The US$130,000 (RM596,000) Escalade IQ comes with 724km of driving range, Super Cruise driver assistance technology and fresh design language inside and out.
Cadillac has declined to specify how much the rig weighs, but a private preview on July 26 in Los Angeles indicated that it could weigh as much or more than the 4,082kg GMC Hummer EV Pickup.
Besides being nearly 19-ft long and eight-ft wide, it’s more than six-ft tall with a ground clearance of nearly seven inches-slightly larger than the dimensions of the Hummer EV, with less clearance.
The Escalade IQ looks sleeker than its internal-combustion predecessor-like something that might serve as a tycoon’s town car rather than a truck for towing.
It has an elegantly tapered, lower roofline; slim headlights shaped like icicles; and taillights stacked like piano keys. A storage compartment under the hood, where an engine would otherwise be, offers 12 cu ft of cargo room-space to fit a pair of golf bags.
“The design brief was to create the ultimate luxury SUV,” said Robin Krieg, lead exterior designer of the Escalade IQ, who said he sought to reinvent rather than reiterate previous models.
“We wanted to get away from the truck-y, box-y feeling. When you close your eyes and dream, this is what an Escalade is.”
The Escalade IQ uses a new architecture that General Motors Co has devised for its EVs, which the company calls its Ultium Platform.
It follows the US$58,590 Lyriq and precedes the forthcoming electric Celestiq, a US$340,000, four-door hatchback aimed at snagging Rolls-Royce customers.
The three represent part of GM’s effort to catch Tesla in the electric vehicle (EV) segment while revitalising the Cadillac brand. GM has said it expects US$50bil in revenue from its EVs by 2025.
Much of the Escalade IQ’s engineering work focused on creating a smooth ride for its passengers in the gargantuan rig. Twenty-four-inch wheels and 35-inch tyres propelled by front- and rear-drive motors work in an eAWD system.
Magnetic Ride Control and Adaptive Air Ride Suspension come standard; the latter lowers the vehicle two inches or raises it one inch at the press of a button.
A Low Ride Mode enables the vehicle to be driven at low speeds with the suspension fully lowered, as might be needed for entering a parking garage-or merely to show off.
Two additional modes will especially suit the red-carpet types likely to step out from its confines: Four-wheel-steering helps navigate tight spaces by reducing the turning radius up to 6½ ft; an optional Arrival Mode moves the SUV diagonally into and out of parking spots while the drivers’ hands are giving input on the steering wheel.
The motion is similar to the crab-walk function that allows the Hummer EV to move sideways across loose dirt or sand-scampering that’s likely used most often to impress neighbours.
“It’s a little bit of peacocking,” Krieg says.
The Escalade IQ produces more than 200 kilowatt-hours of available energy and will charge to 100 miles of range in 10 minutes when using 800-volt DC fast-charging, according to company estimates.
It boasts 750hp, 1,064Nm of torque and a zero-to-100kph sprint in fewer than five seconds.
Cadillac rates its towing capacity at 3,628kg, but it’s polished exterior, comfortable interior and hefty price tag make it better suited for Hollywood Boulevard than heavy lifting.
On the inside, a curved 55-inch LED display dominates the dashboard and offers infotainment that includes Google Maps, Google Play, hands-free communication, traffic updates and space for downloaded apps.
The executive second-row seating package includes two pilot chairs behind the front seats, tray tables that can be stowed, 12.6-inch personal entertainment screens, a rear command center, wireless phone charging, USB-C ports, headrest speakers and heated seats that provide massages.
A third row of seats can be used to bring the vehicle’s passenger total to seven or rendered flat for additional storage.
Cadillac offers no leather options for interior seating: The Escalade IQ is lined with synthetic materials made to proffer the feel of leather.
