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Cadillac Escalade-V Prototype Caught Testing In The Wild: Breaking

The Cadillac Escalade is iconic for its eye-catching style and street-presence, as well as its sumptuous, luxury-laden cabin. Now, Caddy will add to the Escalade’s repertoire with a new go-fast variant dubbed the Escalade-V, a prototype of which was just spotted testing on public roads.

Although at first glance this may appear to be a standard fifth-generation Cadillac Escalade prototype, there are several details which identify it as an Escalade-V. The first indication that this SUV is packing some heat is up front, where the fascia appears to be revised over the current Escalade model, with a new, lower front bumper treatment below the grille that’s also wider around the sides.

Also notable are the wheels, which appear to be a new multi-spoke design specific to the Escalade-V, plus a lower ride height. Even more interesting are the tires, which have had the manufacturer and model identifiers erased from the sidewalls.

Finally, we have the rear end, which includes four rectangular exhaust tips similar to those on the Cadillac CT4-V and CT5-V (plus their Blackwing variants), as opposed to the dual square pipes we’ve seen on the current production fifth-gen Escalade.

All of this points to one obvious answer – what we have here is the up-and-coming Cadillac Escalade-V. Motivation will be sourced from the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 gasoline engine, the same powerplant found in the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing and Chevy Camaro ZL1, producing 668 horsepower in the former, and 650 horsepower in the latter. We can also expect a retuned version of the Magnetic Ride Control suspension to keep all that muscle in check.

GM Authority was the first to report the impending arrival of the Cadillac Escalade-V, while Cadillac Chief Engineer Tony Roma recently hinted that the brand was working on such a product.

The new Cadillac Escalade-V is expected to arrive for the 2023 model year.

Subscribe to GM Authority for more Cadillac Escalade-V news, Cadillac Escalade news, Cadillac news, and around-the-clock GM news coverage.

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Jonathan is an automotive journalist based out of Southern California. He loves anything and everything on four wheels.

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Comments

  1. Pretty cool if it comes with the supercharged engine…

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    1. that would be a monster. I think it will sell very well with big profits attached.

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      1. Huge source of profit, that is for sure, but likely priced from $110K and up…. Not sure how many will sell at that price. Current Escalade is now transacting at $100k on average.

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    2. Maybe they will use the real blackwing v8 twin turbo in this bad boi

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    3. Blackwing v8 twin turbo in this would be godly. Maybe just maybe…

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  2. It’s happening!

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  3. Yes, making the Navigatior more irrelevant..unless they install the new 6.8 Windsor as an option.

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  4. Tahoe SS incoming?

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  5. All tree huggers revolt against gm now.

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  6. About Time!!!!! I’m sick of Dodge

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    1. I hope its the LT5 .. if its the LT4 then dodge will still come out on top in terms of performance.

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      1. it will not be the LT5, you can put that in the bank. Titanium rods and valves do not help in a heavy vehicle…

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  7. This is a no brainer. Cadillac has no issue moving six figure Escalades. These will sell no problem! Hope they are bench marking it against the MB GLS 63 AMG (600+ HP, 0-60 in 4.1 seconds).

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    1. I agree, this is exciting to see, but a decade late. This will raise the Escalade pricing expectations in preparation for the EV version, which will have more power, and more tech.

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      1. This tends to water down further the V series cars, now we have the baby Vs black wing Vs and Escalade Vs. price point too will be off the charts.

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  8. This gen is too heavy for the V model, it’s going to fail.

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  9. Their so ugly i almost bought a previous generation Escalade But ended up going with a Durango R/T. The Escalades handled like a can of worms and couldn’t even keep up with the Durango with the Escalades 6.2. GM hasn’t made anything exciting since the Trailblazer SS.

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    1. Are you like 12? That paragraph is a disaster on several levels.

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      1. No, but someone’s mad that GM is becoming a boring ev company 😂

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        1. hate to give you bad news but every auto company is becoming an ev company.

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          1. Yup, and there is nothing boring about EV’s other than winning every stoplight race you are in.

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  10. This is good but the reviews saying the interior and fit and finish being on par with the Germans was the real boost here.

    I am hoping the Escalade is just a hint to the quality of the coming Cadillacs.

    Profits are already good at transaction prices over $100,000 already. These things will just make it better.

    They still make a Durango? Do the ball joins still fail at 45,000?

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    1. the New Escalade is nice, but what blew it for me, besides not being an EV is the GM corporate turn signal stock that feels like a limp noodle compared to what the europeans put in, Thanks goodness it finally looks like Lyriq is getting something new.

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  11. A performance version of the Escalade is long overdue. GM hasn’t upped the power output of the naturally aspirated 6.2 for years and it’s starting to get outgunned by many of it’s competitors. Like many I’m hoping the supercharged 6.2 finds it’s way into the Silverado/Sierra line as well.

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  12. Hope this will come as a facelifted model without that dated gear shifter and cheap buttons around it.
    They need to make it just as good as Lyriq.

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    1. The Escalade will not get a facelift until halfway thru its lifecycle. This generation cycle will be the longest and 2029 will be the last model year till a BEV version for the sixth generation debut for ’30.

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      1. Someone with good connections told me it would get a face-lift 2 times. In 2022-2023 and deeper face-lift later. In 22-23 will get the same one big screen ala Lyriq and will get rid of that gear shifter. And stuff like that..

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    2. AS GOOD AS THE LYRIC, ARE YOU KIDING, THAT NEEDS HELP EXCEPT FOR THE FUNERAL DIRECTORS.

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  13. Since the Escalade weighs over 6,000 pounds, the V version should use all the same supercharged parts that are on the 6.2 liter engine and put them on the 6.6 liter engine used in the 2500 and 3500 pickup trucks to get the maximum amount of torque. HP means nothing if you can’t get a slug to start moving from a stop or low speed. The 6.6 gasoline engine has mini full jacket cylinder cooling which the 6.2 liter does not have. It will be cost effective if GM does use the bigger 6.6 engine as they can market it for marine use and even let Mercury Marine co develop the bigger 6.6 liter supercharged version. To get the max amount of development costs, GM could off the 6.6 supercharged version in a Red Line or super Sport 2500 pickup truck version. Expect it to be tuned for more torque, not much more HP, if it ever happens. GM should offer boats tied to GM car and truck dealerships, to help dealers expand and get more profits. Boats have a higher percent markup than trucks.

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  14. Who cares just reveal the damn 2022 GMC Sierra.

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  15. I thought Cadillac wasn’t coming out with any more gas engines, only electric? Could it be a 1000hp electric from Hummer w/fake exhaust tips?

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    1. The EV Escalade is still planned for ’25. The Escalade-V model is another variant of the current Escalade as a performance model.

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  16. THIS IS PROBABLY THE REAL THING , NO DISGUISE, ANOTHER BARRA APPROVED DESIGN NO DOUBT.

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  17. I person I like Cadillac Escalade the way it appears outside is nice. But it needs big change inside . In the cargo area. The to give more power like Range Rover in power terrain . Other things is Electric gear shifts . You are still using old class gear shifts. , . Steering entervation it needs. Ventalated seats it needs . If it can take 7 to 8 passengers where they can put their bags? Please be creative enough. Thank you.

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  18. The 6.6 is the latest update of the LS engines with better cooling and better lubrication. This is the engine that should be considered for supercharging and other high performance hardware. I also think this is the engine that Volvo Penta should be using for boating applications.

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  19. Some publications are stating the Blackwing engine…..I highly doubt the GM Bean-counters would allow that

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  20. I have a 2021 Sport Platinum Escalade and love the vehicle. I love everything about it. A V series Escalade would have greatly appealed to me if I was between 20 and 50 years old. However, now that I can actually afford this vehicle I don’t enjoy driving fast anymore. I enjoy the comforts that come with this vehicle, which it is loaded with. If you can afford it and you are still young, go for the V series, I’m sure it with be in a class of it’s own.

    Reply

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