The Cadillac Escalade is best known for offering sumptuous luxury and attention-grabbing style, commanding the streets with oodles of curb appeal. However, what about taking the Cadillac Escalade off-road? What would that look like.
We’ll explain. The Cadillac Escalade is the only T1-based GM SUV that does not include some sort of off-road variant. For example, the Chevy Tahoe and Chevy Suburban both have a Z71 trim, while the GMC Yukon offers the AT4. That makes the Cadillac Escalade the odd duck of the group.
Of course, it isn’t terribly surprising. After all, the Escalade is primarily focused on luxury, which would make a Cadillac Escalade off-roader a bit out of step. That said, there’s definitely a market for off-road-capable luxury SUVs, as evidenced by vehicles like the Mercedes-Benz G-Class and Land Rover Defender. As such, we rendered our own Cadillac Escalade Off-Road variant to see what such a model could look like.
The first thing to notice is the revised front fascia, which breaks from the “standard” model thanks to a new, high-clearance lower section incorporating a tough skid plate element. The grille is finished in black, similar to the Cadillac Escalade Sport, a theme repeated in the window trim and badging.
The profile view of the Cadillac Escalade Off-Road mode is dominated by a new stance and wheel package. Naturally, we had to elevate the ride height a bit, running the same Adaptive Air Ride Suspension as the Z71 and AT4 models, which provides ride-height adjustments up to 4 inches and 2 inches of extra ground clearance at low speeds.
Meanwhile the rolling stock incorporates new, smaller-sized 18-inch wheels inspired by the GMC Yukon AT4’s 20-inch units. The smaller wheels are wrapped in knobby off-roading rubber, specifically Goodyear all-terrain tires.
You may also notice that we included both fixed running boards and deployable running boards between the two rendering images, the former of which are superior when it comes to added ground clearance.
Moving to the rear, we modified the rear end of our Cadillac Escalade Off-Road variant to accommodate a higher approach and departure angle.
Finally, under the hood, we’d expect this hypothetical Cadillac Escalade Off-Road variant to equip the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87, given the 3.0L I6 LM2 turbodiesel Duramax is unavailable on both Chevy Z71 models and the Yukon AT4. Output from the L87 is rated at 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque. Four-wheel drive is mandatory.
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Comments
Interesting.
So interesting in fact that I don’t think y’all should ever try this again.
Why? The theory behind it is solid and it looks pretty good. Did you wake up in a bad mood today?
It’s totally off-brand…”rugged and outdoorsy” is not where Cadillac belongs or has ever been. It waters down the what a Cadillac Escalade is.
not4one I see that thinking outside the box isn’t your strong suit. That’s alright buddy, I’ll help ya out.
There are plenty of wealthy folks who want a luxurious vehicle that has the chops to go off-road. See Mercedes G wagon, at least three Ranger Rover models from Land Rover and upcoming GMC/Hummers.
The opportunity expands when you consider international markets like Russia, all of Latin America, Africa, Middle East. The people who buy luxury SUVs in these markets want them to be all-terrain vehicles, no matter if they actually get used that way or not.
The business opportunity is certainly there and I appreciate that GM Authority took the time to think this through.
Yes they need the off-road vehicle for when they hit the curb in the Louis Vuitton parking lot I forgot.
A Range Rover is an off-road brand. Remember, the big rock mound in front of every dealership? It’s brand is old elite fox-hunt crowd…that’s where the love and authenticity come from, even if it just goes to the mall. Cadillac has always been a glitzier Hollywood sell…even if they all show up at the same place. Trying to make Cadillac a Range Rover would…well we, we know what happened when they tried to make it a BMW.
I’ve been saying for years an Escalade “Z71” would be nice competition against Range Rover.
Your tripping dude. Stop drinking this early in the morning man
Stop smoking the special weed, you don’t know what extra drugs they lace it with so you can come back for more.
As said why not appeal to more buyers?, a S/C performance Escalade is under development, an off-road version would be the next step.
Bastardising the brand is what killed all the other GM divisions. Remember Olds, Pontiac and Saturn…at one time they stood for something, but in the end no one knew what they were.
I don’t smoke weed are you already that drunk that you are mistyping and thinking you are talking to someone else? And I’m sorry am off road Escalade would be ridiculous in no way shape or form what it ever compare to any of the Range Rover/ Land Rover off road vehicles.
You could have fooled me. Can you repeat that in English?
Why would I need to repeat anything to you when I’m not talking to you?
You just did. Didn’t know it was private. Probably best to pm the recipient in that case.
It’s not private. I’ll tell you again since you seem confused. Why would I repeat anything to you when I wasn’t talking to you? And was it not clear enough the first time that you can’t comprehend what was said? It’s simple follow the lines the lines show who is responding to who. If that is to hard for you then look at where the squares appear those also show who is responding to who.
You do realize you can’t send a pm on this forum right?
Lol you think weed effects your spelling? You sir are a douche
Lol what special drugs they are lacing weed with? If you are getting laced weed then maybe you should stop buying it from Antwan.
Lol, the potheads are having a spelling bee contest ⬆️⬆️, wacky tobaccy make this form interesting. Don’t forget it’s a gateway drug.
As said before the Escalade is a full-frame SUV, why can’t an off-road version be done?, now you have Grand Wagoner that’s off-road oriented but in Escalade’s space, no one says it has to match R.Rover pound for pound.
“Pot heads” how old are you? 70+? Listen Reagan is dead and has been for years stop regurgitating what that idiot said. If it’s truly a gateway drug is that how you developed your drinking problem?
Since smoking embalming fluid enhanced weed indicates your state of mind now I’ll still ask again what’s your beef against an off-road Escalade?, I’ll enjoy my Bud while you answer smoking your bud..
I wouldn’t know anything about smoking embalming fluid you sure do seem to know a lot about what supposedly weed is laced with, are you sure you don’t have a drug problem along with your drinking problem? All the other vehicles people keep naming are established names in the off-road/overland industry I’m sorry but I don’t believe for one second an off-road Escalade would be popular at all.
But yet heavy critiques of someone suggesting another variant of a popular vehicle with no rebuttal answer but insults saying somebody has a habit. Reactionary response from
me indicates heavy drug usage is in many posters here (including you) by taking such offense.
I’m just going off what’s being said, also I gave examples of it could work, don’t have any examples? (And I mean the ones you can’t smoke).
I’m a Land Rover enthusiast. I own several and a new Defender which I’m going to trade in for the new V8 Defender but i think you are right a Z71 Escalade would be cool. What are the chances in your opinion this will ever happen?
Stop it. It looks like a Suburban with a “Cadillac Appearance Package”.
Who in their right mind is ever going to take something this ritzy out boonie busting?
Probably the same people who buy the Mercedes G Wagon, Ranger Rover, Ranger Rover Sport, Range Rover Defender, Ranger Rover Discovery, Land Rover LR4.
It’s not so much about people actually taking it off-road, it’s about selling the idea that they can. Marketing 101.
I totally agree.. I won’t even let my husband use my Escalade to tow something. That’s why he has a truck and I would like Cadillac to concentrate on fulfilling the 2022 diesel Escalades that have been ordered, like mine just sayin!
It wouldn’t hurt them to offer some optional tire sidewall on at least one of their vehicles, for those of us with loose teeth and bad roads.
If Cadillac wants to do extreme off-roading with steep incline & decline, they need a far more advance off-road package with terrain mode for the Escalade. There is no need for super rugged tires and the front end don’t need to be altered much when adding the underneath shield on the lower fascia.
The Escalade been around for 20 plus years and don’t seem to think the customer of the brand are too interested for utilitarian fun for the reason Cadillac don’t offer the package in the first place.
You have no clue what you are talking about as usual. I think you just like to hear yourself talk huh?
If they’re going to go after RR in any way, make it the interior and have a real executive seating package for the second row and delete the third row, make it an actual chauffeur-able ride. Not a practical family SUV, but nice, comfortable second row, fully adjustable seats with foot rests and heat/cool/massage, etc. (I also think they need to do something similar with the XT6 for the markets that the Escalade is too big) Escalade prints money for Cadillac, so why not have more luxurious versions, and finally do a V-series.
I agree–the third row compromises 2nd row comfort in all of them, esp. the Lambda CUVs, where it raises the floor too much. The XT5 and XT6 have the same wheelbase, they just need to plush-up the rear seat as an option.
They could also go in the other direction from off-road and make a version of the Escalade with a fixed lower step-in height and ground clearance, in addition to the current optional lowering suspension. Some people don’t want to climb up so far.
Maybe they could add that same Cadillac transmission installed in 1000’s of their cars that rumbles and thumps periodically to give you that off-road feeling even though you are driving on a perfectly smooth road or street. This is the same Cadillac transmission GM is facing CLASS- ACTION legal actions but will not fix under warranty because it is not LIFE-THREATENING ???
I think the Cadillac escalade is good as it is, an offroad version is an overkill. The only thing I would add to the Escalade is a more powerful engine. The engine is good but unsophisticated compared to the germans, the germans engines delivers power more efficiently and effectively, while the Escalade relays on an old school American v8 displacement, maybe an electric Escalade or an Escalade v will do the job right.