First sight: Cadillac’s stunning electric Escalade IQ
The iconic American luxury SUV boasts a new platform, sportier proportions, and design cues inspired by the Celestiq flagship sedan.
Cadillac has unveiled the electrified version of its fabled Escalade SUV, taking one step closer toward its commitment to leave behind the internal combustion engine by 2030. On a recent sweltering afternoon in Hollywood, we were ushered into one of the many private studio spaces lining the streets in the entertainment capital of the world to get a sneak peek ahead of the vehicle’s official debut.
From the first look, the Escalade exudes striking proportions and a new design language that is still unmistakably Cadillac. “Our approach to this vehicle was different from any Escalade we’ve done before,” Cadillac’s lead exterior designer Robin Krieg tells us during a private walkaround. “We thought, what if the Escalade was really sporty and sleek, with a sports car aesthetic? We wanted to make the rear profile faster and really change up the formula for what people think of in a longer SUV.”
Key to the Escalade’s transformation is its new architecture, General Motors’ Ultium platform, which also underpins the newest GMC Hummer truck and SUV, as well as Cadillac’s Celestiq and Lyriq EVs. “The flexibility of the architecture means we could do the Escalade we always dreamed of doing,” Krieg says. “When you can start messing with proportions and moving things around, you can really become more expressive.”
That included pushing the wheels out to the corners and maintaining a long dash-to-axle ratio. “You look back and the best Cadillacs of the 1930s and ‘40s, and they have this really long hood,” Krieg explains. “That of course was to make space for the engine, and some might say there’s no reason for that now. But what’s beautiful about this is we get those classic proportions plus it enables storage in the front. I come from a product design background, so when something has a functional aspect it really means more.”
We imagined Celestiq as a truck and kept the elements that were appropriate
Many design cues carry over from the Celestiq flagship sedan Cadillac debuted last year, including the front “shield” face and vertical lighting signature. But it wasn’t just a scale-up. “It’s not a rubber stamp. We can’t just scale Celestiq and put it over the top — we tried that and it doesn’t work,” Krieg admits. “We imagined Celestiq as a truck and kept the elements that were appropriate for that car. It’s little more upright, a little bit tougher, and a little bit more truck-like because it still has to speak to its capabilities.”
Cadillac always touts craftsmanship and authenticity as two of its key pillars, and Krieg says he and his team are particularly proud of the flush glass on the body side. “It’s one of those surprising little touches that’s usually reserved for cars. We are really proud of being able to do these kinds of executions on an SUV.” Krieg also points out the intricate lighting design (led at the time by Candice Willett), including the rear “piano-key” shaped tail lamp.
“The current Escalade has this iconic rear vertical lighting, so we didn’t want to walk away from that. But as with Lyriq and Celestiq, we wanted to move that forward and do it in a more sophisticated way and also emphasise the width of the vehicle.” He also notes the choreographed lighting animation in both front and rear. “We talk about presence when you enter a room,” he says. “You don’t have to scream to get attention, and that’s what this car does.”
The centrepiece of the interior is a 55-inch curved touch screen, also found in the Celestiq. “What’s beautiful from my standpoint is how the interior design emphasises the width of the vehicle,” Krieg reiterates.
It almost has this mid-century feel
Digital displays are balanced with analogue buttons and knobs, along with layers of wood, leather and decorative trim. “We still have a lot of touch points and it’s not just all touch screen; we felt that was really important,” he says. “We have things like burling on the knobs and it feels more luxurious. It almost has this mid-century feel where you’re just letting the materials and the layering of them speak for themselves.”
Colour and materials designers add that the the Escalade IQ is intended to be more progressive and fashion-forward than previous Escalade models, expressed through complex perforations and new wood finishing techniques.
The Escalade IQ sits in length between the standard ICE model and the long wheelbase version and is powered by front and rear motors that make 750 hp and 785 ft lbs of torque in the top-of-the-line trim. Combined with its 200 kWh battery pack, Cadillac says the Escalade IQ can do 0—to-60 mph in less than five seconds and has a projected range of 450 miles. Four-wheel steering, also found on the GMC Hummer EV, should greatly enhance agility and maneuverability. The Escalade IQ is also equipped for bi-directional charging, which GM says will be enabled via an OTA in 2025.
Production is slated in the US for next summer at GM’s Hammtrack, Michigan assembly plant, with a starting price of around US$130,000. With the US still seemingly divided on EV adoption, all eyes will be on the Escalade IQ as a litmus test for American luxury SUVs.