Cadillac previously announced that it would return to the Australian market as an all-electric brand, launching the Australian-spec Cadillac Lyriq earlier this year. However, as GM and the broader automotive industry reassesses their electrification strategies, some brands are opening the door to ICE-powered vehicles as well. Now, it sounds like Caddy may do exactly that with the possible launch of a V8-powered Escalade for the Australian market.
According to a recent report from CarExpert, GM Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala has hinted that GM may consider the release of the refreshed 2025 Escalade in Australia and New Zealand.
GM unveiled the refreshed 2025 Escalade earlier this week, showing off a new exterior and interior design, new tech items, and other features. Bala previously served as Caddy’s director of planning and product marketing before taking on her current role as Australia and New Zealand managing director.
“It is a stunning car,” Bala said in regard to the refreshed Escalade. “But for us right here, it’s about picking the right vehicles for our market and also the customer base and we’ve got to factor in price points and things like that.”
Bala went on to say that although Caddy previously declared that it would be EV-only in Australia, the luxury marque would not necessarily stop in assessing “everything that’s in GM’s portfolio and constantly [look] at what might be the best fit for [Cadillac] as [the] market evolved because there are just so many options.”
Bala went on to state that GMSV, which replaced HSV, will bring the GMC Yukon to the Australian market next year, offering something similar to the Escalade.
“Obviously there’s bigger discussions that have to happen from a GM standpoint, and what’s the right fit for the company as a whole as well, when it’s looking at vehicles like the Escalade and where it plays globally as well,” Bala said.
The refreshed 2025 Escalade is equipped as standard with the naturally aspirated 6.2L V8 L87 gasoline engine, while the high-performance Escalade-V equips the supercharged 6.2L V8 LT4 gasoline engine. If GM did elect to sell the 682-horsepower Escalade-V in Australia, it would make for the most-powerful GM vehicle ever sold in the country.
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Comment
Finally. Looks like someone is reading the comments and taking notice of the Consumer. I put a response in months ago that EV Cadillacs ONLY in Oz will not sell. Majority here don’t like them and won’t buy them. These are EXPENSIVE Touring Cars. Not Little Town runabouts that you top up on a lead at home to pick up the kids or go to the mall. Distances in Oz and infrastructure and dislike of EVs would have been a Marketing & Sales DISASTER.