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2021 Cadillac Escalade Diesel To Be Called ‘600D’

The 2021 Cadillac Escalade will be offered with a 3.0L LM2 inline-six turbodiesel engine, which will be a no-cost option in place of the standard 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine that will be found in the full-size luxury SUV.

GM Authority can exclusively report that the diesel-powered 2021 Cadillac Escalade will receive a ‘600D’ badge, in line with the automaker’s new naming convention.

Under the recently introduced nomenclature, all Cadillac models receive a numbered badge that is representative of the engine’s torque output measured in newton-meters and rounded to the nearest 50. The 3.0L LM2 diesel is rated at 460 pound-feet of torque – equivalent to 623 newton-meters, or 600 when rounded down. The ‘D’ signifies the presence of a diesel engine, obviously, with turbocharged gasoline models using a ‘T’ instead. The diesel engine produces 277 horsepower in the Escalade.

Additionally, we can confirm that Escalade models equipped with the standard 6.2L V8 engine will receive a ‘600’ badge. The V8 engine is gas-powered and naturally aspirated, so it receives neither a ‘D’ or a ‘T’ as a suffix for the ‘600’. The 6.2L V8 is good for 420 horsepower and has the same torque output as the diesel at 460 pound-feet, or 623 newton-meters.

Cadillac introduced this torque-based naming scheme to as part of its slow transition to electric powertrains. Torque ratings can be applied to both electric motors and internal combustion engines, so this naming convention will be relevant whether the vehicle in question is gas, diesel, or electric.

Diesel examples of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade are expected to arrive after the gasoline models. Production of the diesel models is expected to ramp up about three months after the Start of Regular Production (SORP) for the gasoline models, which will begin rolling off the line at GM’s Arlington Assembly plant in Texas sometime this month.

Pricing for the regular 2021 Cadillac Escalade will start at $77,490 in the United States including destination, while the extended-wheelbase Escalade ESV will be priced from $80,490.

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This story was written in collaboration with our sister site, Cadillac Society.

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Sam loves to write and has a passion for auto racing, karting and performance driving of all types.

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Comments

  1. Still think that using Nm is dumb but 600D sounds nice. I appreciate they just simply did D for Diesel instead of TD or TDI or whatever for turbodiesel. Some other brands’ badges start to look pretty alphabet soupy and this is slightly cleaner. Suppose you could still argue that Cadillac Escalade Premium Luxury 600D is still pretty wordy but at least it’s not too bad on the alphanumeric.

    Reply
  2. Hairdryer and some arm strength fixes this quickly.

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    1. I’m taking the 350T off my CT5 as soon as it arrives. Stupid naming scheme.

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    2. True story.

      My mom was looking around our local caddy dealership while waiting for service, and she noticed the number on the back of the new XT5. She asks me “what does the number mean? how come my car (17 XT5) doesn’t have one?” I said “it’s something to do with the amount of torque the car makes in newton meters. I think it’s kinda stupid to be honest.” and she goes “what does that mean?”

      Most people absolutely do not car about the stupid little number! I’d take it off too!

      Reply
  3. Idk. To me, there comes a point when it starts to sound like a communist nations copy. Type 1, Type 2, etc. It gets unimaginative and unimportant.

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  4. 600D…sounds like a Mercedes. 🙂

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  5. Cadillacs days are numbered. Its been pocked and prodded on so much by so many different executives of GM that its a shell of what it once was. Its like Michael Jacksons nose, every bad surgery lead to another surgery to fix it. Then that one had to be fixed and so on to the point its a lost cause. The new naming scheme is a joke. The products aren’t selling for crap and now they have to ruin the one good product they had. Hopefully it can be saved soon

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    1. *sigh* did you look up their numbers? They’re not in any more trouble now that they’ve been in for the last 6 years. All their SUV’s sell rather well all things considered. **EDIT** Actually I take it back, they had a record setting sales year in 2019. They’re doing well in terms of sales. 390458 vehicles worldwide.

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    2. And how is the newest Escalade ruined? From a badge? Go spout your nonsense somewhere else.

      New, clean modern design. Incredible interior with leading edge electronics. Available Supercruise. Yes, Escalade is ruined.

      Reply
  6. Well, it’s not a Silverado so I guess you can’t slap a ‘6.2L’ on the hood.

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  7. Escalade is the best suv on the market. Someone posting is jealous. The new Escalade is absolutely beautiful and has set the bar for all others to match. Anyone saying Cadillac is not doing well, or days numbered is obviously not informed. Cadillac is the best out there. Period! Just save some more money and buy one yourself. Then you will see.

    Reply

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