Electric Cadillac Escalade IQ revealed with $US130,000 price tag

US car-maker Cadillac has taken covers off the Escalade IQ – the first-ever electric version of its iconic SUV – with prices to start from approximately $US130,000 ($AU200,000) in its home market.

The electric Escalade is the latest model to join Cadillac’s ‘IQ’ range of battery-powered models, alongside the Lyriq, Optiq and Celestiq.

As reported last month, Cadillac could return to Australia after trademark applications filed by General Motors were discovered by Drive.

Along with the Optiq, Lyriq, Vistiq, and forthcoming Escalade IQ being trademarked locally, General Motors Australia and New Zealand recently announced it had appointed Jess Bala as Managing Director – the former Director of Global Product Planning and Product Strategy for Cadillac.

Up until last year, the petrol and diesel-powered Cadillac Escalade was the most popular model in the brand’s US line-up, having only recently been surpassed by the smaller and significantly cheaper XT5 SUV.

Due in US showrooms in 2024 – 25 years after the first-generation Escalade debuted – the electric model is based on General Motors’ Ultium platform, shared with the GMC Hummer EV and Chevrolet Silverado EV.

Dual electric motors deliver up to 507kW and 834Nm to all four wheels in its normal drive mode, though switching to ‘Velocity Max’ ups the ante to almost 560kW and 1065Nm – albeit with reduced driving range.

Cadillac claims the Escalade IQ can accelerate from zero to 98km/h (60mph) in “less than five seconds”, while also estimating it can tow up to 3630kg.

According to the car-maker, a driving range of more than 720km is achievable, though its real-world performance is yet to be tested.

The Cadillac Escalade IQ is fitted with 24-inch wheels all round and rides on a magnetically-controlled “adaptive air ride system”, which can lower the SUV by as much as 50mm and increase its height by 25mm when requested. 

A four-wheel-steering system also allows the Escalade IQ to boast a 12-metre turning circle and offer better stability when towing, according to Cadillac.

Inside, the electric SUV is equipped with a huge 55-inch infotainment touchscreen – shared with the Celestiq – while second-row passengers are also treated to their own 16.6-inch screens with dual wireless phone charging pads, USB-C and HDMI ports.

A 19-speaker sound system is standard, though buyers can option larger 36- and 40-speaker setups for an additional, unspecified cost.

With prices starting from $US130,000 ($AU200,000), the Cadillac Escalade is about $US50,000 more than the least-expensive petrol-powered Escalade, but almost $20,000 cheaper than the Escalade V – which is powered by the 6.2-litre supercharged V8 engine from a Corvette.

Ms Bala will take the position on 1 September 2023, succeeding Marc Ebolo who will become General Motors’ Director of Sales in the Middle East.