Design For Cadillac Escala Sedan Said To Be Inspired By Watches
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Back in March of this year, former Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen further confirmed the birth of a new halo vehicle that will “stun the world”. Rather than wearing an alphanumeric nameplate, this sedan will reportedly be called the “Escala,” the same names as the Cadillac Escala Concept that was revealed at the 2016 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. It is said to represent “the next evolution of Cadillac design” while also previewing the workmanship and technology that is being developed for future vehicles.
Just as watchmakers create pieces that were inspired by automobiles, the automotive industry borrows ideas from the watch world. Such is true for the Cadillac Escala concept, which features an eloquent design and quality make that are drawn from the watch industry, says Robb Report. There is certainly much to be said about how the appearance of the Escala’s interior and exterior were influenced by premium timepieces.
Cadillac’s executive director of global design, Andrew Smith, can often be seen sporting a vintage Heuer Camaro among a number of other collectible watches.
The exterior features a wide array of metallic accents that indicates horological trends and also draw a direct link to watches themselves. The sophisticated fascia includes a black grille has a faint bronze finish to better reflect light and also show off the many three-dimensional, V-shaped design elements of the front end. Laetitia Lopez, a creative designed in Cadillac’s color and trim department, explained in the luxury magazine’s feature that these finishes are ones you’d find on quality watches.
Moving on to the inside, Cadillac designers drew inspiration for the interior elements from horologists’ finishing methods. The small knobs are accented with delicate contrasting finishes that are often seen on movement plates. Cadillac’s website describes the Escala interior as having “overt luxury” and “covert technology.” The hand-finished artistry is much to be appreciated, as is the technology itself.
Although the Cadillac Escala concept is a little over two years old, the vehicle continues to excite enthusiasts as a symbol of what’s to come, and ranks as one of the best-looking Cadillac concept cars to date. Spanish for “scale,” the Escala will certainly make an entrance when it is born and tip the scales a bit in the luxury sedan industry.
Stay tuned to GM Authority for more Escala news.
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Cadillac and fine watches teaming up to promote their luxury brand with little accents. . . Where have we seen that before?
Ahh yes . . . Bulgari and XLR! (Even the Bulgari logo was included in a radial pattern around the speedometer.) We know how that turned out. . .
This is the car they need to build stop building a model never change
I hope this makes it into production soon to give Audi, BMW, and Mercedes a real run for their money. This concept car looks really stunning and away from the hard edge Art and Science theme.
Agreed. THe problem is that GM is essentially killing the Alpha platform in the US
All of this means nothing if the car is not slated for production. Where is this car scheduled to be built. The watch he, and Cadillac should be pairing with is the Shinola. It is made in Detroit, in the Argonaut building, which, as you know, was once owned by GM. Good heritage thing, not some foreign made watch. But, as usual, Cadillac, and GM are clueless….
Beautiful car but it no longer fits into the Chevillac business model.
No offense but they said the same thing about the miserable XTS*.
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*Yes, X T S, not a typo.
I lost hope in Cadillac bringing some of their stunning concept into production. Apparently they are satisfied with regular cars with beige interior
The concept is probably the CT8/Escala in thin disguise. CT6 (as much as I like it) couldn’t match the Escala in design.
They aren’t making this design, look at the wasted interior space with the width of those doors. Interior space would be small for such a huge boat.
I want to see the option for that cloth interior.
Driving Cadillac straight into the crapper.
When the bean counters influence—Timex!
Meaningless if GM can’t even find justification to keep building their latest sedan, the CT6. Why even show this if there is no market for it in the US (according to GM execs)?
Here is one more of many post that do not take everything into context.
The CT 6 was a vehicle built under Mark Ruess between Cadillac directors. It lack vision and the ever changing minds and leaders at Cadillac. It just never fit in due to leadership.
Today we see them following JDN’s plans for a nearly same size CT5 and a Larger Escala. I think at the time Mark had planned to eliminate the CTS with the CT6. It made no sense for two similar size cars.
Then JDN came in and was saddled with this car but found he could place the larger Escala on the Omega. While the CT 6 in the eyes of GM was a Flagship JDN knew better.
The sizes are matching up right from the ajDN plan but will GM let the execution of the model be to JDN’s plans?
To sit here and puss an moan over the CT6 and XTS is pathetic. They were not right and they are gone.
Wisdom is to wait for the 5 and Escala then debate if they are right. Judging a known quality is the only intelligent thing to do. Also putting it in context with the present day market too.
They may both be hits or flops but I will only judge them upon arrival. I wish others would choose to do the same.
Also the cars are not going to make or break Cadillac as the CUV/SUV models will carry the volume load. That is predetermined already by the market.
Also we should just look for Cadillac to make improvements. It will take time to earn the image back. Each vehicle will be a step back as there is no one car to the top.
The key to the future is more what we on the outside do not know than what we think we know.
“Also we should just look for Cadillac to make improvements. It will take time to earn the image back.”
We have been waiting 20 years of promises, turnaround after turnaround, and it’s been nothing but downhill in terms of sales.
Sometimes the bus never comes…
And sometimes thing change when you least expect it.
Just look at Baker Mayfield and the Cleveland Browns.
Th e bottom line at least wait till they fail before you piss and moan on what you are yet to see. If they fail when it arrives then have at it.
Seriously?!
But Scott – you were a proponent of ‘give JdN’s master plan time to work’ effort.
True, he didn’t help himself by losing the dealer council early-on (because he spoke the truth about too many dealers and a non-luxe dealership experience.
He didn’t improve Cadillac’s interiors (an ‘easier’ stopgap than retooling for new models).
He didn’t get an SUV/CUV out. Or a statement vehicle.
By then, he lost the RenCen locker room (of which Aztek Mark is a member).
Remember? JdN’s 5-10 year ‘fix it’ time frame?
Now people are supposed to wait again?
The Escala is arguably the automotive Baker Mayfield/Patrick Mahomes/Saquon Barkley –
Change won’t come without dumping a 3-32 coach for one who’s already 4-2 (to use your Browns analogy). Reuss isn’t the answer. Cadillac Steve from the Great White North? No.
GM board? Sorry.
I think a lot of us want Cadillac to succeed – but time (and more time) hasn’t solved the problem.
At the rate things are going, there’ll be no need for Buick in the US – Cadillac can just slide down and take their place.
Before we get unhinged we need to see just what these cars are and how close or far they end up from the JDN plan.
They fail then then it is open game with with real info.
Never said Ruess was the answer. He could not get what he wanted for the CT6 and lost his outsider JDN.
I know you didn’t say Reuss was the answer. But when even a guy with that much pull @ GM can’t get what he wants, it’s a little disturbing.
Sorry the Browns didn’t make the playoffs, btw. (Seriously). Many people love a good comeback story – whether Cadillac falls into that category remains to be seen.
What it comes down to is at least let them fail on the new products before you fail them on what we have yet to see.
You have been a regular here and you too have seen the level of knowledge decline here or post that just turn into a political fight.
I’ve been waiting for Cadillac to turn itself around for my ENTIRE adult life. I truly believed the 1999 Evoq (XLR) concept was the start of the renaissance as a kid. Caddy has never committed to a product plan and kept the portfolio fresh. Exhausting.
lacked….piss and moan… just a mess of a post in general… Apropos, actually, since we are talking GM and more specifically Cadillac.
pity
But let’s look at the last sentence..
“The key to the future is more what we on the outside do not know than what we think we know.”
Odd, since consumers generally buy the cars and their ‘votes’ (purchases) show us what they think.
and it is not encouraging… Watching Cadillac flounder and guess at market directions after the fact is not easy to watch…
^^^This! All this.
‘Also we should just look for Cadillac to make improvements. It will take time to earn the image back. Each vehicle will be a step back as there is no one car to the top.’
Do you have any clue as to the damage of brand perception that is caused by killing off the CT6!!!??? Finally a full size sedan on a brand new platform is put in the lineup and it’s killed after a 3.5 year model run!!??. At the very least, keep it in the NA market by importing it from China. I’m the biggest GM/Cadillac fan but threw my hands up after this latest round. Somehow I keep checking back in hoping that something will change.
Other brands are updating or introducing new models – Even little ol’ Mazda has a new 3 in the wings but yet GM kills the Cruze – that serve to remain relevant in various segments yet GM is making Cadillac a niche brand. They’re going the route of Infiniti and Acura; brands that rely on CUV sales.
Dare Greatly! Pfft, Yeah right!
I agree w/ you on the CT6 but Cadillac will have more models coming out particularly the EV and hybrid models. Cadillac may not be too niche like you think but they are not going to compete in every segment from BMW and Mercedes currently at.
Cadillac is a storied American brand with a loyal but ever shrinking customer base. Moving production of their “flagship” to China would have brought them an even larger amount of negative press, alienated many GM customers, and Cadillac would forever be viewed as damaged goods in the eyes of many.
I don’t like the move, but the XTS was due to die and there’s a chance people might forget about the CT6 if the new cars are really good. (We’ll see.)
If Cadillac is smart they’ll let this story die down, launch the new cars with Barra and Reuss nowhere in sight, spend big on advertising and shoring up their image, then tell people about timelines being moved up, hint of bigger and better cars being right around the corner, and DELIVER.
The CT6’s SWB is no longer relevant since the competition have moved on and now have LWB models standard here in the States.
Although the CT6 may not be the very best in any category, mostly interior design, quality, luxury and features, it is better to have the CT6 as an interim flagship than not having a flagship at all which halfway gives Cadillac that image.
Economically, it does not make sense to build separate CT6s from Detroit and China for a low volume car where the demand is not there but there is no valid reason GM can import the car from China. The car can be imported till the end of the life cycle and Escala replaces it from there.
IMO, I believe the Escala will be a hatchback w/ EV motors.
Save for initially the lack of a V8, the CT6 didn’t lack in the features or quality department. Those are the unfounded default nitpicks people resort to. All reviews of the materials’ quality gave high marks but criticized the multiple variety presented and the lack of a cohesive design in the interior.
Save for the S Class being the sales winner in this segment, in of itself this is not a high volume segment to begin with. Yet the CT6 eventually became second best selling vehicle in the segment.
What an embarrassment when considering that Lexus introduces a new LS, Audi with its A8, S Class getting an update and 7 Series still in the mix.
Seriously?
The CT6 lacked soft-closed doors, motorized rear-window sunshades, motorized leg extenders/headrests , air suspension and several interior color options among other things like reconfigurable lighting that changes color or have a set color hue for the interior for night driving. These are the things that a proper flagship should not lack.
The new LS can not touch the CT6, inspite of the CT6’s flaws. The CT6 is still a very good to excellent car.
What you mention is bells and whistles aka gadget overkill; not real luxury features. No need for an air suspension when it came with GM’s highly praised magnetic ride control suspension. BMW was criticized for bells and whistles overkill aka gimmickry when the new 7 series was introduced. Someone mentioned a scent atomizer as well. That’s real luxury!!??
As well, the CT6 had advanced features not readily tactile or visible that competitors didn’t: the lightest platform in the segment, night vision feature, real time digital rear view camera/mirror,….
Gary, agreed with much of what you said. This past week had my 2017 CT6 Platinum appraised for trade in on a BMW. The appraiser had never seen a rear camera mirror and just couldn’t say enough positive comments about it.
When I bought my CT6 Platinum only black and beige where offered for interior colors. I believe BMW offers 5 different standard colors and some additional options for a different type of upholstery at extra charge. There were also 4 no charge dash trim options and I believe 2 additional for a charge. This is an area where Cadillac always lags.
Land Rover, BMW, Mercedes and Audi offer air suspension, soft-closed doors, motorized rear-door sunshades and motorized leg extenders/headrests which is the norm for the flagship class. I don’t call that gimmicky. The Aviator have some of these features the CT6 should have for the upper trim models.
Scent atomizer is more of a fad that could go away, not needed.
In your last paragraph, I’m well aware of the CT6 being the benchmark and have features that are first in the segment but that is not enough if Cadillac is a challenger brand to the stiff competition that is already well established for this limited market.
Looks like a copy of the Lexus 2018 LS 500 oh yeah I thought they laid off people because they working to build anymore sedans???
We’ll never see it unless you go to China. Remember, Cadillac is discontinuing building sedans in the US. All will be gone by 2020; just stupid SUVs will be left.
It would be stupid to build such a large sedan with the inadequate rear headroom Escala appears to have and their existing sedans do have. It needs to be both chauffeur- and owner-driven. They’d be better off making a RWD CUV that’s lower and narrower than Escalade, and shorter than the ESV.
If the CT6’s Omega assembly line is dead, isn’t this car?
I don’t know what people are looking for we are in a 2018 XT5 -great design in and out – fit and finish perfect – great mileage and performance start /stop works flawlessly – but option packages are poor . I guess some people standards are lower
” O ” You just wait, it will be GREAT.
Well let’s see. We still own a 2004 CTS in storage.
Wait this new ATS will be great. You just wait. Our 2014 2.0T NOT great. NOT great.,
Wait this new XT4 will be great. You just wait. Test drove XT4, NOT great. NOT great.
Wait this new CT4 will be great.
Wait this new CT5 will be great.
Wait this new XT6 will be great.
Just like the GM-Cadillac we all have come to know. We will WAIT, and WAIT, and WAIT. When we are done waiting.
We will get a great looking Chevrolet with a BLAH interior combined with minimal standard options for Mercedes price. When GM-Cadillac can’t sell the product, GM-Cadillac will cut-and-run and move on to the. WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, the next thing will be great .
Every cycle of the WAIT, WAIT, WAIT, then BLAH, GM-Cadillac looses a few more former loyal buyers to the competition.
Us former loyal GM-Cadillac buyers will have a very, very hard time returning because now GM-Cadillac will have to offer something even better then they could not offer just to keep us in the first place.
SAD.
Hate to break it to you old guys but the entire luxury market will be full electric in 5 to 7 years. That’s what people with money want because that’s what impresses people in that segment of the market.
Two of my friends just bought new cars. A CLS 63 AMG and a Tesla Model X 100D. The Tesla guy did a demo of the Falcon doors and they went for a ride. The guy with the AMG commented that he bought the wrong car. Nobody even looked at the CLS.
In the American market, Tesla are currently outselling 18 of the 28 brands sold and they’re just getting started. Tesla’s valuation is 12 B higher than GM.
If GM followed many of the advise on these posts, they would be out of business permanently in 3-4 years.
I am 50 and I AGREE 100% with you. In my opinion if Cadillac made this Escala 100% electric it would be great. But GM-Cadillac just doesn’t know how. GM-Cadillac still think they are going to bring the new talented tech needed to make the new great vehicles to Warren. I could never figure out how or why people were hard on Elon when he is just starting but like I said before you wait until he is making vehicles for 100 years.
Ha! Electric is freaking awesome! Instant speed! Fanboys haven’t a clue. Sad really.
First of all, I would like to say that I’m not a Tesla fanboy but I have driven them and they’re like nothing else on the road. I have a track car and two hot rods and will eventually add a full electric.
A few facts. The CT6 is being discontinued because the program is uneconomic. Despite the car having some strong points, it’s a sales failure.
This thread has several references to the MB S Class, the 7 series, Audi A8, Lexus LS… which is defined in Europe as the S segment of the Luxury car market. In the US that segment has been ABSOLUTELY DECIMATED by the Tesla Model S with over 50% of total market share. Why do you think the boardrooms in Germany were described as being in a state of panic?
This should give some of you non-believers food for thought and a good hint to where this market is going…
Hey youngster, I will not be impressed in the slightest when I take a 400 mile trip and have to strategize where I can charge my impressive TOY! Until the charging stations are as convenient as gas stations, the rich boys can impress their neighbors! I for one am not impressed! Setting up charging stations should also not be a public expense but funded by the users and manufacturers. Pay for your play toys kids!
I’m not quite sure why the public should not have to subsidize charging stations after all the government tax dollars subsidizing oil and the farming industries. But I will say it again for the old guys, remember when you had to walk to get supplies – then you rode horses – then those no good automobiles. Gasoline ” that’s going to kill us all” its just not safe. Electricity ” that’s going to kill us all ” its just not safe. These new fangled electric vehicles ” that will never work”. Martin what was your impressive toy back in the day. Don’t you worry we will pay for our toys just fine, you just keep playing with your old ones, but if your living on old toy stocks or old toy business supplies, be prepared.
Drain the swamp!—the only folks buying electric vehicles are wealthy. Why should the middle class pay for the infrastructure? They don’t buy electrics!
The US govt doesn’t subsidize gas station owners as far as I know. Shouldn’t subsidize electric infrastructure either. Most of electric car owners have gotten local tax credits and federal tax credits upfront. Just like the wealthy who live on the beach with the house getting washed away by hurricanes every couple of years! Why not? They have federal insurance that pays for rebuilds and is subsided by the taxpayers. My gosh, let the wealthy pay their own, market rate costs. After all, they received the largest portion of the recent tax cut!
Idiot repeating slogans. The money from the lower classes was given to the rich. Still support the conman?
They cant make enough batteries with current tech to replace ICE vehicles, electric is a dead end until a new better battery tech with less restrictive components and failure modes come, and those are 50 years away.
When the most populated country in the world and the manufacturing center of the world run by a Chinese Communist Dictatorship decides where the market goes, SH!T HAPPENS COME HELL OR HIGH WATER.
ANYONE WHO RESISTS, IT WILL BE RAMMED UP YOUR BACKSIDE AND YOU WILL SMILE DURING THE PROCESS.
Seek help.
Seems odd to me that ‘gas stations’ aren’t repositioning themselves as ‘energy stations’ … be it petroleum, or high-speed electric, or hydrogen (if it comes to that) …
Gas stations were created by Standard Oil, etc, not by Ford or GM … I know Musk has created a network of hi-speed charging facilities, but it still seems odd that -so far- it’s up to manufacturers to become energy providers.
Then again, maybe it’s a revenue source that would benefit GM.
Musk has lived off the backs of the American taxpayers and never produced a profit. His company is crap for a reason.
Then again, Miss Mary Barra isn’t doing too hot these days either.
Maybe it’s just an American thing. The American auto industry only did well when it had no competition. Cadillac was the standard of the world when the European factories were still in ruin or being re-built. There really is very little left with the remaining two a mere shadow of their former self.
Cadillac isnt building anything like this. GM has disappointed me too much times.
As part of that new advertising and PR push I mentioned, how about stretching the C7 and reskinning it as a racy four-door with Escala styling cues? Would that not make a killer show car?