The Cadillac Escalade receives several minor changes for the 2013 model year, which may just be the last model year of the third-generation Caddy flagship SUV before the all-new version makes its debut.
Escalade, Escalade Hybrid, Escalade ESV
Joining the color palette are three new colors — Silver Coast Metallic, Midnight Plum Metallic, and Sapphire Blue Metallic, all of which are shown below. However, the Gold Mist Metallic hue is deleted; also, the 2013 Escalade gets new trailering features, powertrain grade braking, as well as windshield shades — all features we’d like to learn more about.
In the meantime, here are the official RPO changes, all of which apply to the standard Escalade, Escalade hybrid, and Escalade ESV:
Deletions
- Exterior color (51U) Gold Mist Metallic
New Features
- Exterior color (GWT) Silver Coast Metallic
- Exterior color (GWU) Midnight Plum Metallic. Promotional color. Available Spring, 2013
- Exterior color (GXH) Sapphire Blue Metallic. Promotional color. Available Fall, 2012
- Powertrain Grade Braking, normal mode
- New trailering capacities
- Windshield shades
Changes
- Heated steering wheel RPO Code changes from (KA9) to (UVD)
Escalade EXT
The 2013 Escalade EXT, on the other hand, only gets one new color called Bottle Green, followed by the same new features and changes in RPO codes as its bedless brethren.
New Features
- Exterior color (GNX) Bottle Green. Promotional color. Available Fall, 2012.
- Powertrain Grade Braking, normal mode
- New Trailering capacities
- Windshield shades
Changes
- Heated steering wheel RPO Code changes from (KA9) to (UVD)
Comments
Will the next gen. GM full size SUV’s be 2014MY or 2015?
Not sure yet. It all depends on how they decide to stagger the rollout of the GMT900s. But something tells me it will be a 2015 MY…
I think the Silverado and the Sierra will be 2014 while the Tahoe / Yukon / Escalade will be 2015.
Theres an Escalade Hybrid! I never new that! I
How much does it sell? 10 units a year? Less than the XLR?
Lol. It’s actually a pretty good SUV… and gets 1/4 better gas mileage than the non-hybrid. But at that big of a car, weight, and big engine, it doesn’t really matter.
I’m shooting for 2014 man!! Can’t wait because then all old GM vehicles will be gone!
Yep the GMTs are the last Old GM product still on sale, however I think the GMT platform was the best of “Old GM” and showcased all the things “Old GM” was good at doing and capable of doing with all of their cars.
Right–The entire GMT9XX platform is just too much of a breadwinner to be changed drastically, such that it alienates customers. I suspect that for this next generation, the front and rear fascias and the interiors will get extreme updates, but the body shape will remain the same. For fuel economy concerns, GM may make its 4.8L V-8 the mainstream engine, with the 5.3L only for performance or top-tier models, or develop an all-encompassing solution, like Ford’s 5.0L V-8. Also, other cars, such as the Malibu’s exclusively I-4-powered trims and a more aggressive push on the Verano, Encore, Cruze and Sonic models may help GM’s overall fleet economy, which from what I understand is the worst of all the major automakers’ at this time. And since nothing has been announced yet about the platform’s evolution, I would agree with Mister Luft that we’ll be looking at a MY2015 debut.
But if GM is to convince buyers not to purchase slightly-smaller, more-athletic, more-efficient monocoque-constructed vehicles (like the Dodge Durango), it really needs to play up and demonstrate the benefits of the traditional body-on-frame construction.
“it really needs to play up and demonstrate the benefits of the traditional body-on-frame construction.”
Tradition doesn’t matter and never will.
Body-on-frame is structurally inferior to unibody. You can’t convince people to flock to inferior construction if it comes with the cost of less structural safety and the ‘ease of body repair work’.
The GMTXXX is going to have to be radically different to stay relivent.
Anything substantive happening with the Escalade EXT??. I have owned three and have been holding onto my 2007 for a few reasons. First, no major changes but more importantly color alternatives. I have the blue / green 2-tone color and love it. I got excited when I saw some of the new body style pics and the additional color pallets for 2013. However then read your blog and see no body style changes nor any of the new pallets except bottle green for EXT. (ooooooh).
Any good news you can give me in the short term for the EXT?? Itching to get a new one, I’m WAY over due!!
Hey Scott. Outside of the changes listed above, there’s nothing new for the entire Escalade line for 2013.
In fact, this is the last model year of the EXT (and Avalanche):
http://gmauthority.com/blog/2012/04/gm-sends-off-chevrolet-avalanche-with-black-diamond-edition/
… much to my dismay 🙁
OMG… That is terrible. This is the perfect vehicle for me and my lifestyle. Can use it for work but also chores and such around the house. I guess all I can do is keep my fingers crossed that it’s just the Avalanche and the Escalade folks wake up and renew. Thanks for the info, but in this case I’m really hoping that your reading the tea leaves wrong!! 🙁