Love it or hate it, the ostentatious Escalade is arguably the most well-known Cadillac in recent times and has always offered a big petrol V8.
Now, it’s set to get an electric counterpart called the Cadillac Escalade IQ, which will be revealed on August 9.
It’ll slot in above the Lyriq in Cadillac’s growing electric vehicle line-up, and will be produced at GM’s Factory Zero Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly Center which currently produces the GMC Hummer EV and Sierra EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV.
General Motors’ luxury brand has released a teaser image, revealing the trademark vertical LED daytime running lights (DRLs), an illuminated crest logo, and a partially illuminated grille area.
The look is similar to the Lyriq, but not identical – the bonnet has a raised power dome element and the grille lighting has a unique signature.
A teaser video gives us a better look at the proportions of the Escalade IQ which, at least up front, more closely resemble those of the combustion-powered, body-on-frame Escalade than the Lyriq – though we can nevertheless expect it to be sleeker than the ICE Escalade.
The wheels are also more aerodynamic in appearance than the ICE Escalade, and reminiscent of those used on the upcoming Celestiq electric flagship.
While Cadillac hasn’t released any further details of the model, it’s likely to use the BT1 electric vehicle architecture of the Hummer EV, Silverado EV and Sierra EV given the regular Escalade is related to the ICE Silverado and Sierra.
A longer-wheelbase version could also be introduced, with Cadillac having trademarked the Escalade IQL nameplate.
For an idea of the kind of power to be expected from the Escalade IQ, the flagship Hummer off-roader is available with a tri-motor electric powertrain with a total system output of 750kW. Less powerful dual-motor options are also available.
Cadillac plans to have a fully electric line-up by the end of the decade, and will reveal three EVs this year alone, inclusive of the Escalade IQ, ahead of production of each beginning next year.
One is reported to be an entry-level electric SUV – a counterpart to the petrol-powered, Audi Q3-rivalling XT4 but on the Lyriq’s BEV3 architecture.
Cadillac has also indicated it will introduce an electric counterpart to the Volvo XC90-rivalling XT6, while previous reports have indicated the brand will introduce a pair of electric sedans similarly sized to today’s rear/all-wheel drive CT4 and CT5 sedans.
General Motors says its growing line-up of North American-built electric vehicles will be “solidly profitable” in 2025, by which point it will be building over one million EVs there annually.
Cadillac could use the Lyriq to finally enter the Australian market, with a right-hand drive version spied overseas and the Lyriq name trademarked locally.
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Lyriq
Senior members of the General Motors team in Australia have told CarExpert there’s “a lot of exciting stuff coming this year”.
When asked about Cadillac, a General Motors spokesperson simply said “stay tuned”.
“We’ll have more to say this year, that’s for sure,” said Marc Ebolo, GM Australia and New Zealand managing director.
