GM Designers Show Off Cadillac Escalade Design Sketches
14
Sponsored Links
The arrival of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade heralds an all-new fifth generation for the nameplate, with a ground-up redesign that includes the new GM T1 platform, independent rear suspension, the new 3.0L I6 LM2 turbodiesel Duramax engine option, and the very latest tech features. What’s more, the new Escalade brings with it a brand-new design befitting of the luxury nameplate. Now, we’re getting a look at some of the design sketches behind the SUV’s styling evolution.
Posted to the official General Motors Design Instagram account, @generalmotorsdesign, the sketches were created by Cadillac Exterior Designer Andrew McMillan. The new post includes a variety of Cadillac Escalade design ideas, with emotional lines that urge the luxury SUV in a more futuristic and geometric direction – just like the latest fifth-generation model.
Gauging by these sketches, it’s clear that General Motors wanted to take the new Cadillac Escalade in a bold new direction, with chiseled features that are a clear progression from the preceding model’s aesthetic. The wheels are big and the stance is high, with the Cadillac badge proudly displayed in a shield-like front grille. The window line is also quite low in these concept sketches, giving the Cadillac Escalade design an aggressive appearance.
While the final production version of the 2021 Cadillac Escalade isn’t exactly a carbon copy of the sketches seen here, the inspiration is more than obvious.
As a reminder, the 2021 Cadillac Escalade also comes with an all-new interior design highlighted by a 38-inch curved OLED display mounted on top of the dash. In addition to the optional LM2 diesel engine already mentioned, the latest Escalade comes standard with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87. Both engines pair with the GM Hydra-Matic 10L80 10-speed automatic transmission. Production takes place at the GM Arlington plant in Arlington, Texas.
What do you think of these Cadillac Escalade design sketches? Let us know your thoughts by posting in the comments, and make sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac Escalade news, Cadillac news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.
- Sweepstakes Of The Month: Win a 2023 Corvette Z06 Convertible. Details here.
Sponsored Links
Too bad the side profile is a piece of garbage. Exterior deserves a fail. All this time,. all this money, and this is Mary Bara’s woke best.
They are just early design sketches. It’s really not fair to be quite so critical when you’re obviously not looking at anything close to a final design.
To clarify: I was referring to the final product – not the sketch,.
Well, I hope Mr. McMillan had fun scribbling these Escalade flights of fancy, knowing full well that, except for the front and rear elevations, the side view would still be essentially identical to its GMC and Chevy stablemates. What the Escalade needs, and what it has always needed, is its own exclusive design. Let me repeat that: its own exclusive design.
Flamethrower,
That would cost money which GM’s bean counters would not accept.
Cadillac is really now just a “near-luxury brand” as they don’t produce any true luxury vehicles anymore. The Escalade is merely the Cimarron of today; a thinly disguised Chevrolet albeit a bit better executed. Cadillac has small, medium, and large FWD CUVs that aren’t distinguished from their Chevrolet, Buick or GMC platform mates plus this rebadged Tahoe. Then they have two small sedans that are at least unique but not well executed designs. As I see it, such a barren and mediocre lineup no longer qualifies Cadillac to be seen as a luxury brand. CT6 was a legitimate luxury sedan but it’s dead.
Wow, you’re just begging for down votes. I mostly agree with you though.
In the long term, they will be in even more trouble if they do switch Cadillac over to fully electric. That would eliminate any buyers that aren’t willing to be handicapped by the range and recharge times of an electric.
I don’t see why they can’t offer hybrids or range extenders, but GM isn’t willing to go that route.
In the end, all of this is kind of exciting too, because it’s really hard to say exactly how any of it will play out. Most likely, they’ll continue to lose market share, but maybe they’ll have a couple of hit vehicles along the way.
These are not the finished product I can assure you of that the design has always taken a form from its brothers the GMC and the Chevy. But it’s luxurious feature inside have always set it apart and that’s what counts the most
From the company’s point of view, that’s basically true. To a critical eye however, having all the same hard points just makes it look like you’ve badge engineered a luxury car.
WTF ???
someone spent time and effort did i say $$$
for A …
Every car you’ve thought was beautiful started out as someone sketching an idea out like this.
Would you feel better if we just didn’t get to see it?
Looks like the Lyriq got some ques from this design, the full-sized truck Caddy EV may look like this.
going by this, the face lifted one is going to be really really nice
Nate,
Yeah I know. I am begging to be called a troll too I suppose.
The thing is, I was sitting here looking at the magnificent new Rolls Royce Ghost and in my head comparing that to Cadillac’s lineup. There is no comparison between GM’s top brand and RR but of course Cadillac hasn’t been on that level in nearly 100 years. Comparing Cadillac to the BMW line though is no better. They’re still woefully behind with a very limited range of products that really aren’t even in the same league. Does anybody think the XT6 competes with a BMW X5? Absolutely not. Do they compete with Lexus? With Mercedes? Hardly. How about what is called a Tier 2 luxury brand like Genesis? Again, they are at a lower level. Therefore, I think we need to say Cadillac is now just a “near luxury” brand. The only positive they have is a name that still has a fair amount of equity but product wise, they don’t measure up.
The Rolls Royce Ghost is a masterful car as is the entire Rolls lineup but they too were floundering, lost, and living off their name prior to their acquisition by BMW. They have truly flourished with BMW’s money, know-how, and commitment to excellence. I’ve said it before but the only hope I see for Cadillac is to be sold-off to a company like BMW that could restore their faded glory.
Hideous