Not many new cars can out-large-and-in-charge the ridonculous GMC Hummer EV, but leave it to General Motors to one-up itself in outlandishness. Making its debut Wednesday, the electric Cadillac Escalade IQ is an absolutely massive luxury EV. It certainly has the style and swagger you’d expect from an Escalade, with a huge electric driving range, massive multimedia screen and other big-sounding hyperbolic attributes. What a thing.
At 5.6m long, riding on a 3.4m wheelbase, the Escalade IQ is 20cm longer than the GMC Hummer EV pickup, or more than 60cm longer than the Hummer EV SUV. The IQ is also 216cm wide with its mirrors folded, which is four inches wider than the standard Escalade, but an inch narrower than a Hummer EV. It’ll still be a chore to park, natch.
The Hummer comparisons aren’t limited to the Escalade IQ’s size, by the way; there are a ton of common features under the Cadillac’s skin. The Escalade’s battery is a teensy bit smaller than the GMC’s, at 200 kilowatt hours, and it’s a little less powerful than a Hummer EV, too, only making – only! – 680hp and 830Nm of torque. Cadillac fits the Escalade IQ with something called Velocity Max mode, which we assume is a lot like the Hummer EV’s stupidly named Watts to Freedom launch setting, where output increases to 750hp and 1065Nm of torque. Cadillac says this behemoth should hit 60 mph in less than five seconds. Impressive, considering this SUV likely weighs north of 4000kg. Seriously.
Making this galoot easier to maneuver is four-wheel steering, like what you’ll find on the Hummer, and Cadillac fits the Escalade IQ with something called Arrival Mode, which the company says allows the SUV to move diagonally – you know, like the Hummer’s Crab Walk party trick. Low Ride mode – perhaps a nod to Cadillac’s Detroit roots – lowers the adaptive air suspension’s ride height by two inches. Oh, and before you ask: 24-inch wheels. On 35-inch tires. Thank goodness for constantly adjusting MagneRide dampers.
GM’s excellent Ultium battery tech gives the Escalade IQ 800-volt electrical architecture, resulting in impressive DC fast charging speeds. Plugged into an appropriately punchy charger, the Cadillac says the Escalade IQ’s battery can add up to 160 km of driving range in just 10 minutes. The IQ’s total driving range is expected to be 725 km, which is rad, and you’ll be able to cover lots of ‘em legitimately hands-free, thanks to GM’s Super Cruise driver-assistance tech.
From the outside, the IQ looks less like a traditional Escalade and more like an enormous Cadillac Lyriq, which sort of makes sense, given the company’s new styling direction. But inside, holy smokes, what a swanky son-of-a-gun. The interior looks absolutely ace, dominated by a 55-inch multimedia screen that spans the width of the dash – sort of like what Cadillac fits in its insanely expensive new Celestiq. You can get a four-place passenger arrangement for the ultimate back-seat experience, and there’s a ton of storage space, with 345 litres of space up front in the frunk, and as much as 3400 litres of cargo space behind the first row.
As Motoring Journalists, we have spent the past two decades reporting on the latest developments in the automotive industry. Our passion for cars began at a young age, and we have been fortunate enough to turn that passion into successful careers.
We have covered a wide range of topics related to cars and the automotive industry. From the latest car models to the impact of new technologies on the industry, we have always been at the forefront of reporting on the latest developments. I have also interviewed some of the biggest names in the industry, from CEOs of major automakers to famous racing drivers.
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
.jpeg)
