Earlier this year, Cadillac released an advertisement called ‘No Barriers’ (available below) that showcased the entire Cadillac product lineup. Like other recent Cadillac ads, ‘No Barriers’ represented a radical departure from Cadillac’s old ‘Dare Greatly’ ads, but that wasn’t the only notable part about this minute-long spot.
At one point in the clip, a mysterious headlight design is pictured briefly on screen. We weren’t entirely sure what vehicle the headlight belonged to at first, so naturally, we did some digging.
As it turns out, the headlight pictured was a close-up view of the front headlight on the current-generation Cadillac Escalade. The shape of the housing appears to rise at a steep angle towards the outer edge, which isn’t how the headlamp cluster appears when looking at it head-on. It seems the shot of the headlight in the commercial was taken from an overhead angle, making it appear very different than the view one typically has. Our own photo of the 2020 Cadillac Escalade headlight taken from this angle can be seen above and below.
Interestingly, this ad includes both the previous fourth-generation Escalade along with the overhauled 2021 Cadillac Escalade. Because the ad was released earlier in the year, General Motors likely wanted to promote both the fourth-generation model, which was still on sale at the time (and remaining inventory remains on sale today) as well as the upcoming 2021 model that will launch later this year.
2020 Cadillac Escalade
In addition to its all-new exterior styling, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade also features a new interior with a 38-inch curved OLED display, a new T1 platform with independent rear suspension and an available 3.0L LM2 diesel engine, among other improvements and enhancements. As we reported exclusively a week ago, the new Escalade will start at $76,195, before adding a destination freight charge of $1,295.
All-new 2021 Cadillac Escalade
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This story was written in collaboration with our sister site, Cadillac Society.
Comments
If they were truly serious about challenging the rest every model would have a V variant! Not to mention they need to offer more accessories like the big three.
Disappointing to see the prestigious new Escalade in such a weak commercial. The upcoming V Blackwing models should be advertised better. Hopefully they don’t make some weak sauce ads for them.
The outgoing model’s exterior looks better than its bland replacement. I know the the independent rear suspension and the cool interior of the new model is an improvement but surprised it looks so generic on the outside, especially the new headlights. It’s always one step forward, one step back with GM designers.
I’m not sure about better. The thing is, the Escalade is usually distinctive along with distinguishing. I get they were going for button up, but the Yukon Denali’s front nails it better than the Escalade.
I have to totally agree. Looking at the photos in the article, above-
Looking at the 2020 black one with the 2021 white one underneath…
..I can’t believe how much better the older one looks, in my opinion.
If you think about it, the current generation Escalate was introduced in 2014.
And here we are, about six years later, and the older one still looks cooler/bolder/slicker in my opinion.
What a shame!
I look at those two photos again and again, and I’d take that 2020 in a heartbeat.
So disappointing.
I went on the waiting list with my dealer two months ago. I actually pulled myself off. I have to see one in person first. I am hoping it looks better in person.
After six caddies, my wife is trying to convince me that the time has come to look at Lincoln; Genesis; etc.
I think she’s right.
I like the”20″ front end more then the unfinished grill,lights.Boring.Looks like a utility suv.
Cadillac has a lot of nerve to tout headlights on the Escalade. They have too big of a problem on the 2011 to 2016 SRX’s that they try to ignore. Thousands of SRX owners can’t drive their cars after dark and the company try’s to ignore it.
Hopefully it looks better in person, cause unlike the interior the exterior is a big let down. Don’t get me wrong it works on the XT6, but looks just dreadful as an Escalade.
The Escalade still looks like a Deluxe version of the Suburban.
Well wouldn’t it? That’s what it is. That’s all it is.
According to General Motors CEO Mary Barra, Cadillac will have an entire new fleet of electric vehicles in 7-10 years meaning the shape and appearance of the headlights of an existing Cadillac won’t mean very much.
Just look at GM
It’s totally sad
They’re stuck in neutral
Not making cars and models that people really want
Corvette can’t save them
EVs won’t save them either – because they will end up making them with lackluster performance that no one will want
Plus given all the stuff going on with China they really need to pull out of China too
We don’t need to be funding China’s standard of living
Yeah, you already said that in the “GM Stock Drops 2 Percent” article.
Trolls trying to turn this site into another GMinsidelosers.com whining about cars they can’t have, lol..
Many posters here have legitimate grievances with how the company is being ran. So no point in calling them trolls because they don’t accept what is being thrown at them. Besides every car site is full of people who can’t afford the cars they complain about.
No, but crying until the point that no GM news from insiders will appear anymore is triedsome. That’s what happened at that other site and full of Ford trolls also, guess what?, Ford killed their cars and loss $billions thinking everyone wants off-road Boy Scout machines.
I do time to time talk about what GM can do and humorously troll certain vehicles but it’s mostly constructive criticism not phoney azz “tough love” as GM went BK as the #1 carmaker so it can’t be because they didn’t sell a certain vehicle. If it’s a legitimate beef ok but as a Chrysler icon once said “if you find a better car, buy it” .
Hey, I am genuinely interested in the new Bronco, if that’s what you mean by “off-road Boy Scout machines”.
I can’t really think of anything GM is working on that looks nearly as interesting.
If you’re talking about crossovers, then yeah I have zero interest in front wheel drive station wagons, and I have a feeling that the population in general is going to shift away from those just after the car companies have all decided that’s all they need to produce.
Good for you again buy it, nobody busting down doors for the 4Runner, Gladiator, etc. yet Cherokee, Explorer, Traverse, Highlander etc. is the new “mid-size sedan”. Unless it’s a full-size a BOF off-roader is a niche market with few buyers.
I agree, Nate. I think the cool factor for SUVCUVs of the variety you describe is nearing its end. Originally they were the go-anywhere vehicles piloted by young adventurous males which gave them an appeal to everyone who wished they spent their lives rock climbing and mountain biking.
The wannabe types began to buy them and ask for more comfort and the automakers responded moving them a bit away from the original demographic. Then mothers everywhere started snapping them up; trading in their frumpy minivan for a “sporty” SUV that still had room for the brood. The automakers further evolved them to be more comfort focused. Now they’ve become ubiquitous. The Pathfinder, one of the grandaddies of the genre, became the Mallfinder. It couldn’t climb a mountain ito save its sheetmetal. Now I, and I think most people, no longer associate an SUV with anything remotely cool. Rather it’s a modern station wagon and the vehicle of choice for Ruebenesque women with a row of stick figures pasted across the back glass.
The Bronco has the ability to reignite some of the original appeal along with the Wrangler which has been the keeper-of-the-flame. SUVs more broadly though I think will begin to lose their appeal. Maybe stylish cars make a comeback or maybe it’s something else entirely but I too see the popularity of SUVs beginning to wane in the future; just in time for GM to go all-in on the category.
Looks to me like and add for the next matrix movie
Yea a woke matrix movie.
Darn. I was thinking we had the headlight from some future Electrolac. Maybe the Lyriq, Cellistiq, Fantastiq, Realistiq, or whatever they’ll all be called.
Lol, downvotes because they don’t want their precious car company made fun of when it does stupid things.
I own a Cruze, and I still think that is a really stupid name for a car.
Not as bad as Hummer. Nothing is worse than that, but it won’t stop people from buying it.