The luxury car company announced today that they will build the all-electric Cadillac Escalade SUV we had hoped for. The expensive full-size SUV that runs on electricity is set to come out in late 2023. Since it’s likely to be built on GM’s Ultium EV platform, which is also used for the Chevy Silverado EV, GMC Hummer EV, and the soon-to-be-released GMC Sierra EV, it’s unlikely to have many technical similarities to the old gas-powered Escalade. Also, it will be called something different. The most surprising thing about Cadillac’s news is that they chose the name “Escalade IQ” for the electric version of the Escalade. It’s also a weak link between Cadillac’s other EVs, the Lyriq and Celestiq, and the Escalade, a well-known name. Not only does it sound strangely like Mercedes-Benz’s electric sub-brand EQ and the name of a now-defunct Scion microcar, but it is also the same name. We understand why Cadillac couldn’t call it “Escaladiq” or something similar, but adding “-qi” to the terms of the other EVs makes the original name sound a little forced. Cadillac takes the IQ question very seriously, of course. According to the news release, “IQ is Cadillac’s name for its electric vehicles (EVs), and it was first used for the LYRIQ.” (Cadillac’s new electric luxury SUV is called the “ESCALADE IQ,” with an emphasis on the “IQ.”) But let’s look at the good side of things. Cadillac will finally become an all-electric brand, so even the Escalade SUV, which makes a lot of money, will have to switch from gas to electricity. It’s still being determined if this Escalade with a higher IQ will be sold alongside gas-powered cars or will ultimately replace them. Cadillac says the EV “promises the same commitment to craftsmanship, technology, and performance that has helped the Escalade nameplate dominate the large luxury SUV segment for the last 20 years.” It discusses how it will work with the Lyriq and other vehicles to “electrify” the brand. We wouldn’t worry about having power. Even the most potent Escalade V model with its 668-hp supercharged V-8 can’t keep up with the latest Ultium electric powertrains. The Hummer EV truck can be bought with more than 1,000 hp. The standard Escalade’s 420-hp, 6.2-liter V-8 will seem like a minor annoyance by comparison. Any way you look at it, we can’t wait to see how Cadillac turns the Escalade into an electric car.
