In case you thought it was a typo, no. This is not a Cadillac Escalade. This is the Cadillac Escala Concept. Of course, perhaps too similar of a name as the celebrated SUV, but it’s best not to overthink it. And again, there’s absolutely no confusing the two from a visual aspect.
At the front of the Cadillac Escala, it’s easy to spot the now-colorless crest emblem adorning the grille front and center. Then there’s the horizontal headlight integration. Yes, horizontal lights – with elongated vertical DRLs just below. The 22-inch wheels, meanwhile, feature a striking layered spoke design, while the rear fascia stretches out a familiar rear taillight design, while adding horizontal points on each inward side.
Is this all a glimpse of the next generation of Cadillac’s design language? Yes.
In fact, this may even preview a resurrection of the stillborn “CT8” flagship. This is because the Cadillac Escala is even larger than that of the new CT6 sedan — the current range-topper. At 210.5 inches in overall length, Escala is roughly 6 inches longer than today’s CT6. And it’s a liftback – AKA a four-door coupe.
The interior features a proclaimed “dual personality” interior, with the front being all about modern technology, while the second-row is all about comfort.
the OLED instrument panel, sourced from LG, presents a hyper-modern way of displaying information. The displays are curved, and layered in front of the driver. Not to skimp out on detail, back sides of the OLEDs are wrapped in hand-stitched leather embossed with the Cadillac script. The configuration blends the driving gauges with the center stack into one integrated unit.
Under the hood, the Cadillac Escala previews an upcoming 4.2-liter twin-turbo V-8 engine, slated for future Cadillac models. Cadillac notes that the engine utilizes Active Fuel Management technology, enabling fuel-saving 4-cylinder operation. However, power ratings were not listed, so we can use our imaginations. For now, let’s all enjoy the eye candy that Cadillac has provided for us. Hopefully they actually build this one.
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Comments
I don’t like it. By adding the horizontal light element, they took away what makes modern Cadillacs so distinctive. Remember what I said about four door coupes not working with Cadillac design language? This looks way too European. It looks like an Audi, and from afar I have little doubt it will look like the Camaro SS.
Are you happy now, Rye Shelton?
Completely disagree. This concept is sexy as hell. Just wish it was not a liftback. Liftbacks are not luxurious. The open back does not scream luxury sedan.
It’s sexy, but not in an American luxury way. That’s why it rubs me the wrong way.
I get that sentiment. I has too much of a A7 feel to it.
EvDave, I agree with you about the sexiness of this design, but disagree on the luxuriousness of a liftback. Tell that to all those A/S/RS7 buyers, where Audi is succeeding and exceeding its expectations in sales. Not to mention there are still buyers in the US waiting for the A/S5 Sportback to also hit the market. Done right and for the right buyer Euro tastes are where most Americans will spend their cash. Cadillac is smart to amass its best talent from every part corner of the planet to make world cars. When this new design language appears on new products, the world will surely take notice.
Love the horizontal lighting element…They needed to evolve the designa and this works. Sophisticated, restrained, and yet still visually appealing.
Now the front AND back are in sync. Love the rear design, which is something Cadillac has needed to work on for a long time. Also side profile detail comes out the more you look at it…
The more I look at the photos, the more I like it…Will grow on people long term.
This smells of we changed up the status quo just to say we did. The exterior to me is so German and bland, the interior is definitely a cool design study though…
Is a BMW 7 Series with Cadillac Logo
The car is beautiful but reminds in excess to Germans
Beautiful car. I really wish they would make this
Finally, a car worthy to be called the Cadillac flagship. This is the vehicle the CT6 should have been. It should have carried in this new design language. Say what you will about the design being too German, but the details are still distinctly Cadillac. Vertical headlights were limiting Caddy from making an aggressive looking car, and people were beginning to complain that all the cars looked the same. That problem has obviously been solved. The detailing is beautiful. Just look at the interior trim work and the rear design. Let’s pray that this vehicle is given the go for production. This is the exciting design Cadillac needs to reinvigorate and energize.
Oh, and the color choices, excellent. The exterior paint truly looks world class. Could look right at home on a Mercedes or Bentley.
I wonder if the production car (if there is one) will retain at least a tiny hint of Art and Science.
CT8 Sedan 2018/2019, CT7 Four Door Coupe 2018/2019, Cadillac is tell on track to have 11 models by 2020. Concept cars are not design to go into production, but concept/production cars are design to.
“Concept cars are not design (sic) to go into production, but concept/production cars are design (sic) to.”
Well, which is it? Of course production cars are designed to go into production.
An interesting design, and departs from the existing (exterior) similarity between the ATS, CT5, & CT6. Definitely a more rounded, softer side of Art & Science.
I thought the visible lower metal front door hinge was a nice touch in the way it is integrated into the front quarter panels.
The aerodynamic blade shape of the rear-view mirrors looks good, but does it offer enhanced visibility?
CC
Six inches longer than the Cadillac CT6 donor car which means this is a stillborn and might have been a 2-door coupe variant of the canceled CT8; the only reason why Cadillac decided to bring the car to Pebble Beach Concours is that they didn’t have another car ready and had finished development of the Escala.
a four door coupe isn’t the match for Cadillac or a flagship.
I hope Autoline looses half of its fan base with all thier nonsense of the flagship being cancelled. JDN said something like this might be added to the lineup,,i,think thats a pretty good indication we will see this car. First off its good to see a actual large Cadillac again at 210 in length, this thing is huge. Second I like seeing the 4 person executive seating. If this car makes it to production like that, it would be the first Cadillac since the 74 Talisman to offer it. Next we have a V8.. In my opinion it should only be offered in the CT8 and not the CT6. This car looks almost production ready, which tells me its more then just a concept and that we will see this by 2020.
JDN did also make it clear that this car would only come out if the market is not hostile for large cars. My reply to that is that the market is already in that shape. You want a few ugly CUVS and SUVs? Fine, but please make sure this car or something close makes it to production to make Cadillac the standard of the world again
Should absolutely go in the CT6 as a V Sport model.
omegatalon, do you have any information that it is canceled? We all like to see it.
can they make it a low height CUV or a tall wagon ??
Hate the headlights,Hate the a7 look.
-Love the back
-Love the tail lights
-Love the interior
…
-hate the headlights.
-hate the audi style(a7)
-hate the small window(third one and the way it looks)
-Don’t like the c pillar.
Conclusions:
This car is not finished. Has a potential , but they need to do some home work.
Give this rear to the elmiraj and you will have an ideal car.
Who ever thought of the color less badge should be fired.
the sloping rear roof will give the car poor rear head room.
Why Ed Wellburn, why did you have to leave us?
Thanks God hes gone…
dated and boring Ct6- cts is his job
Looks too much like a A7.
It’s a shame that the people who develop Cadillac’s concept cars don’t run the company because it would be a lot more fun if the CT6 was named the Ciel or Elmiraj; and if they do build this year’s concept car.. the Escala, they actually named it the Escala instead of CT7 or CT9 as it makes you wonder why the Escalade hasn’t been renamed the XT10.
The video quality of the car was not the best but the pics tell a different story. The car does look amazing but the liftback has got to go.
This updated A&S design language on the next gen. and new Cadillacs could look amazing and expressive.
In spite of the idiot Facebook comments, the updated design is welcome.
And for anyone who says it looks like an A7, it looks far better and does not look like it and far from it.
I like it but I have to agree with those who say it looks too much like the Audi A7. There’s just not enough going on here to distance itself from the German competition. It’s different but not different enough.
The interior, on the other hand, I love! I think the interior is the real talking point of the Escala.
I love the large swathes of cloth, wood and leather and I like the way the dash curves around the driver. The whole thing looks very upmarket, futuristic and somehow traditional at the same time.
It’s disapointing. I’d like rather an electric luxury car to compete with Porsche , Audi,.. Once again, Cadillac will be out of date by the competitors. Johan De Nyschen wasn’t the right man for this function.
Well for one thing I will not pass final judgment till I see the car in person. I hated the Lacrosse till I saw it in person and I love it now. Photo’s of many of today’s cars do not do then justice.
As it is like I stated in the other thread repeat to yourself this is a concept car not production. There are still many elements here that would never make production. Now there are some that will and will hint at the future and that is what we need to figure out now.
Also keep in mind even if this was a real car they would also consider a coupe and a 4 door convertible of this car.
I see this car still as a A&S advanced design and it has elements that I like and some I don’t but many of them would not make production anyways.
They are trying things here to test your reaction. This is not the CT8 so do not get too crazy here over this car.
Also keep in mind this was made for a global market not just to be shown here. The hatch back is more for a Euro customer than American.
It will be what the real public reaction will be and to see how they respond to it as they will be the ones targeted with this car globally. At this point I am not sure how that will go but they have accepted some really crazy designs of late like the Jeep Cherokee.
I have always been a A7 fan but I still need to see this in person to get the real feel of this car.
A quick look around I have seen a mix of feeling on this car. Most do not hate or love and many like parts of it.
I have seen it accused of being a Audi. Lexus, Jag, Aston and a Cadillac. One guy who is a Lincoln fan wished the new Continental had looked like this.
Everyone seems to have a opinion on this looking like something else but it is all over the board.
Even the sloping back roof hints at Tesla too with the hatch.
Again I am not going to say wow or yuk till I see the thing in person.
I really do not see a hatch making it to production nor the headlamps. The hard top could but that would really be a long shot as I do not think the Omega could support that. So this means a new platform would have to be secured.
Now I think the interior is a better scope of where the interiors will go. This is closer to production than any show car they have done so far.
And therein lies the problem: With the Ciel and Emiraj, you got pure Cadillac. Nothing else comes to mind. The fact that we’re even getting whiffs of other automakers is a problem. Say what you will about Art and Science now, but you couldn’t mistake it for anything else on the road.
The Ciel was top notch, but the El, IMO, was always non-production ready and looked more concept the more U looked at it. This is gorgeous.. except the front end needs to take back the current headlight design and completely frame the grille. The interior is to die for.. and it would be awesome if Cadillac offered a fabric blend like this in everything including the lower offerings.
Ciel and Elmiraj are light-years ahead of this. Although Escala is a very good name, its design is too German for me.
No ciel and elmiraj is not. I like these escala, I like it a whole lot scott 3.
Ugh. Diluted and homogenized for the Chinese market. It doesn’t scream ‘Cadillac’ by any stretch of the imagination. Please let this design be an evolutionary dead-end.
Yes is does say Cadillac of the future, global Cadillac of the future. Were not talking about Cadillac of these 1930’s that will be sold in one corner part of the world, it will be sold all over the world. Yes Cadillac will have electric drivetrains on these models.
I love it. The only place I see anything outside the realm of Cadillac is the headlight design and integration. I could easily see the current headlight design being put in its place with little effort. The body design in still A&S but with a nice bit of Elmiraj flare. Personally I prefer it over the El, except for the headlights and the lack of framing above the grill where the hood meets. and these tail lights absolutely blow the El away.
Here in Spain this Escala Concept likes so much ” looks like the BMW 7 Series but good finished and more sophisticated ”
In the interior, Cadillac expands a lesson of luxury and elegance.
In Spanish like her name; Escala ” Bravo Cadillac; muy bien hecho, es un bonito lenguaje de coches con verdadero lujo “
This is awesome.
In my opinion, I love the car!!! It still very much reminds me of a Cadillac. The only sad part about it is, that Cadillac is truely the only American Luxury Brand. I feel like GM is the only one who is really trying to take luxury seriously, and that’s disappointing. I can’t wait to see what they have in store for Cadillac.
Produce it! Produce it right now and rush it to the dealerships and market is as the CT7 and sell the hell out of it at $68,000 MSRP.
A car like that would start at $100,000. No exceptions, as a CT7 would not be something for the mass market.
Why are flagships becoming four door coupes….im not a fan of coupe like cars.
Looks like a German luxury car.
Imitating better selling / higher prestige brands has worked well for the Koreans, but I thought Cadillac was going to “Dare Greatly”?
I don’t like the sloping rear roof.
I personally love it. They took some of the styling I liked about the Elmiraj and created something fresh. Looks American and a little European too which I love. It’s why I prefer the 55 & 56 Chevrolet Bel Air’s over the more blingy finned 57. The 55/56’s looked clean & classy (European) with a strong hint of American attitude. I always preferred the clean, classy and sophisticated styling of the 30’s & 40’s Cadillac’s over the blingy finned 50’s Cadillac’s as well. That big pink finned Cadillac always attributed to Elvis just looked gaudy and rather tacky.
Art’s & Science to me only looked good in ‘muscle car’ trim (V-Series). But I’d have to be buying it to be buying a race car, not a daily ride. And really, I’d prefer a Chevrolet race car anyway. Aside from that, A&S was too sharp edged and just never appealed to my eye. I much prefer this styling direction… I hope Chevrolet follows suit on some of their stuff too. I forgot to add my favorite part, the interior! Gorgeous…
Looks like a 4 door Elmiraj , a lot of hype but a bit disappointed . The front end seems unfinished compared to their latest concepts . There are many sharp edges to the greenhouse’ C-pillar and taillamp design which I like ; but not the horizontal part of the taillight .
I thought the whole point of the new shifters in GM cars were to gain space but the console in the concept is old school . It’s a decent design but doesn’t follow their new trend .
This may be our first look at the direction JDN is taking Cadillac . I hope the plain / uncolored crest on the grill doesn’t make it to production though . Getting rid of the wreath was fine but that crest needs color , even Buick changed their emblem with color now and looks much better .
everything else look sexy and fantastic but the roofline and four door coupe profile is awful.
If they put it on the shelf like the Avista, Ciel, …..will be a total disappointment. Please spare me with garbage it sets the styling tone for future models. We know what that means.
Absolutely gorgeous car. Don’t have an issue with resemblance to A7. That is one of the sharpest looking vehicles currently built!
If this follows the Avista, Ciel, Elmiraj..total waste! Spare me the argument it will set the styling tone for the future. We’ve been down that road!
Absolutely gorgeous car–must be built as is. No problem with resemblance to A7–one of nicest looking cars currently built.
Ciel was no production car, were going to pay $65,000-$70,000 for a buick?
This is a seriously ugly car. The exterior looks like a cross between a Nissan and a Kia, and the interior is just classless. I’ve been fond of much of what Cadillac has done lately, but this is just awful.
Buick called and they want their concept back especially the front end… The front end is a blatant rip off of the Avista… Come on Cadillac…
The cloth mixed in with leather has got to go. It does not belong in a luxury car like this except on the headliner. The concept would be better off with microfiber suede or leather with different coloring which would spruce the interior a lot better.
Cadillac does not need cloth interiors like the 80s and early 90s Cadillacs back in the day.
“And it’s a liftback – AKA a four-door coupe.” Uh, no; pretty sure that makes it a four door HATCHBACK.
So Cadillac made their version of a Audi A7 with much better surface treatment and propotions…YAWN.
Back to the drawing board. This is nice, but it’s not American. Stop Aping Europe, GM.
sloping roofs just look weak and it’s getting old….Ive seen it on so many cars of the past…..I wash they would bring back the real good looking designs of the 1960s-1990s with the more upright rooflines…..enough with this jellybean crap….the modern Caddys just look like bars of soap.
Cadillac is rumored to be looking at a Cadillac Element, Cadillac Soul, and even possibly a Cadillac Aztek to liven up its image with these totally sexy vehicles! Long live the upright boxes–NOT!!!!!!
Just my 2 cents worth , but all it may take is something different to hit the market like the Escala and the new LaCrosse and a few others like the Lincoln to get people to start buying big cars again . Trucks will be the heavy weight in sales as long as gas prices don’t skyrocket so that is baked in for profits . However SUV’s / CUV’s are all starting to look alike now there doesn’t seem to be much more automakers can do as far as their designs .
The designs of these have come full circle , you can load them up with the latest tech but thats about it . And the buying public may just start looking again at cars as they are starting to get bored with SUV’s.
There is a market out there for big cars , I have been looking at getting a winter car and have been checking Autotrader for Cadillac DTS’s from the late 2000’s and not only are they selling fast but even at a relatively high price if you find one in decent condition . Even CPO at dealerships are selling them as fast as they get them . The few I have called on are going to young people that want a big American luxury car with a V-8 .
Big Cadillacs are still wanted and I see this trend continuing in the near future . I hope this concept in some form makes it to production , it’s what Cadillac has always been known for building . I hope JDN keeps his eye on this segment and not just SUV’s.
The seems like the one of the Avista. Cadillaccould do better and the 4.2 V8 hope that it will produce a +500 hp.
Sorry, it’s engine’s hood seems like the one of the Avista
let’s make the Escala a hansom CUV/tall wagon and take the sloping roofline out because the sloping roofline is awful.
I’m really interested in seeing how this looks on the new entry-level model and ATS replacement. I’m also curious to see how the lighting (front assembly) elements progress since they worked hard at creating the ones for the CT6 and they are seemingly going to abandon it altogether. Maybe they’ll combine the two as an evolution to keep Cadillac’s look unique.
Caddys don’t look unique….thay look like boring bars of soap….plus the Esclada looks to much like a Telsla….thats why I don’t like Telsla designs.
I can’t wait to see what the new models look like showcasing this design language, especially the CT1/2/3/4. Which since the CT6 serves as a tweener, this gives them a way to naturally progress the lineup with having to directly replace the current CTS. This also allows them to work on a true S/7/A8 competitor and not rush anything into the market.
If people don’t like this car because it looks “too European” is that a bad thing? Caddy’s are no longer just designed for those of us in the U.S. The Chinese market means just as much, if not more, to the long term success of Cadillac as does the U.S. Market. So if this car can help attract more sales is that not the mission? I also believe that this could be successful if sold in Europe.
Why do the headlights have to be vertical forever? Why can’t he design language evolve? Why do Cadillacs have to have the same tail lights that they have had since the 1950’s? Why can’t the brand evolve to attract more international and buyers and younger ones here at home?
I’m surprised at all the critical comments about the colorless crest. While I love the most recent iteration of the Cadillac badge, I have to say that when you look at one up close it looks like a nice color photo copy that sits behind at glossy plastic cover. It’s better than it was but its still not as elegant or efined as it needs to be to serious challenge Benz and BMW.
The colorless badge is already on some of the cars on the side of them. I’d love to see an actual brushed aluminum badge on the front of future Caddy’s, especially attached to that sexy new grill that reminds me of an Audi RS grill, sans the chrome and to me that’s a good thing.
Cadillacs are not selling well in the states currently despite how good they are as driving machines. Is this not evidence that the brand needs to do something to shake things up and get new customers in the stores?
This car is bold, beautiful and we know its goning to be an incredible driving machine. I hope they build it and fully open the door to the future without being held hostage by the past.
I’d say yes. For what Cadillac represents, they are not just another luxury performance player, they are OUR luxury performance player. Cadillac is for all intents and purposes THE American flagship luxury brand. Cadillac already gets accused of being an American trying to fit in with the Germans so going for a more European look will hurt Cadillac more than help.
Exactly! We have enough European luxury brands. If I’m buying a Cadillac it’s because I want an American luxury car. That means it has to be enormous, flamboyant and powerful. It has to look American, sound American and feel American. Otherwise I can buy an Audi or a BMW or a Mercedes. Cadillac has to be special… it has to be American.
(Full disclosure: I’m British. We love American cars too!)
Overall the car looks nice but the dashboard is pretty gay. I hope they fix that problem.
How can a dash board have a sexual preference?
Gay can also mean happy but in this case I mean lame. Oh but wait, we can’t use the word lame because some people are lame so that wouldn’t be pc.
gay
—adjective, gay·er, gay·est.
of, relating to, or exhibiting sexual desire or behavior directed toward a person or persons of one’s own sex; homosexual: a gay couple. Antonyms: straight.
of, indicating, or supporting homosexual interests or issues: a gay organization.
Slang: Often Disparaging and Offensive. awkward, stupid, or bad; lame: This game is boring and really, really gay.
Slang. inappropriately forward or bold; overly familiar; reckless: George got gay at the Christmas party and suddenly swept his boss’s wife onto the dance floor.
Older Use. having or showing a merry, lively mood: gay spirits; gay music.
Older Use. bright or showy: gay colors; gay ornaments.
Older Use. given to or abounding in social or other pleasures: a gay social season; the Gay Nineties.
I like the dashboard in this concept….its nice and thin and its not one of the ugly, fat dashboards that you bump your knees on when you get in and out…..like in the 2010-2016 Lacrosse.
Cadillac must move the car to street; is a sure victory.
Is the most real, most actual and most refined design of all Cadillacs today, the perfect luxury car of today`s man
Get rid of the horizontal portion of the headlights, tone down the horizontal portion of the tail lights and get rid of the hatchback and you have a winner in my eyes. I like the thin vertical headlight on the elmirajh. With today’s technology in lighting I think you could make them need The DOT standards.
Anyone knows the deminsions of this vehicle. I read it was 6 inches longer than the CT6 but did they increase the wheelbase?
If you chop the top off then you have an updated Cadillac Ciel.
This is a cood looking car. I strongly believe that this was the CT8 prototype before the program got cancelled.
I don’t think the production model would’ve looked this crisp.
The interior is this cars only flaw.
The “Tuxedo” theme doesn’t work. But then again
Absolutely beautiful..bold yet elegant..Build it.