General Motors (GM) is ramping up production of its high-performance Cadillac Escalade V-Series model as part of a comprehensive update to the flagship SUV for the 2025 model year. This move comes in response to heightened demand for the luxury vehicle, which has been a cornerstone of Cadillac's lineup and a significant profit driver for GM.
John Roth, Vice President of Cadillac, emphasized the enduring legacy of the Escalade. "The Escalade has always been about bold American craftsmanship, technology, and performance, and has continuously raised the standard of full-size SUV luxury since it was introduced 25 years ago," Roth said in a release.
The 2025 Escalade will feature a series of significant enhancements aimed at aligning the gas-powered model with the upcoming all-electric version. Among the updates are a new 55-inch diagonal display that spans the dashboard, including a passenger-only screen, and an "executive package" for the second row. Other notable features include power doors, larger 24-inch wheels, and sleeker front lighting.
The Escalade's interior has been redesigned to maximize screen space, reflecting the industry's trend towards screen-centric interfaces. The new display setup includes a 35-inch screen for the driver and a 20-inch screen for the passenger, both housed behind a continuous curved piece of glass. This setup aims to provide a more immersive and technologically advanced driving experience.
The gas-powered Escalade will continue to be driven by two 6.2-liter V-8 engines, including a supercharged V-Series performance model capable of delivering 682 horsepower and 653 foot-pounds of torque. Cadillac plans to increase production of the V-Series model, which was first introduced two years ago, to meet the growing customer demand. However, specific details on the production increase were not disclosed.
A Cadillac spokeswoman highlighted the strategic importance of increasing production. "We are increasing production to help meet customer demand for the pinnacle of Escalade performance, luxury, and craftsmanship, while maintaining exclusivity," she told CNBC.
GM has not yet released pricing for the 2025 models, but current pricing ranges from approximately $81,000 for an entry-level model to over $152,000 for the V-Series. The all-electric Escalade IQ, expected to start around $130,000, is set to go on sale later this year.
The Detroit automaker unveiled the enhancements to the gas-powered 2025 Escalade online, ahead of the start of production and sales, which are slated to begin late this year. The Escalade will continue to be produced at GM's Arlington Assembly in Texas, along with other full-size SUVs from Chevrolet and GMC that share a vehicle platform and components with the Cadillac model.
In addition to the visual and technological upgrades, the new Escalade will feature power doors that open automatically when the driver approaches with the key fob. All four doors can be opened by touching the door handle or using the command center inside the vehicle. This feature, standard on the V-Series and Platinum trims, includes sensors to prevent the doors from hitting nearby obstacles.
The interior will also include a suite of infotainment features powered by Google's Android software, offering built-in apps like Maps and Assistant. The system supports multiple voice assistants, including Google Assistant and Amazon's Alexa, and allows for wireless connection of phone mirroring systems like Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
