Cadillac – the luxury division of US car giant General Motors – has applied its hallowed V-Series performance badge to its largest and most popular SUV – creating the full-size 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V.
While technical details of the US luxury brand’s first performance SUV won’t be released until later this year, official photos released by Cadillac show the Escalade-V will benefit from a partial styling makeover to match its sporty image.
It is expected to be powered by a supercharged 6.2-litre V8, though this is yet to be confirmed.
As with the entire Cadillac brand, the Escalade-V won’t make the journey (officially) to Australian showrooms, with local importer General Motors Specialty Vehicles yet to outline any plans to introduce the brand. Cadillac was just weeks away from an Australian launch in 2009, before parent GM pulled the pin at the last minute as the Global Financial Crisis took hold.
Under the bonnet of the Escalade-V is rumoured to be the same 6.2-litre supercharged V8 as the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 muscle car and Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing sedan (among other vehicles), mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission driving all four wheels.
While outputs are yet to be confirmed, the engine develops between 485kW and 498kW in its other applications, and up to 893Nm – a significant upgrade over the standard Escalade’s 313kW/624Nm 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated petrol V8 (shared with the related Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick-up offered in Australia).
Cadillac fans will note the hot Escalade wears the standard V-Series badge – rather than the top-rung V-Series Blackwing name – and thus would necessitate a less powerful engine closer in performance to regular Escalade models – possibly an uprated version of the aforementioned 6.2-litre naturally-aspirated V8.
However, given the Escalade SUV’s additional size and weight – and that a flagship Escalade-V Blackwing is unlikely, as it would require some form of race track capability – it’s likely the supercharged engine will be standard in the flagship SUV, in lieu of a supercharger-less, circa-370kW bent-eight.
A video of the Escalade-V’s instrument cluster reveals an indicated redline of approximately 6200rpm – just below the 6500rpm of other vehicles with the supercharged ‘LT4’ V8 engine, but well above the 5700rpm of the standard Escalade V8, suggesting the supercharged mill is more likely.
New 22-inch alloy wheels fill the arches, though they’re seemingly wrapped in the same Bridgestone all-season tyres as the regular Escalade. Retuned adaptive air suspension (delivering a lower ride height, as the photos suggest) and larger brake discs are also likely to feature.
The Escalade-V has gained a selection of styling upgrades to differentiate from the standard model, including a revised front fascia with a black mesh grille and larger lower intakes, enlarged black side skirts, four exhaust tips, and a more aggressive rear diffuser.
V-Series branding adorns the front doors, alloy wheels and tailgate, with red brake calipers also on offer.
No images of the interior have been released, beyond photos and videos of a V-badged steering wheel and new digital instrument cluster graphics – though expect highlights to include revised front seats, carbon-fibre-look trim, and an array of V-Series badges.
Further details of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V will be released in the northern spring of 2022 (March to May), ahead of a US market launch likely before mid-2023 (in order to remain a Model Year 2023 vehicle).
Spy photos suggest both standard-wheelbase and ESV long-wheelbase versions will be available, contrary to speculation.
Keyword: 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V revealed in the US, no closer to Australia