Electric Cadillac Escalade is huge and could be headed our way
This is the Cadillac Escalade IQ, a behemoth of an electric vehicle that could be coming to Australia.
The electric sibling of the internal combustion SUV that has become the preferred form of transport for celebrities and secret service agents, the Escalade IQ is the fourth EV model from General Motors’ luxury brand.
Powered by a 200kWh battery and claimed to have a 724km range, it follows on from the Cadillac Lyriq medium SUV and Celestiq super limo, while the Optiq large SUV has been leaked but not yet formally announced.
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The Lyriq is on-sale in the USA and the Celestiq starts handbuilt production at the end of 2023. Optiq roll-out plans have yet to be announced.
Cadillac plans to be an all-EV luxury brand by 2030.
It has in its recent ICE past twice come close to launching in Australia. Plans to finally land here with an all-electric line-up appear to be firming.
General Motors has recently filed trademark applications to protect the Escalade IQ, Optiq and Lyriq model names in Australia.
GM Australia and New Zealand, the business that manages GM’s local auto interests in the wake of the Holden closure in 2020, would likely run Cadillac locally as it already manages the sale of GM’s Chevrolet vehicles here via the GMSV brand.
As of September 1, the managing director of GM Australia and New Zealand will be Jess Bala, who most recently served as Cadillac Director of Global Product Planning and Product Strategy.
Obviously, Bala’s brand knowledge would aid the launch of Cadillac in Australia.
The Escalade IQ will certainly offer Bala and her team plenty to talk about when they launch it.
Every number is staggering. Apart from that huge battery and range anxiety-crushing range, the Escalade IQ also claims a 3600kg-plus towing capability, rolls on 24-inch wheels and measures up at 5697mm long, 2389mm wide (with mirrors) and 1934mm high, with a 3460mm wheelbase.
Based on GM’s Ultium architecture, the Escalade IQ is powered by a dual motor all-wheel drive set-up that offers up to 560/1064Nm and a 0-100km dash time of about five seconds.
Predictably stuffed with luxury equipment, the Escalade IQ’s pricing will start around $US130,000, or about $200,000 in our money.
Production starts in early 2024 with North American deliveries scheduled before the end of the year.
Whether GM can hit that production schedule and Just how many Escalade IQs it can build are valid questions considering the struggles it has had getting EV production up and running because of an issue with battery module assembly.
