Cadillac Escalade Could Be Brand’s Last Fuel Powered Vehicle
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The Cadillac Escalade could be the last internal combustion engine-powered vehicle offered by the luxury automaker as it continues its transition into an electric vehicle company.
Going forward, all next-generation Cadillac vehicles will be battery-electric. Vice president for global Cadillac, Rory Harvey, told Automotive News the brand will still introduce some updated versions of its gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles, as well as V-Series variants for certain models, but all next-generation Cadillac vehicles going forward will be battery-powered.
According to AN, the Cadillac CT4 and CT5 sedans will go out of production in 2026, with electric replacement sedans set to be unveiled sometime shortly thereafter. Similarly, the Cadillac XT4, XT5 and XT6 crossovers will be phased out in 2025 or 2026 as electric Cadillac crossovers like the Optiq and Symboliq hit the market. The automaker hopes to complete its transition into an electric vehicle company by about 2030.
The current-generation Cadillac Escalade, meanwhile, isn’t expected to go out of production until 2029, which would make it the last fuel-powered Cadillac vehicle in production. A battery-electric version of the Cadillac Escalade is expected to debut before that time and will likely be sold in conjunction with the fuel-powered model for several years, facilitating the nameplate’s transition into a pure EV. The electric Escalade is expected to tap the automaker’s BT1 dedicated large electric vehicle platform and, like other new GM EVs, will utilize the automaker’s Ultium batteries and Ultium Drive electric motors.
Cadillac’s transition into an electric vehicle company will begin with the Cadillac Lyriq, which will enter production at the GM Spring Hill Assembly plant in Tennessee early next year. Reservations for the battery-electric crossover, which is slightly larger than the Cadillac XT5, will open in September, with deliveries set to commence in the first half of 2022. The Lyriq features a single electric motor mounted on the rear axle, which produces 340 horsepower, and has a 100 kWh lithium-ion battery providing around 300 miles of range.
While Cadillac is said to be targeting 2030 to complete its EV transition, this is believed to be a moving target that could change based on factors like charging infrastructure and demand. No matter what happens, though, it seems as though the Escalade may very well be the last fuel-powered Cadillac vehicle to remain in production.
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I bet barra wishes so……. I really don’t know how anyone can believe this!!!! There are so many undebatable issues with EV’s (undebatable but ignored) there is currently no debate on the issue with battery supply, it’s currently having issues with environmental regulations and raw material shortages without a significant portion of the economy using EV’s. Then there is the current copper shortage. Then there is the fact that an EV costs 3X a comparable ICE car, and no, despite mass production, a car they weights 2 times as much with high rare earth metal content can not physically be cheaper than an iron and aluminum machine. then there are all the riots in europe and mocking in asia about ICE bans, then there are loaded of people who love the Wroommm of an powerful motor, then there are eager buyers who think they are going to be saving a ton because they drank the coolaid, and see they are still paying it off 10 years latter, only have 50% of their battery life and are tired of high power bills. Cadillac goes this route, it’s the death of cadillac. GMC is the new defacto GM…. My bad, gm…… Luxury brand.
GM is almost dead anyways and they know it.
haha! GM almost dead? Have you looked at recent earnings reports? Stock price? hmm, you must know something the rest of the world doesn’t…. NOT!!!
Sure sales are doing well, but that’s about it, the quality and the substance died, so stfu!
My new CT4 with AWD is a remarkable car. Very tight build, no rattles and great performance from the 2.7L engine and 10 speed transmission. If 2026 is the last year for this model, I’ll order one now from my local dealer.
The garbage in this comment is almost unbelievable.
GM was just named to the Time Most Influential Companies list.
Their stock prices are the highest they’ve been in over 15 years.
Earnings have been spectacular considering the covid mess.
Their vehicles are more competitive than they’ve been in generations. Full-size SUVs are absolutely dominating, trucks are doing terrific, numerous crossovers are running low on current supply and sales way exceeded expectations (Blazer and Trailblazer, most notably).
And their upcoming EVs are not just compelling…they’re the talk of the industry. Hummer twins. Lyriq. Celestiq. They’re nailing it with stunning design and incredible performance while everyone else is just shooting for average.
Don’t make a fool out of yourself, my man.
@Steven, I guess you cannot see GM stock today beating the market, higher than its historical all time high… Sorry you missed out on the great investing opportunity, but hey, you can go sniff some exhaust fumes and test your business theories. Have fun!
BTW, you can have your powerful vroom, and watch the EV’s woosh past you like you are tied to a post. OH, and the EV driver pays less to blow your stinky doors off.
Yes I do, and it’s because of earnings made off trucks and SUV’s. They still loose money with every bolt they sell. It’s a game that they are playing, just like how toyota, the least inspiring and least innovative auto manufacturer in the history of autos is now the largest most profitable carmaker in the world. Or like tesla, who pulled an auto company out of thin air with less than inspiring products (have you driven a tesla? A Malibu is more refined and a camaro has way more exciment) soely off of charisma. It’s a game and GM is now playing hardball at it. They are in it to win it, but don’t think for a second that their claims will come true. How long ago was the cycbertruck supposed to be in production?
Teslas are slower than Hellcats. And they are boring.
@Steven, Yes I have driven a Tesla, I own a Model Y that I drive to work daily. We also have an Audi E-Tron and while I would say the E-Tron is clearly a more refined automobile than the Malibu, Camaro or Tesla, the Tesla Y is the tightest, and most fun to drive, more sporty, and makes me smile very often. Actually I do not think GM loses money on the Bolt program when you include tax incentives. I think Lyriq and Hummer will be profitable for GM from day 1.
Perhaps you should go spend some time In a Tesla and we can chat again about refinement. There are cheap and cheesy things about Tesla’s, but the driving qualities are not included in that (they drive awesome), I would venture to say a new Model Y is tighter than a new Camaro, and more dynamic to the limits of its tires. On the down side Tesla cannot weld their cars together straight consistently, and panel and interior gaps are a crap shoot, they can’t keep dirt out of the paint, but after a couple drives you forget all about the panel gaps and paint and appreciate it for what it is. For me it just makes me appreciate our Audi more, its straight, and all even gaps, and deep paint job. I paint corrected my Model Y, and it looks pretty good now, but it was a day of work to do it.
Stock doesn’t mean shit on a company’s long term prospects.
Remember Enron?
ENRON was a bad example, they were cooking the books and the executives and accounting firm sent people to prison. I do not think GM is cooking the books…
Pull your head out of the sand and imagine a future where those issues have been resolved. It’s possible that there will be challenges with eliminating those hurdles but GM is saying they will overcome all hurdles within their control and they believe it’s reasonable to not build a new generation of an ICE Escalade.
I’d you can’t accept that, get out of their way. If they followed your path, they’d go back to the 60s and they’d be even father behind or dead.
Take your pick, GM looks to the future and takes a leading role in creating the future, or they die because they refuse to consider alternatives to gas powered automobiles.
I’m excited by their future and can’t wait to see the EVs they have planned by 2025.
Well said… GM is taking a leading role in this EV transition. We are still in the 1st inning of EV’s and our family has 2 already, and when Hummer EV comes we will be 100% Ev, funny, I have not experienced any of the problems Steven talks about, and I have to say its a rare day I step out of one of our EV’s not smiling. Instant power (at any moment or speed) has this pleasing sensation that just ads something to driving pleasure, and evert time I am slowing down a grade, or stopping realizing that I am recapturing that energy and not using the brake pads at all just tickles me inside. I still have to remember when I am driving my 2020 GMC that it is not an EV, and I have to be more careful merging and taking off from intersections because even though the Duramax / 10 speed is quick, it ain’t no EV with instant throttle response.
Can’t wait for you to lose power.
Let’s see you praise EV’s when you experience what Texas did in February.
Or even better let’s have an EMP blast.
that’s right, it’s all coming soon and people are gonna get screwed.
thank god i upped my EMP coverage!!!
that and the zombie apocalypse rider policy is the best money i’ve ever spent.
EMPs can’t stop a gas car!
Dude, I have a 30 kW solar array on my house and 20 kWh of battery backup, right now we generate 15% more energy then we use, and that is with 2 EV’s charging at home daily. When the Hummer arrives we should still have an energy surplus. So ya, when the great outage comes and you cannot get gas because the gas stations and refinery do not have power to make and supply gas, our life will continue as normal. Thanks for making the point for me!
EMP blast? Ok Children… that sure happens regularly
Evan:
😄😄😄😄
What a s****d remark!
Ever tried to pump gasoline without electricity????
Without power, how will you pump gas? The homeowners with photovoltaic power can charge their EVs for free.
Note it says “could “, GM is covering bases in-case BS Biden gets another term in office so GM would be prepared for an envro-wimp car market
Hitler was right.
Right in Hell….
I would’ve thought that the Escalade would be among the first to transition to EV power. It has plenty of space for batteries and the higher pricetag means it should be easier to match the price of the ICE variant.
EV Escalade is coming, I think GM will show it publicly in the next 12 months (trust me, it is beautiful), and in production in 2023 as a ’24 model, then buyers can decide which way they want to go.
Are you an employee w/ GM? If so, what all can you share with us about the EV ‘Slade?
Donavan doesn’t work with GM to my knowledge, but I can give you the limited info I’ve acquired over the last 12+ months.
The Escalade EV is going to be very similar to the ICE version, but less blocky…the styling is more raked, and the windshield is less upright. It’s more smooth. It’ll be built on the BT1 platform, and production begins in January 2024 at Factory Zero.
How does a company committed to a sustainable future and a reduction in greenhouse gases and an end to global warming justify keeping the most inefficient, gas-sucking vehicle around for eight more years? It should be the first to go, not the last. If gm cares about Mother Earth, they need to can the Escalade, Yukon, Tahoe, and Suburban right now. They need to put their money where their mouth is and actually be bold enough to lead. Keep the Spark and Sonic and the more environmentally friendly ICE products around and eliminate the worst of the ICE offenders. The planet can’t wait! Further, there is absolutely zero rationale for a 5,600 pound EV super truck if one truly cares about a carbon footprint. It will use way too much energy which is still largely sourced by fossil fuels so ax the Hummer EV too. Keep the Bolt and create a Cadillac or GMC variant instead.
To do anything less is the epitome of talking out of both sides of one’s mouth….which is really what gm is doing. They pretend to care about the planet but their portfolio for the future suggests they’re more interested in creating the appearance of a company that cares rather than being bold enough to actually risk it all on what they claim to believe in.
An ICE Spark is, I believe, a better option for tree huggers than a gigantic Hummer H1-sized GMC Hummer EV.
Wrong you idiot, people can’t fit into those small cars.
You think the Hummer is going to weigh 5600 lbs? think again… I estimate it will be closer to 7000lbs, and will sell all GM can build, at the same time they can hardly give away a Spark… hmmm.
For some reason, GM tends to do well and know the market when it comes to the Escalade, Hummer, trucks and the Vette. Surprisingly, very high demand for the Escalade, potentially Hummer, the trucks and the Vette shows GM knows what they are doing and it would be foolish for GM to get rid of profit makers like you suggest.
The Spark, Bolt and other EV appliances coming are not inspirational like the flagship halos you don’t want but it is a start.
Also FYI, all Cadillacs going forward will be RWD or RWD-based AWD so there will be no Cadillac variant of the Bolt or Spark.
Seems that the 5th generation Escalade could have the longest life-cycle. Cadillac never done refreshes on Escalades through-out all generations except for the 3rd generation cycle when the Premium models for ’11 (forgot the year) have monochrome touches and trim appearance on the standard wheelbase and ESV Premium models.
If the refresh is coming in the later of the decade, like around ’26-’27, it better show up like there is no tomorrow.
However, makes me wonder will there be two versions of the EV Escalade in 2030. One on VSS-T platform as the 6th. generation model and by then the current model of the BT1 model?
I guess traditional Cadillac buyers, like me, will have to switch brands. It will not be easy after 18 new Cadillacs over the last 40 years, but I don’t think I’m ready for an Electric car.
By then, you will not have hardly any choice by the time you switch brands where just about all automakers will phase out ICE for EV.
Such a shame, they don’t care about freedoms anymore
Nooooo!!!
IF GENERAL MOTORS CHANGES TO ALL ELECTRIC VEHICLES, THEN THE COMPANY WILL LOOSE OVERWHELMING NUMBERS OF CUSTOMERS. Electric Vehicles are a false promise and an illusion. No matter how they promote them, electric vehicles will not provide the always immediately available and dependable means of travel that true American gasoline powered vehicles deliver.
I hate electric vehicles because they will always break.