Cadillac introduced the fifth-generation Escalade for the 2021 model and on top of being better in just about every department, it will also spawn an all-electric drivetrain shared with the upcoming GMC Hummer EV. But it seems that the fifth-generation SUV will also debut the first high-performance version of the Escalade, rumored to be called the Escalade-V Blackwing. When's it coming and how powerful will it be? Let's find out below.
Customers have been asking for a V-spec Cadillac Escalade for decades
According to Cadillac Escalade product manager Dave Schiavone, customers and dealers have been asking the company for a high-performance version of Escalade since 2004. That's when Cadillac introduced the first V-spec version of the CTS sedan.
"Ever since we cam out with the V-Series on the CTS, we've had dealers and customers always asking for an Escalade-V," he told Muscle Cars and Trucks. "We're always looking at opportunities, and where we can take portofolios," he added.
But while the CTS was sold in CTS-V trim for three generations up until 2019 and its replacement, the CT5, is also available with a "V" badge, Cadillac left the Escalade untouched. Schiavone didn't confirm or deny plans for an Escalade-V, but with the high-performance SUV market growing bigger and stronger, a beefed-up hauler would make sense.
How fast is the regular Cadillac Escalade?
The current, fifth-generation Escalade is available with the familiar 6.2-liter V-8 gasoline engine. Cadillac also offers a diesel for the very first time, but the V-8 remains the most potent engine in the lineup.
Despite its big size and heavy curb weight, the Escalade sprint to 60 mph in an impressive 5.5 seconds. The longer ESV model takes a bit longer at 5.8 seconds, but that's still fast for a full-sized rig.
What will power the beefed-up Cadillac Escalade?
According to MC&T, a beefed-up Cadillac Escalade is already underway. According to its sources, the performance SUV is already in development and it could be called the Escalade-V Blackwing. The name suggests that it will share drivetrain components with the upcoming CT5-V Blackwing.
But as we mentioned in a previous report, the "Blackwing" badge has nothing to do with the twin-turbo V-8 Blackwing engine from the CT6-V. That engine was discontinued alongside the CT6 and word has it the CT5-V will feature a supercharged V-8, like the old CTS-V.
The CT5-V is expected to hit the road with around 650 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. If this rating remains unchanged for the Escalade, the V Blackwing model will boasts an extra 230 horsepower and almost an additional 200 pound-feet over the regular SUV.
The extra oomph will enable the hauler to hit 60 mph in less than five seconds. More importantly, it will give it leverage over competitors like the Lincoln Navigator and BMW X7. Powered by a turbocharged, 3.5-liter V-6, the Navigator tops out at 450 horsepower and 510 pound-feet of torque. Likewise, the BMW X7 is no match for the Escalade-V Blackwing since the range-topping M50i trim comes with a 4.4-liter V-8 rated at 523 horses and 553 pound-feet of twist.
The latest Mercedes-AMG GLS 63 also falls behind on the output front. Its twin-turbo, 4.0-liter V-8 delivers 603 horsepower and 627 pound-feet of twist, although it also features a mild-hybrid system that can add an extra 21 horses and 184 pound-feet.
The Cadillac Escalade-V Blackwing could break cover in 2021
If such a model is indeed already in development, we could see it break cover in 2021. We haven't spotted any prototypes yet, meaning Cadillac isn't testing the vehicle in the wild as of October 2020, but that could change in early 2021. But an official unveiling might not happen until the third or fourth quarter of 2021, meaning that Escalade-V Blackwing won't go on sale until the spring of 2022.