Whether you choose the standard model or stretched ESV, it will hit 60 mph in 4.4 seconds.
Cadillac announced the Escalade-V, a long-awaited high-performance version of its ever-popular luxury SUV, to launch off 2022. At the time, we just saw the cosmetic changes, but now we see everything, and it’s packing significant supercharged V8 power, as promised. It comes in regular and stretched ESV formats, and it’s extremely pricey, as we’ll see later.
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All About The Power
Start with the engine, which is the same 6.2-liter force-fed V8 seen in the CT5-V Blackwing. The Escalade-V has a larger supercharger with a four-lobe rotor design, which pumps out 10 pounds of boost while broadening the powerband of the engine. The result is 682 horsepower, 14 more than the CT5-V Blackwing, with a lower 6,000 rpm peak. The trade-off is marginally less torque (653 pound-feet at 4,400 rpm) than the sedan. A quad-tip active exhaust system delivers loud proof of that power, or it can be adjusted to quiet mode for tranquil luxury driving.
The Escalade’s 10-speed automatic transmission is still in charge of shifting, and it’s been tweaked to accommodate the increased power. With an all-wheel-drive system that splits power 50/50 in normal operation or up to 66 percent rearward in Sport mode, power goes to all four wheels permanently. There is no option for pure rear-wheel drive, which is terrible news for Escalade-V burnouts but good news for acceleration. The three-ton SUV will reach 60 mph in under 4.4 seconds and complete the quarter-mile in 12.7 seconds, reaching 110 mph in the process, according to Cadillac. The max speed is 124 miles per hour.
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Not Too Hard, Not Too Soft
Engineers didn’t simply inject power into the Escalade. The Caddy’s standard air ride suspension with Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 gets firmer springs at the back, while six-piston Brembo brakes are added up front. The Escalade-damper V’s hardware tuning and programming is unique, and it sits roughly an inch lower in Sport mode.
Speaking of modes, drivers can fine-tune everything from the suspension firmness and all-wheel-drive system to the steering feel, brake pressure, and engine sound through various drive modes. That includes a special V mode that turns all the performance settings to max. And yes, Escalade-V comes with launch control for plastering passengers in all three rows to the back of their seats.
However, the Escalade-V is still primarily a luxury full-size SUV. Suspension changes add a little more oomph while still focusing on comfort and isolation. The interior is mostly Platinum grade, with no red accents or race-inspired seats. The digital dash is V-specific and has a little more bling, but there are no lap timers in the system. Semi-aniline leather with wood trim is the order of the day, with standard amenities such as augmented reality navigation. Bridgestone all-season tyres are mounted on V-specific wheels. The Super Cruise is a choice. Should the necessity arise, the Escalade-V can tow 7,000 pounds.
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– $149,990
Now for the digital elephant in the room. The starting MSRP for the Escalade-V is $149,990, which includes destination charges. Although the price difference between a V and a Platinum ESV is the equivalent of a CT5 car, Cadillac Escalade Product Manager David Schiavone brazenly declares the V to be “the most powerful, most exclusive, and most expensive Escalade ever.” As a result, it’ll be a low-volume vehicle, though Cadillac hasn’t revealed any sales forecasts just yet.
Will Escalade consumers go for the V over the Mercedes-Maybach GLS? Cadillac representatives cite studies suggesting that potential V customers are largely the same as normal Escalade buyers, and we already know that the Platinum trim level is in high demand. Cadillac also claims that a significant number of Escalade buyers just want the most costly model and are willing to pay a premium for the prestige. The Escalade-V is expected to last a few years, but only time will tell if that research is correct.
The Cadillac Escalade-V 2023 goes on sale in late summer.
