General Motor’s luxury arm, Cadillac, has an answer for all the environmentalists out there who want to have their lavish SUV and drive it too. This is mainly due to the vehicle’s 6.0 Liter Vortec combined with an electric generator in the transmission housing to create the world’s first large luxury hybrid SUV. Don’t be fooled by the amount of Hybrid logos strewn about the Escalade, this is truly a big money machine. From our car’s Quicksilver exterior to the Ebony interior the Escalade Hybrid is all about style. Our $70,375 Escalade Hybrid rolls around on stylish 22 inch chromed rims connected to magnetic ride control shock absorbers that soak up ever imperfection on the road’s surface.
Thanks to the 2-Mode Hybrid system with active fuel management the 5,000 pound SUV is able to get 20 MPG in the city and 21 MPG while cruising at highway speeds. The Escalade Hybrid comes equipped with convenience features like a power lift gate, folding side mirrors and rain sensing wipers, the only thing missing is for someone to hitch up your trailer for you. Combined with the always-great Onstar road side assistance standard as well as a 4 year 50,000 mile warranty and a 8 year 100,000 hybrid component warranty you can rest assured about the reliability of your new gas/electric vehicle, and despite the fact that the Escalade Hybrid isn’t quite as clean as the lovable Toyota Prius, it is definitely a green vehicle.
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Top Speed’s test fleet recently received a 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid from General Motors. This oversized people mover seems more like another way to make a statement about being excessive while still thinking about the environment. The Cadillac is as luxurious as anything from the General is at the moment, with its 332 HP 6.0 Liter V8 and electric motor spinning a set of 22 inch chrome wheels, it will be nice to experience the lifestyle first hand.
The interior of our Escalade is comfortable and luxurious, adequate for $70,000 worth of extravagance and technology. From the driver’s seat you can enjoy an 8 inch navigation screen with everything from back up camera to nice little animation about what the Hybrid two-mode system is doing. The rear seat passengers should appreciate the flip down Panasonic DVD screen and Bose 5.1 surround sound system. The combination of wood on the center stack, steering wheel and armrest is nicely contrasted by the brushed aluminum piece in front of the passenger.
Exterior after the jump.
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The big new from Cadillac’s big ’ol Escalade last year was the introduction of the Escalade Hybrid model. The other introduction, that got less press, was the introduction of a Platinum Edition, which included LED headlamps and Cadillac’s adaptable Magnetic Ride Control system.
Now General Motors has combined the two. The Escalade Platinum Hybrid takes advantage of the two-mode system developed by GM, and then adds elements like 22-inch wheels, Aniline leather and TV screens in the front headrest. It’s like Cadillac is saying, “Just ’cause your bling-bling don’t mean you don’t care about the environment, homey.”
Press release after the jump.
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As a sign of more-gas frugal times, even the Escalade, an SUV known for is uncompromising size and power may go on a diet. The next generation large SUV from Cadillac may move to the Lambda platform.
GM currently uses the platform to build the Chevrolet Traverse, Saturn Outlook, GMC Acadia and Buick Enclave, so a Cadillac on the same platform would make economical sense. The platform should be able to handle a larger car because GM had considered, but cancelled, a V-8-powered Enclave Super. Cadillac could use a V-8, in this case a small block, since the Northstar replacement that was supposed to power the Enclave Super also has been canceled.
GM also announced the company is considering a unibody pickup as hinted by the GMC Denali XT concept, to replace the EXT and Chevy Avalanche.
In a changing automotive climate, Cadillac enters the 2009 with the a much-needed hybrid, which is also the first in the large luxury SUV class. 2009 also introduces a new ultra-luxury Platinum Edition with even more segment-first technologies.
The Escalade lineup features integrated powertrain, chassis, safety and interior systems that deliver the most powerful, efficient luxury SUVs in the segment, led by a 6.2L all-aluminum V-8 engine with variable valve timing technology delivering 403 hp and 417 lb.-ft. of torque. The 6.2L engine has been revised to run using renewable E85 ethanol, making it a flex-fuel vehicle for the first time.
The Platinum edition includes a blend of technical innovations and aesthetic enhancements. The exterior features a unique front fascia and grille patterned after the CTS sport sedan. The Platinum includes unique 22-inch wheels and wears exclusive Platinum exterior badges.
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Cadillac today announced pricing for the 2009 Escalade Hybrid which will go on sale this month. Pricing begin at $71,685 - $3,600 over a comparably equipped Escalade.
Powered by GM’s 2-Mode Hybrid system, which can run in an electric-only mode a low speeds. The Escalade Hybrid will deliver more than a reported 50 percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving. The Escalade Hybrid is available in 2WD and 4WD configurations. It delivers up to 6,000 pounds (2,721 kg) of usable towing capacity on 2WD models and 5,700 pounds (2,585 kg) on 4WD models. All of Escalade’s standard comfort and convenience features are included. This includes an eight-inch, touch-screen navigation system that displays performance readouts of the 2-Mode Hybrid system on the screen.
Press release after the jump.
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Looks like this day revealed another partnership between two companies: Becker Automotive Design, known for their exclusive unique custom limousine, and STRUT unveiled today a special edition of the
Cadillac Escalade ESV which will be sold to the exclusive clientele of Becker. The vehicle features the latest technology like an impressive Apple iPod ready audio-video system featuring satellite HDTV, DVD, and digital surround sound and other high-end components, all controlled by a Crestron touch screen. At the exterior, as you expected STRUT fitted its custom grille and side vents created from the finest stainless steel available.
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GM announced today that all models of the 2009 Cadillac Escalade will be able to run on either ordinary gasoline or E85 ethanol, or any combination of the two. And customers will have the fueling choice at no additional cost.
The Escalade, Escalade EXT and Escalade ESV as well as the GMC Denali, join the previously announced 2009 Chevrolet HHR, Buick Lucerne and Hummer H2 and H2 SUT as additions to GM’s industry-leading flex-fuel lineup .
“The success of E85 as an alternative fuel depends on having the fuel readily available and having a range of cars and trucks that can use it,” said GM Vice President of Environment, Energy and Safety Policy Beth Lowery . “We will offer more than 15 flex-fuel capable models for 2009 compared with 11 this year.”
The latest E85 product announcements coincided with the opening of a dozen new E85 fueling stations in the Greater Atlanta area this week.
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Cadillac announced the introduction of the 2008 Escalade Platinum, a special edition of the segment-leading large luxury SUV that takes Cadillac’s dramatic design, elegance and technology to its fullest expression.
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Cadillac announced the world premiere of the Escalade Hybrid, the world’s first fuel-saving hybrid applied to a large luxury SUV. Powered by an innovative, fuel-saving 2-Mode Hybrid system, Escalade Hybrid will deliver more than a 50-percent improvement in fuel economy in city driving – all while delivering the same distinctive style, segment-leading features and full-size capability that have made the Escalade an icon.
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