Electric Cadillac Escalade IQ teased again

20 June 2023

The pinnacle of American automotive luxury is getting an electric makeover, and it is going to be an important moment for the auto industry. When the all-electric Cadillac Escalade debuts on August 9, the world of supercharged V8-powered SUVs will enter its final chapter.

Sure, Escalade is not Cadillac’s first electric vehicle - but it undoubtedly is the most important one. While the Lyriq is meant to be the main-stream, everyday luxury SUV, and the Celestiq is the halo model designed for the most discerning customers, the Escalade has always been the go-to luxury large SUV. Chosen as a favorite mode of transport by governments, gangsters, secret services, drug lords, and wealthy families all over the world - the Escalade is the ultimate status symbol.

Cadillac took its sweet time before it jumped into electrifying its biggest SUV, and it did it for good reasons. The Lyriq was just a test vehicle to see how the customers would react to an electric Cadillac. After realizing the insatiable desire for electric luxury SUVs is far larger than the company expected, Cadillac decided to not just electrify the Escalade but rather create a stand-alone electric model.

While there is very little official info available, the teasers are enough to realize the Escalade IQ will be completely different from its gas-powered siblings. The size won’t be any different, that’s no surprise to anyone, but the front is unmistakable - a bigger and more ostentatious version of the Lyriq if you like. Gone are the vertical rear window and a mile-long rear overhang - the signatures of the biggest Cadillac. The Escalade IQ has a shorter rear overhang, and the rear window is quite steep - not too different from Lyriq.

We have no doubt that the new exterior will be accompanied by the most luxurious interior - but what about the powertrain? The gas-powered Escalade comes with a supercharged V8 pumping out 682 hp - the electric version cannot be seen as weaker or slower. To that end, Cadillac has access to GM’s Ultium technology - Escalade is longer than the GMC Hummer SUV, and fitting the 212 kWh battery pack from the GMC shouldn’t present too many issues.

The same goes for the power, the Hummer SUV Edition 1 comes with AWD 610 kW (830 hp) system which would be more than sufficient for the Escalade. There’s the more powerful 750 kW (1,000 hp) setup from the Hummer Pickup which would be perfect for a future Escalade V-series or even a Blackwing edition. Cadillac has many options here and the company won’t settle for mediocre performance - August 9 can’t come quick enough.

The Escalade IQ, although very important, isn’t the only electric Cadillac to be unveiled this year. The smaller SUV based on the Chevrolet Equinox has already been spotted several times but the company plans to unveil three EVs this year - which means there’s another mystery electric Cadillac in the works, that we haven’t seen yet.

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