Cadillac Escalade Gets Bold New Look With New Sport Edition

The 2019 Escalade has been given the blacked-out treatment.

Just in time for the LA Auto Show, Cadillac has introduced a new Sport Edition of the Escalade featuring a bold new look. Available for the Luxury, Premium Luxury and Platinum models, the new Sport package applies a gloss black exterior trim to the front grilles, window surrounds, body side moldings and more, as well as a unique Midnight Silver finish on the standard 22-inch wheels. It marks the first special edition available for the current generation Cadillac Escalade.

Pricing for the 2019 Cadillac Escalade Sport Edition is set at $84,790 including destination charges. Alternatively, the Sport Edition package can be purchased separately for $2,700, with orders starting in Q1 2019.

“Two decades after its introduction, the Escalade remains the segment’s benchmark and sales leader,” said Steve Carlisle, Cadillac president. “The Sport Edition extends that momentum in response to customer and dealer demand for a dark and aggressive look.”

Since it’s just a styling package, the Escalade’s mechanics have been left unchanged. That means the large SUV is still powered by a 6.2-liter V8 that delivers 420 hp, propelling the Escalade from 0-62 mph in less than six seconds. It’s also available in both 2WD and 4WD configurations and features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, the company’s latest infotainment system, and Magnetic Ride Control suspension.

The additional features of the 2019 Cadillac Escalade include a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, the company’s latest infotainment system that offers pretty much every connectivity option available, Magnetic Ride Control suspension, a 16-speaker Bose Centerpoint audio system and more.

Cadillac is expected to reveal the all-new redesigned Escalade next year. Reports suggest it will have an evolutionary design, retain the current model’s 6.2-liter, 420-hp V8, and share the same platform as the new Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra.

2020 Cadillac Escalade Could Have Some Interesting Engine Options

It's time to move on from the small block V8. Or is it?

Welcome to 2020. SUVs are still alive and selling extremely well, as are pickup trucks. Hybrids, plug-in hybrids, and EVs are more abundant than ever, but America will always be America when it comes to loving its trucks and SUVs. Fortunately, automakers learned years prior how to make these once gas guzzlers more efficient with technologies like downsizing and turbocharging, and electrification.

But it was only in 2018 when the fourth generation Cadillac Escalade came with only one engine: a thirsty 6.2-liter small block V8. What was Cadillac thinking only six years prior when the now previous generation Escalade launched? Only one engine option and it’s naturally aspirated?

Wow, glad we’re living in 2020, right? Jump back in time now to 2018 and a report from Cadillac Society claims GM is planning to offer the next generation Cadillac Escalade, due for 2020, with at least three engine options. What could they be? Cadillac isn’t talking details, but Cadillac Society learned of the three engine approach from unnamed sources, but the rumor doesn’t sound too farfetched. A few engine possibilities include the current 6.2-liter V8 with 420 hp remaining the base option, though it’d likely receive a few upgrades.

Another possibility is Cadillac’s new 4.2-liter twin-turbo V8, making its debut right now in the refreshed 2019 CT6 sedan. It’s rated up to 550 hp and would likely be paired up with a 10-speed automatic transmission. The third option is, of course, a plug-in hybrid setup with the powertrain also coming from the CT6, specifically the PHEV version.

For now, Cadillac won’t confirm details, but we’ll likely have some answers in the coming months because the 2020 Escalade will likely debut sometime in 2019. Detroit is one possibility, but we think the New York Auto Show in April will be the chosen venue. After all, New York City is also home to Cadillac’s global headquarters.

Buy A New 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Get A $7,000 Discount

The sales breakdown is as follows:

? $2,000 toward the purchase of a new Escalade

? $5,000 purchase allowance for Escalade Standard models

? $6,000 purchase allowance for Escalade Luxury models

? $7,000 purchase allowance for Escalade Premium Luxury and Escalade Platinum models

? 2.9 percent APR when financing a 2018 Escalade with GM Financial

Prospective buyers should also take into account updated pricing. For example, the Escalade Standard trim now starts off at $75,990 while the Standard ESV begins at $78,990. The top trim Platinum and Platinum ESV begin at $95,090 and $98,090, respectively.

It’s still too early to know whether these offers will continue into next month, so there may be no sense in holding out for something better if you happen to be in the market. Cadillac specifically points out that customers must take delivery of their new Escalade by October 31 in order to benefit from these incentives.

Cadillac Escalade EXT Ranks 3 out of 5

A sports utility truck ranking conducted by U.S. News Rankings and Reviews has placed the 2010 Cadillac Escalade EXT at 3 out of 5. Like its competitors, the EXT has a folding midgate that allows the rear seating area to double as part of the cargo bed, adding a useful eight feet of capacity for transport. The Escalade EXT is the only truck on the market that has combined luxury and sport together to create a great Sport Utility Truck.

Overall, the Cadillac Escalade EXT is a niche vehicle that appeals to a crowd looking for luxury above all else. The Escalade EXT provides seating space, cargo space, along with a powerful V8 engine for those able to afford to pay for it. Luxury still comes with a hefty price!

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Cadillac Ditching Solid Rear Axles For The 2020 Escalade

Expect this new version to be quite a bit more than a blinged-out Chevrolet Tahoe.

With the luxury SUV war heating up thanks to high-end automakers finally capitalizing on the demand for large vehicles, it no longer pays to keep doing business as usual. As you may know, Audi is rising to the call, fighting the upcoming BMW X7 and potentially cannibalizing sales of its own sibling, the Bentley Bentayga, with the upcoming Q8. That means that automakers like Cadillac, which relies heavily on the profitable and strong-selling Escalade to bolster its bottom line, can no longer get by with antiquity.

That’s why Automobile Magazine is reporting that General Motors is thinking about ditching the Cadillac Escalade’s solid rear axle in favor of a more cushy independent rear suspension (IRS) system. The loaded luxury land yacht rides on the same body-on-frame platform as the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon and sees the same extension as the Chevy Suburban and GMC Yukon XL in ESV guise. While this cuts costs for GM and preserves the work truck ethic that some Escalade buyers seek, it makes the Escalade more of a brute on suburban roads where it spends most of its life. Recognizing the issue, Ford Motor Company has already ditched the solid rear for an IRS in the latest Lincoln Navigator.

Unfortunately, the 2015 Escalade redesign was only a minor improvement over the 2007 model, which Automobile claims is due to GM’s 2009 bankruptcy. The decision to use an IRS was made so late that it delayed the upcoming Escalade’s release to early or mid 2019 where it will arrive on scene as a 2020 model. In hopes of differentiating the Escalade from lower GM SUVs, Cadillac will go beyond just adding more chrome and usher in some of the Escala Concept's design touches. Cadillac will also elevate interior quality so that the Escalade can better compete with the likes of Mercedes. That’s a welcome change given that our previous experience with the Escalade left us complaining about interior refinement.

Expect Cadillac’s Super Cruise 2 to be added as well. The new Escalade should also come equipped with GM’s new 4.0-liter V8, which will be mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission. That combo will pack an EPA-approved punch to the current ‘Slade’s 6.2-liter V8 fuel economy, though it may come offered in plug-in hybrid format as well for those wishing to wring out extra miles per gallon. Whether or not these changes help the upcoming Escalade better fight against its competitors, expect its price to be on par, with entry level models starting around $78,000 and higher trims reaching past the six-figure mark. No word on whether or not rappers will once again do their part to make the Escalade cool again.

New Lincoln Navigator Gets Priced With The Cadillac Escalade In Mind

The 2018 Navigator is taking itself a lot more seriously.

The 2017 Lincoln Navigator lagged behind its main competitor, the Cadillac Escalade in a lot of ways. The Navigator was little more than a fake wood and leather-wrapped Ford Expedition, but the price did reflect that. The 2017 Navigator started at $63,515, which was about $10,000 less than the newly redesigned Escalade. Lincoln knew that it wanted to refresh the Navigator and finally gave its flagship SUV the update that it deserves for 2018. Now that the Navigator is all-new, it carries a price tag that is more in line with the Escalade.

The 2018 Navigator will start at $72,055, which is about $1,300 less than the new Escalade. The "base" model is the Premier trim, which still comes standard with features like genuine wood trim, a 12-inch configurable instrument cluster, 10-way power driver and passenger seats with lumbar, 10-inch SYNC 3 infotainment with Apple Car Play and Android Auto, blind spot monitoring and a 4G WiFi hotspot to name just a few. Stepping up to higher models like the Select, Reserve and Black Label, buyers get niceties like 22-inch wheels, heated steering wheel, power running boards and ventilated seats among other features. These trims start at $76,055, $81,205 and $93,705 respectively.

Customers have a choice between rear-wheel-drive or 4WD, with 4WD adding $2,655 to the price. There is also an extended version that is 30 cm longer than the standard Navigator. This adds around 25 cm in legroom, which Lincoln said is class-leading behind the second row. We really liked the new Navigator when it was first revealed, and Lincoln is serious about it being a true Escalade alternative once again. Both the Escalade and the Navigator have become out of reach for the average consumer, but if you wantone of the largest SUVs on the road to haul your large family around, the Escalade isn't the only option anymore.

2018 Cadillac Escalade ESV Review

If Cadillac’s regular full-size Escalade is still too small for your requirements then perhaps the extended wheelbase ESV will be a better match. It offers additional seating capacity as well as far more cargo space and can tow just about anything that isn’t bolted to the ground.

Updated equipment and a new transmission have been introduced for the 2018 model year.

What’s it like inside?

The Escalade offers a very spacious cabin with seating for 8 occupants and is clad in decent quality materials although build quality is below par in certain areas compared to rivals. A large touchscreen takes pride of place in the center console of the stylishly designed dashboard and the minor buttons are placed around the driver in a logical fashion.

The ESV features three rows of seats although despite its huge dimensions the third row is still not quite spacious enough for taller occupants. Seat comfort too is only average for the class but the two front rows offer a significant amount of leg and knee room.

Cargo space is superb and with both rear rows folded flat the Escalade ESV offers a cavernous load space. The Escalade’s high liftover height can make loading heavy items a back-straining affair though.

How does it drive?

A quiet cabin and a smooth ride over good quality roads make the Escalade a great highway cruiser. The large diameter wheels and truck-based chassis do not cope well with rougher pavement though and the Escalade disappoints in its inability to iron out bumps and thumps.

The unobtrusive transmission and muscular power delivery make for a very relaxed and laid-back driving experience. Attempt to get a move on and the high kerb weight of the ESV makes it reluctant to change direction quickly although it feels predictable ad safe within its limits. The steering can be extremely heavy at lower speeds.

What about the performance?

A potent 6.2-liter V8 engine moves the Escalade along briskly in most conditions and provides meaningful acceleration even when loaded up. It produces 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque, a new for 2018 10-speed automatic transmission is standard and both two-wheel drive and all-wheel drive options are available.

0-60mph takes under 7-seconds which is excellent for the class and the strong power delivery gives the Escalade ESV confident overtaking ability too.

What are my options?

The Escalade ESV offers a very comprehensive range of standard equipment, even the base trim includes an 8-inch touchscreen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto compatibility, 16-speaker Bose audio system, automatic parking assist, surround vision cameras, hands-free power liftgate, power fold-flat third row seats, heated and cooled power front seats with heating on the second row, LED headlamps, magnetic ride control, 20-inch alloy wheels.

The Luxury Trim adds 22-inch wheels and a driver awareness package which includes forward collision alert, lane keep assist, lane departure warning and a number of additional driver assistance systems. A full color head-up display, power second-row seat folding, power sunroof and rear camera mirror are also included.

The Premium Luxury Trim adds the Driver Assist Package which offers adaptive cruise control, forward and reverse automatic braking and automatic seatbelt tightening. Front LED cornering lamps, illuminated exterior door handles and a rear-seat entertainment system including wireless headphones and a 9-inch overhead screen complete the offerings.

If that is still not enough, the top Platinum Trim includes all of the above and adds premium interior leather trim, 18-way power and massaging front seats, center console cooler and premium 22-inch wheels.

The Verdict

The Cadillac Escalade ESV is an extended wheelbase full-sized SUV with seating for 8 and their luggage too. An astounding level of standard and available luxury equipment is on offer.

Masses of interior space a quiet cabin and muscular performance are its strong points although the cramped third row seats and subpar ride quality detract from a potentially class-leading offering.

2019 Cadillac XT4 First Drive Review: The Escalade Puppy

Can the smallest sized Cadillac take a big bite out of the competition?

The consequences for tardiness are obviously wide-ranging. If you’re late for a rocket launch, that’s just too bad it’s gone, but if you’re late for your brother-in-law’s birthday party, well, at least you made it.

So, if you were to pin the luxury compact crossover space somewhere along that spectrum, you’ll find that it leans far closer to a party you wish you weren’t at than it does rocket science–which is lucky for Cadillac considering its first compact crossover, XT4, is virtually the last of the major players to arrive. It’s also 2018 and there are no real allegiances inside the suburban image slaughterhouse, while the downtown crowd is more likely to opt for intelligent choices rather than pure flash.

Chief exterior designer, Robin Kreig, affectionately calls the XT4 an “Escalade puppy”, it’s a good metaphor for the work his team did paring the most attractive bits from Cadillac’s beefcake flagship down into something softer, playful, and more palatable. The theme starts from the stretched wheelbase and squat stance, with the widened track and big wheels almost making the XT4 look like it has a set of oversized puppy paws, while the chiseled, vertical LED lighting elements in both the front and the back strongly resemble not just the Escalade, but the universally adored CTS-V Wagon.

Bright wheels and tasteful bodyside drama give the XT4 a handsome presence among the silver jelly beans that populate the rest of the segment, something which the brand is betting will appeal to a crowd of dissatisfied owners who currently pledge allegiance to rivals from Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Lexus, and Acura.

Curb appeal and stance didn’t just drive the program’s design decisions, they also dictated key engineering choices when it came to the vehicle’s architecture. Instead of repurposing the company’s compact Delta architecture which underpins the Chevrolet Equinox and GMC Terrain, Cadillac instead was able to give the XT4 the first crossover specific variant of GM’s mid-sized Epsilon architecture. Like a boxer cutting weight for a fight, the larger architecture allowed the engineering team more freedom to stretch the wheelbase and chop the overhangs while still being able to boast best in class torsional rigidity.

The front half of the chassis sports a solid-mounted front cradle and a lateral cross brace that provide a solid support structure for the MacPherson strut front suspension and allowed engineers to keep rebound rates tight in order to reign in any unwanted body motions or weight transfer.

In back there’s a five-link independent suspension borrowed in its entirety from the larger XT5’s parts bin. The rear end is mounted to a fully isolated rear cradle system that’s been engineered to quell the sound reverberations caused by the crossover’s open cargo areas.

The additional lateral stiffness is definitely noticeable with just the smallest amount of trail braking when you chuck the XT4 into a back road sweeper a touch hotter than you should as you close down a balding man in a Fiat 124.

XT4 Sport models are available with an Active Sport Suspension with Continuous Damping Control which provides variable damping using an array of vehicle and road inputs to adjust suspension behavior for each wheel up to 500 times per second. The whole package rides on a set of custom-developed, Continental all-season tires which were designed to optimize grip, handling, braking, and quietness. Cadillac says more than a year was spent refining the compound and tread design of the standard 18 and available 20-inch tires, so don’t go skimping on tires when it comes time to refresh the stock equipment.

Also borrowed from its big brother, the XT4 gains an available twin-clutch all-wheel-drive system which can be a boon to driving in both ideal, and inclement conditions. In AWD or Sport mode, the twin clutches integrated into the rear differential will independently control the amount of torque given to each rear wheel based on road conditions and driver demands; which means it can shuffle torque to the outside rear wheel during spirited driving to help rotate the rear, or it can add stability and peace of mind when dealing with wheel slip in sloppy winter conditions. However, keep the drive mode in Tour and the system will disconnect entirely, allowing you to enjoy the benefits of FWD-only fuel economy.

Beneath the hood, XT4 takes its motivation from an all-new 237-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. A twinscroll turbo offers a torque curve that is both fat and flat, delivering an absurd 97-percent of available twist between 1,500 and 5,000 rpm which makes driveability and throttle application suitably linear.

At 118.5-hp per liter, it’s actually one of the most powerful engines GM has ever created, making more jam pound for pound than the company’s 640-hp supercharged 6.2-liter V8 in the CTS-V. Power makes it to the wheels via GM’s new nine-speed automatic transmission, which shifts smartly and crisply, even up long grades it was good at keeping itself from hunting around for more torque. Gear shifts can also be actuated by the set of wheel-mounted paddles, but the ECU is faster and smoother.

XT4 also gains a new tripower valvetrain that uses a unique sliding camshaft barrel to switch into different valve lift modes to either optimize power, efficiency or even cut the load on the engine in half by reducing the number of operational cylinders. From a dig, you’ll find the 2.0-liter to sound somewhat course until you shoot past 2,500 rpm, at the top of the rev range you do get extremely pleasing high-lift sounds.

Other highlights include the use of active thermal management technology which will keep the engine cooler under heavy loads but should also aid with warm up in cold conditions. Lastly, there’s a stop/start system which you’ll either like and leave engaged, or loathe like some grotesque vaudevillian caricature. The new 2.0-liter will eventually proliferate throughout the corporation, but for now it remains Cadillac exclusive. There’s definitely more room in the engine bay to fit something larger, be it in terms of displacement or cylinder count, but there are officially no future plans to offer additional engine choices.

For all its technical wizardry, the XT4 will be bought primarily based on the cabin experience. Just about every surface is wrapped in soft-to-the-touch leather, including the upper and lower sections of both the dashboard and door panels. The seats are comfortable enough and are available with heated, cooled, and massaging functions, there’s wireless charging, which is always nice, an air ionizer, and driving aids like surround vision and a rear camera mirror.

Additionally, shoppers get 4G LTE connectivity, a totally revamped Cadillac CUE system which is offered through an 8-inch diagonal interface, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and new Near Field Connectivity capability which allows you to connect your phone in seconds with a tap on the little NFC logo on the dash. The most useful buttons are laid out horizontally beneath the touchscreen, it looks like a mouthful of teeth, but at the same time it’s preferable to burying functionality within the screen itself.

In fact, the only real part of the interior experience I didn’t like was the steering wheel, it’s just chunky for no reason and the stitching felt course when fingered. Elsewhere in the cabin, Cadillac claims best in class rear seat legroom, which is definitely believable if you spend any time whatsoever in the second row, another benefit of opting to use a larger donor platform.

The XT4 also debuts Cadillac’s new Y trim strategy, which splits content off into two distinct streams of luxury and performance as you move up the trim ladder. The company actually claims the XT4 is the most contented car in its class, which is true, but you’ll also have to pay for it. For example, the Sport model shown here stickered at more than $55,000 and required things like the 20-inch wheels, sports suspension, and performance AWD system to be added as optional extras.

But realistically, the XT4 should help Cadillac print money after losing out to established players like the Lexus NX, Mercedes-Benz GLA, Audi Q3, and BMW X3. The only question remaining is will consumers take to the XT4’s refreshing exterior design, and can Cadillac do enough to command consumer attention in what is becoming an increasingly competitive space?

2017 Cadillac Escalade Review: A Taste Of The Good Life

The Escalade survived unscathed through snow or GM's Chapter 11 bankruptcy without changing, because why should it?

Back in 2015 when Cadillac decided that it needed to evolve or risk facing the same fate that Saab, Pontiac, and Hummer underwent during GM's bankruptcy in 2009, there was only one model that required absolutely no game changing modifications to keep selling. That, of course, was the Escalade. While the rest of Cadillac scrambled to cook up striking new designs and platforms that could hold a candle to the Germans, the Escalade moved forward rather unchanged from the luxury automaker’s trial by fire.

The 2017 Escalade, which Cadillac sent to our office for a grueling week of testing in Tahoe during one of the area’s worst snow storms on record, hasn’t altered the recipe that made the original Escalade a success. It’s still a full-size SUV that shares nearly all of its DNA with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, and while it’s priced alongside the latest generation of luxury SUVs like the Mercedes GLS and Land Rover Range Rover, it utilizes a body-on-frame chassis rather than unibody construction like its rivals. Anyone expecting a lower price for putting up with an old truck chassis would be morbidly shocked to find that our tester came in at $96,500 despite the fact that it wasn’t the larger Chevy Suburban/GMC Yukon XL-based Escalade ESV.

Now you know, extra chrome actually does cost a premium. Part of the reason for the Escalade having a price high enough to make buying one a sin is that it came optioned in Platinum trim, which adds $13,800 to the $79,590 base price and tries to justify it with a unique upper grille, 22-inch chrome wheels, admittedly supple and comfortable leather seating surfaces, electronic driver’s aids, massaging front seats, and two DVD players embedded in the headrests of the front seats among other things. In case that wasn’t enough, there’s a third screen mounted from the ceiling and lodged between the two headrest units to go along with the refrigerated center console.

This is flanked by heated and cooled front seats and heated second row seats as well as a heated steering wheel in case the going gets chilly. Those helped warm up our occupants in freezing Tahoe snow in case we forgot to heat up the cabin prior to entry using the remote start system. This reinforced the feeling that the Cadillac designers really had thought of everything, a suspicion we garnered after the power running boards helped us climb our tired limbs in after a long day of hitting ski runs and tucked away to avoid scooping up rocks and snow. In many applications, that many toys could be overwhelming, but the Cadillac’s sheer size made it so that the density of technology was likely equal to that of your run of the mill Acura.

Unfortunately, looks can be deceiving because while the Escalade has a large footprint, most of that is relegated to the passenger compartment, meaning that filling all seven seats only leaves a paltry 15.2 cubic feet of storage space behind the third row, less than the Dodge Challenger’s 16.2 cubic feet of trunk space. At least folding down the second and third row seats was made easy with buttons that perform the manual labor, much like the one that opened or closed the automatic tailgate if kicking aimlessly under the rear bumper to trigger the motion sensor didn’t do the trick. After one full day on the slopes, we discovered that a sea of gear could be added without opening the floodgates thanks to a tailgate window that opens independently.

It was then that we found that even the Escalade thought we were overpacking, as noted by the sound of the self-leveling suspension removing any hint of sag at the rear (drug traffickers take note). Unfortunately for criminals hoping to hide heavy loads in the rear, a trip down the street with the Escalade accomplishes the same thing that transparent clothing does: it gets a lot of attention. It feels as if the bling is rudely shining light in everyone’s eyes or announcing the presence of royalty because any nearby pauper will ask what you’re driving, what you do for a living, and if panhandling, will ask if you can spare any change (a dilemma auto journalists with flashy cars, not so flashy bank accounts, and a yearning to help frequently suffer).

Once in the mountains surrounding Lake Tahoe, the Escalade blended in with a crowd accustomed to having second houses in ski towns for their frequent winter trips, and it was easy to see why. That's because, whether on the highway en route to the snow or in the harsh white conditions and under high demands, the Escalade simply shines, literally and figuratively, and allows the opulent lifes of the wealthy to go on inside the cabin no matter the outside conditions. This goes for the driver as well because on the interstate, simply get out of Touring (Cadillac’s Normal mode) and into Sport mode to sharpen the throttle and firm up the variable dampers, which causes the 5,500 pound SUV to act less like a sailboat in a storm at highway speeds.

When temperature drops to the point that an icy road warning flashes on the gauge cluster, place the Escalade in Ice/Snow mode to deaden the throttle response and switch the four-wheel drive selector into auto so the computer can decide where the traction goes since, as obvious as it sounds, the 420 horsepower doled out by the 6.2-liter V8 is more than enough to upset the Escalade even in the dry. Mated to an eight speed automatic, a 0-60 mph time of 5.8 seconds is enabled while towing capacity reaches up to 8,300 pounds. When not under load, the transmission shifts seamlessly, so smoothly in fact that gearshifts are almost indistinguishable. While the ride feels refined, as refined as a body-on-frame ride can get, not all is perfect inside.

Despite having the softest of leathers and seats that could put a sugared up baby to sleep, small imperfections like a poorly fitted rear cover for the front seats, which expose wiring underneath, and a cupholder with real wood that couldn’t quite close without scratching itself, hinder the illusion that Cadillac has strayed far from GM. Regardless, the Escalade has it where it counts, with a plentiful number of USB ports, an HDMI input for the ceiling mounted monitor, a WiFi hotspot courtesy of On Star, and a CUE infotainment system that is fairly intuitive if a bit cluttered, but is a far cry from systems of old that begged for a fist through the screen.

One feature sure to please owners seeking ultimate comfort are the adjustable pedals that lend a hand in helping the driver feel catered to rather than having to conform themselves to the car. While the theme is common among cars in this class, it's the Escalade's execution that's unique, if only just because most of its competitors have gone with more road-friendly unibody setups. The Escalade stands as a relic then, albeit one that has all the toys to keep loyal buyers coming back for more due to a secret desire for the heinous amounts of jewelry and the dose of instant celebrity that it comes with. This, along with the willing bones of a Chevy workhorse, make the Escalade the perfect trip companion for the ski season.

Watch A 800-HP Cadillac Escalade Challenge A Camaro ZL1 1LE

Obviously, this wasn’t a stock Cadillac Escalade.

Hennessey Performance has a reputation for making ridiculously fast cars go even faster. We recently witnessed the 1,000-hp Camaro ZL1 Exorcist hit a top speed of 217 mph, beating the Corvette’s claimed 213 mph top speed. But what happens when you pit a stock Camaro ZL1 against a Cadillac Escalade SUV tuned by Hennessey in a drag race? The Texas-based tuner offers a HPE800 package, which transforms the Escalade into a supercar-beating SUV with a hefty 805 horsepower on tap, doubling the power available in the stock Escalade.

This is achieved by attaching a high-flow 2.9L supercharger to the 6.2-liter V8 engine, among other upgrades. As a result, the Hennessey Escalade can hit 0-62 mph in 3.7 seconds and cover the quarter-mile in 11.7 seconds at 116 mph. What better way to showcase the benefits of Hennessey’s Escalade tuning package?

By pitting the souped-up SUV against an established American muscle car, of course. For this duel, Hennessey selected a stock Camaro ZL1, which is powered by a 650-hp supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 engine mated to a six-speed manual transmission. Its Active Rev Match sends power to the rear wheels, so the Camaro is at a disadvantage since the Escalade features an all-wheel drive system. That said, while the modified Escalade is more powerful, the Camaro is much lighter, which makes for a compelling drag race. We won’t spoil the outcome, so you’ll have to watch this unique drag duel to find out which car was victorious.

Trust us, it’s an entertaining watch – just watch the Escalade’s front end come close to performing a wheelie. That’s something you don’t see every day.