Cadillac will launch the fifth generation of the Escalade for the 2021 model year. According to a report from Cadillac Society, one of the Escalade’s three powertrain options will be fully electric with a range of 400 miles. The EV version would arrive sometime after the model’s debut.
The Escalade would be a natural candidate for conversion to a long-range electric vehicle. The full-sized SUV is large enough to carry the required battery capacity. Escalade customers already pay a premium — the base model of the current generation starts at $75,195 — and could bear the additional costs for an electric vehicle.
Achieving a 400-mile range would be a step forward on current technology. Tesla’s long-range Model X tops out at 325 miles on a 100 kWh battery. Rivian has promised up to 410 miles of range for the 180 kWh edition of its upcoming R1S electric SUV, but that range will be available as a five-seater only.
An Escalade EV would be a vital vehicle for Cadillac. The Escalade is presently Cadillac’s second-biggest seller to the XT5. Serving as GM’s luxury EV arm will be, by GM’s own admission, Cadillac’s last shot at reinvention. The next-generation Escalade is also under pressure to make a dramatic statement. The SUV’s arch-rival Lincoln Navigator raised the bar on interior luxury with its redesigned 2019 model, enough for Gear Patrol to name it the 2018 Car of the Year.
Stay tuned to GearPatrol.com for further updates on this developing story.
The best way to catch up on the day’s most important product releases and stories. Read the Story
