The Cadillac Escalade IQ is newest, and doubtless most vital step, into the model’s need to be the usual of the all-electric automotive world, and one other step into the rarified air at present occupied by the likes of Rolls-Royce and Bentley.
Mixing new and outdated styling parts, the Escalade IQ makes an attempt to maneuver Cadillac’s best-selling nameplate into the electrical automobile (EV) period.
A lot of the entrance finish is basically blacked out, with the illuminated false grille smaller and far much less gaudy than all Escalades so far.
The vertical headlight stack is extra intently associated to the third and fourth technology fashions than the Escalade at present in showrooms.
It’s on the rear, although, the place the Escalade IQ makes its greatest departure from the nameplate’s historical past with a raked ahead tailgate, chunky D-pillar, and break up tail-light association, the decrease portion of which is a nod to Cadillac’s tailfins of the Fifties.
The IQ measures 5697mm lengthy, 2167mm vast, 1934mm vast, and using on a 3460mm wheelbase.
In comparison with the petrol-powered Escalade vary, the IQ is 69mm shy of the lengthy wheelbase ESV’s total size, however 315mm longer than the usual mannequin. The IQ can also be 110mm wider, however roughly the identical top as its ICE siblings.
Mixed with a flatter ground, and a wheelbase that’s 54mm longer than the ESV, the IQ is claimed to be essentially the most spacious Escalade ever.
There are three rows of seats, with the Government Second-Row Seating bundle pairing massaging captain’s chairs with a pair of 12.6-inch touchscreens, stowable tray tables, a shared centre command display screen, headrest audio system, USB-C and HDMI ports, and wi-fi smartphone charging pads.
The dashboard is dominated by a pillar-to-pillar rectangular display screen house that measures 55 inches (1.4m) diagonally.
The expansive infotainment system is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon processors, and runs on the Android Automotive working system with built-in Google Maps, App Retailer, and voice recognition Assistant, however no assist for both Android Auto and Apple CarPlay smartphone mirroring.
Additionally obtainable for the cabin is laser-etched wooden trim, a customisable ambient lighting system with 126 color decisions, and a tinted glass roof above the entrance and second rows.
AKG sound methods are normal all through the vary, beginning with a 19-speaker setup in entry-level Luxurious 1 and Sport 1 trims, transferring as much as 36-speaker setup in mid-range fashions, and a 40-speaker system in absolutely tricked out variants.
Just one drivetrain was detailed at at this time’s launch of the Escalade: a two-motor all-wheel drive setup, which is rated at 505kW/834Nm in regular driving, and able to delivering 560kW/1064Nm in “velocity mode”.
Cadillac estimates the Escalade IQ is able to finishing the 0-60mph (0-97km/h) normal in “lower than 5 seconds”. The prevailing Escalade V, with its 498kW/880Nm supercharged 6.2-litre V8, requires 4.4 seconds to hit 60mph.
To present the Escalade IQ an estimated vary of over 724km (450 miles), the electrical behemoth is fitted with a battery pack boasting “greater than 200kWh of obtainable vitality”.
The 24-module Ultium battery pack helps 800V DC charging, which it’s mentioned may give 160km of vary in simply 10 minutes of charging. The automotive additionally helps 7.7kW and 19.2kW 240V AC charging.
Regardless of GM’s latest settlement to shift its EVs within the US over to the NACS charger promoted by Tesla, the Escalade IQ will initially be produced with a CCS charging port and embrace a NACS adapter.
All Escalade IQ fashions experience on impartial entrance and rear suspension, and have four-wheel steering, which permits a turning circle of 12m and an “Arrival Mode” that enables the SUV to maneuver diagonally into tight areas, in all probability just like the Hummer EV’s “crab stroll” function.
High-spec variants have Magnetic Trip Management 4.0, 24-inch wheels paired with 275/50 tyres, and an adaptive air suspension setup that may decrease the automotive by 50mm or elevate it by 25mm as needed.
The Escalade IQ has 175mm of floor clearance in normal mode, and might tow a trailer as much as 3628kg (8000 kilos). Boot house behind the third row is claimed to 670L, which might be elevated to 1958L with the third row folded or 3374L with the second and third rows down.
A 345L “entrance trunk”, or “eTrunk” in Cadillac in terminology, lives underneath the bonnet.
Normal security options embrace blind zone steering help, intersection autonomous emergency braking, a high-definition 360-degree digicam system, autonomous entrance pedestrian and bike owner braking, and enhanced parking help that may each robotically park and exit parking spots.
SuperCruise, which allows the automotive the drive itself in hands-free, eyes-on-the-road mode throughout round 650,000km of highways throughout North America, is offered.
We imagine the Escalade IQ rides on the BT1 body-on-frame EV structure already employed by the GMC Hummer EV SUV and pickup truck. The Hummer and the Caddy might be produced on the Detroit-Hamtramck plant, which has been rechristened Manufacturing unit Zero.
GM has but to element how a lot the Escalade IQ weighs. We count on will probably be over 4200kg, given the GMC Hummer pickup has an analogous battery pack and total dimension.
Cadillac desires to be an EV-only model by 2030, however it should proceed to promote the prevailing Escalade alongside the upcoming Escalade IQ.
Priced from US$130,000 ($198,000), the Escalade IQ is pricier than each mannequin within the ICE Escalade vary aside from the range-topping Escalade V.
Manufacturing of the Escalade IQ isn’t scheduled to start till the center of 2024.
