As the car buying public increasingly gravitates toward SUVs and pickups, it’s not a surprise to see automakers respond with all manner of special editions and performance models. It’s more profitable for an automaker to slap a new powertrain and suspension parts onto an existing ‘ute than it is to develop a new sports car that no one will buy, which is why we’re here talking about the upcoming Cadillac Escalade V-Series.
It’s true that Cadillac has also recently built new sports cars, but the Escalade remains its flagship and the brand sells tons of the deluxe people haulers, despite its steep price. Cadillac has begun a tease campaign for the new Escalade-V, which is expected to bring extreme performance and a great sound to the SUV lineup.
To be clear, the standard Cadillac Escalade doesn’t feel underpowered, but it’s certainly not going to be mistaken for a performance SUV. The Escalade-V will change that, though to what extent we don’t yet know. The teaser videos sound delightful, and if Cadillac’s other V-cars are any indication, the Escalade will end up being a three-row luxury rocket ship when all is said and done.
We’ll have to continue waiting for full specs on the SUV, which should land sometime later this year as a 2023 model. We can clearly see red brake calipers in the press photos and the SUV should get some form of adaptive suspension to keep its full-size body in check when driving hard. The V’s powertrain is also still a mystery, though many expect the LT4 from the CT5-V Blackwing to make its way under the Escalade’s hood. That would mean at least 668 horsepower and 659 pound-feet of torque, which is a 50 percent increase over the SUV’s standard 420 horsepower.
As for pricing, well, that’s anyone’s guess. The standard ‘Slade easily climbs past the $100,000 mark, so the Escalade-V will not be for the financially faint of heart. Given the popularity of other go-fast SUVs, however, we’re guessing Cadillac will sell all they can make and then some.