants inside the vehicle.

Additional features include:

• Standard seat-mounted side-impact air bags for driver and right-front passenger provide thorax and pelvic protection
• StabiliTrak with rollover mitigation technology helps reduce the risk of rollover crashes by keeping the vehicle in the driver’s intended path by applying throttle, braking or a combination of both
• Ultrasonic rear parking assist
• Rearview camera system
• Side blind zone alert is standard on Luxury, Premium and Platinum Collections
• Standard four-wheel-disc brake system with ABS
• Safety belt pretensioners minimize forward movement
• LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren) child seat attachment system
• Tire pressure monitoring system
• Standard remote keyless entry.

To thwart thefts, Escalade has a sophisticated cryptographic immobilizer system, PASS Key 3+. Additional theft-deterrent features include:

• A robust steering column lock system that makes it very difficult to push away a stolen vehicle
• An available inclination sensor that sets off an alarm when the system senses a change of the angle of the vehicle, such that would occur with towing, flatbedding or jacking up the vehicle
• A wheel lock system is available to help prevent the theft of Escalade’s wheels and tires.

Escalade and OnStar

One year of OnStar Directions and Connections service is standard on all Escalade models. OnStar is the global leading provider of connected safety, security and mobility solutions and advanced information technology.

OnStar’s RemoteLink Mobile App allows smartphone users to control vehicle functions, access vehicle information and send directions directly to the vehicle. A new, opt-in service called FamilyLink allows subscribers to stay connected to loved ones by checking the location of their vehicle online or by signing up for vehicle location alerts.

Escalade features new OnStar button icons. Drivers will notice an updated look for the Hands-Free Calling button, blue OnStar button and red Emergency button.

Cadillac today introduced the all-new 2015 Escalade, a sophisticated luxury SUV designed to establish new benchmarks for hand-tailored craftsmanship and technology.

The fourth-generation Escalade is an entirely new design yet instantly recognizable. Much of the story of Cadillac’s redesigned flagship SUV is on the interior, where new levels of luxury combine with the latest technology.

“Cadillac’s growth provides the ideal stage for the all-new Escalade to take a major leap forward,” said Bob Ferguson, senior vice president, Global Cadillac. “The 2015 Escalade is completely new and elevated in design and technology, inside and out. The clear objective is to once again assume the leadership position among luxury SUVs.”

From its introduction, Escalade quickly became the standard among luxury SUVs with a formula of bold design, powerful capability and luxurious accommodations for up to eight occupants. Three succeeding generations led luxury SUV customers to confer icon status on it. The 2015 Escalade takes design and technical elements from Cadillac’s product expansion to elevate the brand’s signature SUV.

Production of the 2015 Escalade begins next spring in Arlington, Texas. The product line will consist of the standard Escalade model, as well as the extended-length ESV edition, with offers a 14-inch-longer (355 mm) wheelbase and approximately 20 inches (508 mm) more in overall length, maximizing space for third-row passengers and 60 percent more cargo space behind the third-row seat than the Escalade.

Offered with 2WD and 4WD drivetrains, Escalade features a new 6.2L V-8 engine that is more powerful and more efficient than previous models. Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control, the world’s fastest-reacting suspension system, is now standard and delivers precisely controlled driving performance.
The exterior features crisp, new and more sophisticated surfaces, accented by dramatic light-emitting diode, or LED, lighting.

The new interior features cut-and-sewn and wrapped materials, with wood trim options chosen for elegance and authenticity. Seats were engineered to be more comfortable and sculpted in appearance. The new interior is dramatically quieter, too, thanks to a stronger new body structure, new and enhanced acoustic material, and Bose Active Noise Cancellation technology.
CUE, Cadillac’s advanced system for connectivity and control, is standard featuring state-of-the-art voice recognition with touch controls common with the world’s most popular tablets and mobile devices. A standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster can be reconfigured with four themes and an available head-up display projects information onto the windshield. An available Blu-Ray DVD rear entertainment system includes a nine-inch, roof-mounted screen on Escalade and two nine-inch screens on Escalade ESV.

The front seating area offers more than 1.5 inches (44 mm) more headroom and more than four inches (101 mm) of additional legroom compared to previous models while the second- and third-row seats fold flat for greater cargo versatility – and a segment-first hands-free liftgate includes programmable height settings.

Escalade’s new technologies include safety features to help protect occupants before, during and after a collision, such as Front and Rear Automatic Braking, which relies on short-range radar technology and ultrasonic sensors to help the driver avoid front and rear low-speed collisions via a progression of alerts that extend to complete braking, if necessary.
Also new is the segment’s only Front Seat Center-Mounted air bag, which is engineered to provide additional protection to drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes, where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.

A Driver Awareness package includes Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning System, and the patented Safety Alert Seat, which offers directional vibrations to alert the driver about potential crash threats. A Driver Assist package adds Full Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control, Front and Rear Automatic Braking, Automatic Collision Preparation and Automatic Safety Belt Tightening.

Additionally, Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Lane Change Alert are standard on Luxury and Premium models.

Crafted interior

Craftsmanship defines the 2015 Escalade’s passenger space, designed to be one of the industry’s most authentic and luxurious cabins mixed with seamless technology integration for today’s connected luxury customers.

Real wood combined with premium cut-and-sewn materials and sueded accents, along with ambient lighting, were designed to add elegance to the interior design. Tight tolerances of the instrument panel and door panels, precision controls and triple-sealed doors were engineered and designed to reinforce a feeling of quality.

“An exceptional level of craftsmanship has gone into the redesign of the 2015 Cadillac Escalade, and it all centers on the premium materials and extensive use of cut-and-sew live stitching – the way fine furniture is produced,” said Eric Clough, director of design, Cadillac Interiors. “We designed Escalade with what we call the beauty of contrast. It offers a distinctive combination of bold, truck-like character, but also the refinement of the Cadillac form vocabulary and technology.”

The seats were designed to be more comfortable and sculpted in appearance with a reclining second row. The design incorporates dual-firmness foam that ensures long-trip comfort and helps retain appearance over time.
Heated and cooled seats are standard in front and second-row bucket seats have standard heat. The available second-row bench has heated outboard seats now reclines.

Intuitive technology

Technology is integral to the Escalade’s driving experience. New and enhanced features help make what already was one of the industry’s most-connected vehicles more intuitive.

For the first time, Escalade will feature CUE standard. The eight-inch center screen uses capacitive touch technology and gesture recognition, enabling tapping and swiping common to smartphones and tablets. CUE uses proximity sensors to activate common options and controls as the user’s hand approaches. An expanded “favorites” section offers quick access to phone contacts, navigation destinations – even digital music – in the same one-touch form as traditional radio presets.

The instrument cluster features a standard, reconfigurable, high-resolution 12.3-inch digital driver information center display paired with Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system. Key data also is displayed on an available, full-color head-up display. Along with vehicle systems information, the color driver information center also provides details on the audio, Bluetooth phone and navigation systems, and they can be easily adjusted via steering wheel controls.

Precise exterior

The new Escalade’s exterior advances a 15-year legacy of design distinction with evolved character cues designed to add sophistication. Full LED lighting creates a bold new interpretation of Cadillac’s vertical light signature.
The headlamps incorporate the industry’s first Total Internal Reflection LED high-beam function, which consists of four vertically stacked crystal lenses and LEDs. The low beam consists of five crystal lenses and LEDs that create the light pattern. The Cadillac script is branded in the headlamp bezel. Tall, thin vertical LED taillamps reach to the top of the Escalade and feature the brand’s wreath-and-crest insignia, which illuminates in the dark. Escalade also features LED-illuminated door handles on the Premium Collection.

“The new Escalade’s surfacing is sophisticated, and the sectioning of the body exudes more emotion to forge a new presence for Cadillac’s iconic SUV,” said Bob Boniface, design director, Cadillac Exteriors. “Our designers worked with the studio sculptors closer than ever to translate a two-dimensional vision into a three-dimensional representation that captures your attention from afar, and then pulls you in with beautiful details in the lamps, door handles and wheels.”

New inlaid doors fit into the body side openings instead of over the top of the body, significantly reducing wind noise and contributing to improved aerodynamics that help the vehicles slip through the air on the highway with less wind drag. Active air shutters close in front of the condenser/radiator assembly at certain highway speeds to improve aerodynamics for greater efficiency. A lightweight aluminum hood and liftgate panels reduce overall mass.

Body panel gaps are tighter throughout. The new liftgate is designed to be sleeker in appearance integrates the rear window wiper into the spoiler.
“Moving the rear wiper to the top of the glass and packaging it within the contours of the spoiler resulted in a clean appearance and improved visibility,” said Boniface. “It is an example of the attention to detail in the new Escalade.”

Performance and driving experience

The performance threshold for the 2015 Escalade lineup rises with an all-new, more efficient 6.2L V-8 engine rated at an SAE-certified 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 460 lb-ft of torque (623 Nm) – a nearly 5-percent increase in horsepower and 10 percent more torque. The greater torque delivers an enhanced feeling of power on demand, particularly from a standstill and at low speeds.

The new 6.2L features state-of-the-art technologies, including direct injection, Active Fuel Management, or cylinder deactivation, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system, designed to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions. More precisely controlled combustion enables Escalade to run with a higher compression ratio, which delivers greater power and greater expected efficiency.

The engine is matched with the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission with enhanced TapShift control.

Escalade’s performance is channeled to a more sophisticated chassis and suspension system, engineered for a greater feeling of solidity and a quieter, smoother ride. A fully boxed frame – composed of more than 75 percent high-strength steel – is the foundation for its ride quality. New shear-style body mounts help reduce vibrations transmitted into the vehicle.

Additional chassis and suspension highlights include:

- Coil-over-shock front suspension and five-link/coil-spring rear suspension

- Wider rear track that contributes to a more planted stance

- Standard 20-inch wheels and available 22-inch wheels

- New, electric variable-assist power steering system that enhances fuel economy and tailors steering assist to vehicle speed

- New 9.5-inch rear axle and standard automatic locking rear differential

- StabiliTrak electronic stability control, incorporating tow/haul mode, auto grade braking and hill start assist

- New four-wheel-disc brake system with Duralife™ brake rotors that offer up to double the service life, along with brake pedal revisions engineered to improve pedal feel for more confident braking performance

- Third-generation magnetic ride control is standard with Tour and Sport modes.

Magnetic Ride Control is a real-time damping system that delivers more precise body motion control by “reading” the road every millisecond. Damping can go from full force to lowest force in a few milliseconds, or within three inches of road travel. It replaces conventional mechanical-valve shocks with electronically controlled shocks filled with a magneto-rheological fluid containing minute iron particles. Under the presence of a magnetic field, the iron particles align to provide damping resistance almost instantly.

Security measures

The new Escalade has been designed with greater security features to thwart theft attempts, including an intrusion sensor, inclination sensor and glass breakage sensors. Along with triggering the vehicle’s alarm systems, some of the features shut down key control systems to make it almost impossible to start or move the vehicle. The security features are supported by OnStar Stolen Vehicle Assistance, which can help police locate the vehicle.