Part 1 – Overview
Part 2 – Design and Technology
Part 3 – Ride and Performance

Image galleries – Escalade Review Pics | Escalade Pics from Cadillac

What you need to know about the 2010 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid Platinum:

• As tested, this rear-drive version stickers at a heart-stopping $86000+
• The Platinum trim comes with nice cut-and-sew dash topper, door panels, and even the trim down the sides of the center console.
• It has 3, count ‘em, 3 entertainment screens – even before you count the in-dash navigation/infotainment screen up front. There is a center drop-down screen as well as a screen in the rear of each front headrest.
• The front console cup holders are both heated and cooled.
• The front and second row seats are both swathed in a rich, dark-chocolate brown leather (trust us, it looks better than you might originally think).
• The two-mode hybrid powertrain means that you not only get to play the Prius trick of driving in parking lots and in stop-and-go traffic on electric only power, but you also get a power boost to the 6.0l V-8 when at speed. It not only gives a power boost for passing, but also helps let the engine do its V-8 -> V-4 cylinder deactivation trick more often, boosting highway mileage.
• It is rated at 21 city, 22 highway and we managed in mixed driving to get over 20mpg…not a bad trick for this size truck.

What you also need to know…some nits we pick:

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Categories: Escalade, News, Reviews
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Karl Stracke, GM’s VP of Global Vehicle Engineering has some interesting things to say lately.

First of all is this quote that helps sooth some fears we might have after the SRX went to a global Theta platform (vs the first gen that was on a Cadillac specific platform – Sigma) as well as the XTS built on the Epsilon II platform vs a dedicated premium platform.

He is quoted at MotorTrend.com as saying “Our goal is Cadillac against BMW — very clearly. We will bring performance to these cars…and be on par or better than BMW. That is our plan.” This seems to suggest that as GM gets leaner with the dropping of brands like Pontiac, Saturn, and Saab, that the resources to make a full-on competitor to BMW out of Cadillac is a priority. Though it is reasonable to expect that we might not see the ultimate results of this for 5+ years as the next-next generation of cars starts to makes its way to showrooms.

Also, according to a statement overheard by Edmunds.com’s Inside Line blog – Mr. Stracke also confirmed that a Lambda based crossover for Cadillac is on the way. While this was originally thought to be the new Escalade, recent reports have placed the next Escalade on the next body-on-frame truck chassis. This would make the Lambda Cadillac more of a three-row, super-SRX in mission – leaving the Escalade for the set that needs/wants a ‘truck’.

Source MotorTrend.com
Source: Edmunds.com

Categories: Escalade, News, Rumored Models
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Pricing for the Cadillac CTS Coupe and its V sibling has been revealed.

The standard two-door will start at $38,990 (good luck finding one) while the V will begin at $62,990.

Sales of both will begin in early August.

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Categories: CTS, News, V-Series
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We’ve had the privledge of driving around for the week in Cadillac’s Escalade Hybrid in Platinum trim. This is 86k of rear wheel drive (?!) GMT900-based goodness.

We’re currently seeing about 20-21mpg in mixed driving – not bad given that we aren’t spending that much time in hybrid friendly stop and go. Credit the 2-mode nature of the hybrid powertrain that seems to allow the truck to run in cylinder deactivated V-4 mode much more than might otherwise be the case without battery assist at non-city speeds. Given the V-4 mode seems to be resulting in an indicated 10+ mpg improvement over the same speed, same gear, V-8 mode – it seems to be a worthy result to the cost of giving electric boost.

It is as fun as you might have heard to try to keep in electric only mode for as long as possible in town – though it takes a mighty light foot to do so (which takes a conscious effort).

While we work on the review – feel free to feast your eyes on our tCE Review gallery.

Enjoy.

Categories: Escalade, News, Reviews
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Despite every indication that Cadillac will be lucky to sell a few dozen of these a month – they have decided to help promote the upcoming CTS-V Sport Wagon with this walk around with their head designer.

That said, this is the one of the most balls-y moves Cadillac could make – putting this package on the wagon.

If it weren’t for the coupe, this is the V I’d most lust after.

Enjoy.

Categories: CTS, News, V-Series, Video
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Part 1 – Overview
Part 2 – Our test car
Part 3 – Exterior and Design
Part 4 – Interior and Electronics
Part 5 – Ride and Performance

Image galleries – SRX Review Pics | SRX Pics from Cadillac

Finally, we are about to cover a lot of nitty-gritty on the systems and features that come together to make up the result we would generically call the SRX’s ‘ride and handling’. This includes things like a 2.8l turbo V-6 engine, Haldex AWD system, ZF/Sachs adjustable performance shocks, and Cadillac’s handling and safety systems like StabiliTrak traction and stability control.

But, what you really need to know is this:

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Categories: News, Reviews, SRX
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