The legendary Cadillac Escalade, also known as the Rolls-Royce of SUVs in North America, is set to enter the electric market. General Motors has teased an upcoming electric variant of the Escalade, with the battery-powered luxury SUV due to be unveiled before the end of the year. The Escalade was one of the world’s first luxury SUVs when it launched in 1999 and became very popular due to its appearances in popular culture. Now, it is set to become the third model in the Cadillac brand to join its battery-powered ‘IQ’ model line-up, alongside the Lyriq SUV and Celestiq flagship luxury sedan.
General Motors is planning for the Cadillac brand to be exclusively battery powered by 2030, with the Escalade representing its first choice of existing models to be locked in for an electric future. The Cadillac Escalade IQ is one of three electric models the brand plans to launch this year, and it will become available in North America for the 2024 model year. Equipped with a massive 177kWh battery pack and three electric motors that deliver almost 620kW, the Escalade IQ could utilise the Ultium-based platform. However, these specs are yet to be officially confirmed.
The Cadillac Escalade IQ will also be the first version of the model to go without V8 power, after the fifth-generation Escalade debuted in 2021 with the option of a 3.0-litre six-cylinder diesel engine. Cadillac has not sold a car in Australia since 1969, but recent trademark filings and right-hand-drive prototype vehicles have hinted at the brand coming back Down Under. In December 2022, General Motors filed a trademark for the Lyriq name in Australia, and Cadillac was trademarked in August 2020. A right-hand-drive pre-production Cadillac Lyriq was also spied near the brand’s headquarters in Michigan three months later, but there is no confirmation it will be sold in Australia.
In conclusion, the Cadillac Escalade is set to make a mark in the electric market, marking a significant milestone for the luxury SUV market. The Escalade IQ will be the third model in the Cadillac brand to join its battery-powered ‘IQ’ model line-up, alongside the Lyriq SUV and Celestiq flagship luxury sedan. As General Motors plans for the Cadillac brand to be exclusively battery powered by 2030, the Escalade IQ represents the first of existing models to be locked in for an electric future. Consumers can expect the Escalade IQ to deliver outstanding performance with its massive 177kWh battery pack and three electric motors.
