Cadillac Escalade [EU]
From its introduction in 1999, the Cadillac Escalade quickly became an iconic full-size premium SUV, with a formula of bold design, powerful capability and luxurious accommodation. The most recent generation of the Escalade takes design and technical elements from Cadillac's product expansion to elevate the brand's signature SUV to a new level.
The fourth-generation Escalade has an entirely new exterior design yet is instantly recognizable. Inside, cut-and-sewn materials and wood trim, chosen for elegance and authenticity, combine with the latest technologies to convey an exceptional level of luxury.
"Cadillac's ongoing growth provides the ideal stage for the Escalade to take a major step forward," said Steve Carlisle, President Cadillac. "The Escalade has always had a bold character, differentiating itself from other premium SUVs. Now, the Escalade adds more sophistication, with advanced technology and hand-tailored craftsmanship."
The range includes the standard Escalade and the long wheelbase ESV edition, which offers a 356 mm longer wheelbase and approximately 518 mm more in overall length, maximizing space for third-row passengers and more than the double the luggage space behind the third-row seat.
In Europe, Cadillac Escalade buyers can choose between the two top collections, Premium and Platinum, offering higher levels of equipment and technology. All European models are offered with 4WD drivetrains, as well as a 6.2 L V-8 engine which is more powerful and efficient than previous models.
In fact, it's powerful enough to dispatch the standard 0 to 100 km/h benchmark in just 6.7 seconds. It delivers a combined consumption figure of 12.6 l/100 km. This represents a greater than 10 percent increase in efficiency over the previous model.
Cadillac's Magnetic Ride Control™, the world's fastest-reacting suspension system, is fitted as standard, delivering precisely controlled driving performance. At its core, the Escalade is a fully capable SUV with a 2.575 kg towing capability.
The Escalade's new design provides a signature look of quality, elegance and capability. The styling cues combine sculpted surfaces and high technology embellishments to give the Escalade a unique appearance ensuring it stands out from the competition.
Dynamic front styling cues are enhanced by a highly detailed Galvano chrome grille that has a unique, almost brushed appearance. It is accented by full light-emitting diode (LED) lights front and rear, creating a unique, razor-like vertical light signature. LEDs provide even, steady and exceptionally bright illumination, while delivering longer life and significantly less energy use than conventional lighting.
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 rear lights reach to the top of the Escalade and feature the brand's crest insignia which illuminate in the dark.
Inlaid triple-sealed doors fit into the body side openings instead of over the top of the body, significantly reducing cabin noise and contributing to improved aerodynamics - an attribute that helps the Escalade slip through the air with less drag for greater efficiency. Lightweight aluminum hood and aluminum tailgate panels help to reduce overall mass and in turn aid efficiency. Additional exterior features include:
Craftsmanship defines the current Cadillac Escalade's passenger space, which is designed to be one of the industry's most authentic and luxurious cabins - with seamless technology integration. And like the exterior, there's harmony with Cadillac's other vehicles in the cabin's appearance, amenities and controls.
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.
The seats were designed for maximum comfort and sculpted in appearance with a reclining second row. The design incorporates dual-density foam that ensures long-trip comfort and helps retain appearance over time. Additional interior features include:
The Cadillac Escalade is also a quieter environment, thanks to a stronger body structure, enhanced use of noise-attenuating materials and processes, including triple-sealed doors and acoustic-laminate glass and Bose® Active Noise Cancelation technology. Even the exterior mirrors were carefully shaped in the wind tunnel to reduce wind noise.
The range-topping Platinum Collection extends and upgrades the use of premium materials within the Escalade's cut-and-sewn interior. First- and second-row seats are wrapped in Nappa semi-aniline leather, while the dashboard, upper door panels and center console are clad in hand-stitched and hand-wrapped leather.
Cadillac Escalade Platinum Collection is also designed to provide passengers with unsurpassed comfort and convenience. Heated and cooled 18-way power front seats are standard and include a massaging function on the driver's seat. A pair of 9-inch LCD screens, embedded in the front head rests, supplement the overhead 9-inch screen, while a cooled center console compartment can keep beverages chilled.
Platinum models are offered in a Jet Black theme featuring a semi-aniline leather interior, premium floor mats and Platinum-branded door sill plates.
Infotainment and connectivity technology is integral to the Escalade's driving experience. New and enhanced features help make the Escalade controls even more intuitive.
Cadillac User Experience (CUE®) is standard. It is an advanced system for connectivity and control, featuring state-of-the-art voice recognition with touch controls common with the world's most popular tablets and mobile devices. The 8-inch center screen uses capacitive touch technology and gesture recognition, enabling tapping and swiping in common with smartphones and tablets.
The system also 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 reconfigurable, high-resolution 12.3-inch digital driver information center (DIC) display paired with Cadillac's CUE® infotainment system, with data also shown on a full-color head-up display. Along with vehicle systems information, the DIC provides details on the audio, Bluetooth® phone and navigation systems, which can be adjusted via steering wheel controls.
The Cadillac Escalade features a Bose® surround sound system that is customized exclusively for the Escalade and features new technologies that help heighten the sophisticated in-vehicle experience.
Proprietary technologies and 16 strategically placed speakers create a concert-like experience throughout the cabin. Five custom-tuned speakers placed across the instrument panel and front doors, combined with Bose® Advanced Staging Technology, help reproduce expansive sound with exceptional precision and clarity.
Further enhancing the experience is Bose® Centerpoint 2 signal processing circuitry, which enables a surround sound experience from stereo sources across all rows and SurroundStage® signal processing circuitry, which compensates for off-center vehicle seating to create 360-degree sound for every occupant.
A standard Blu-Ray® DVD rear entertainment system is tied into the audio system and includes a 9-inch, roof-mounted screen on Escalade and two 9-inch screens on Escalade ESV. The overhead system also includes built-in remote storage, USB, SD car and RCA ports.
Cadillac Escalade performance advances with the more powerful and more efficient 6.2 L V-8 engine delivering 426 horsepower (313 kW) and 621 Nm of torque - a nearly 5-percent increase in power and 10-percent more torque than the previous engine. The greater torque delivers an enhanced feeling of power on demand and greater confidence when towing.
The new 6.2 L engine features state-of-the-art technologies, including direct injection, Active Fuel Management™ - also known as cylinder deactivation - continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system, designed to make the most of power, torque and efficiency all across the rev range. More precisely controlled combustion enables the Escalade to run with a higher compression ratio delivering greater power and increased efficiency.
The engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control manual mode.
The Cadillac 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 over 75 percent high-strength steel is the foundation for its ride quality. Chassis and suspension highlights include:
A four-wheel-drive system enables the driver to select an Auto mode for set-it-and-forget-it automatic activation when conditions call for extra traction assist. A separate 4 HI mode offers the most capability for more challenging conditions.
The Cadillac Escalade's standard advanced technologies include safety features to help protect occupants before, during and after a collision such as the segment's only Front Center Air Bag. This feature deploys from the inboard side of the driver's seat and inflates between the driver and front passenger, providing added protection for both front occupants in side-impact crashes.
The standard Driver Awareness package includes a blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert, lane change alert, forward collision alert, lane departure warning system, and the patented safety alert seat, which pulses the left, right or both seat cushion bolsters to alert the driver of a dangerous situation. A driver assist package adds full speed range adaptive cruise control, intelligent brake assist and automatic seat belt tightening.
All Escalade collections feature a Surround View camera system to help increase visibility. The Escalade has also been designed with greater security features to thwart thieves, including glass breakage sensors, motion detectors and a self-leveling inclination sensor that sounds an alarm if a thief attempts to steal wheels or tires, or tow or lift the vehicle onto a flatbed truck.
The standard advanced theft protection package also includes door shields in the driver's door, which help block access to those using a "slim jim"-type unlocking device.
