2023 Cadillac Escalade-V Debuts With 682 Horses, $150K Starting Price

Cadillac Society exclusively reported the impending Cadillac Escalade-V way back in 2019, and since then, we’ve brought you spy shots of various prototypes undergoing testing, and were even lucky enough to hear one roar at wide open throttle a few months ago, followed by healthy some revving. Cadillac confirmed our reports by revealing the Escalade-V earlier this year, with promises to unveil its full specs in May. May is upon us, and today, the luxury marque cast the veil off the Escalade-V and revealed its full specifications. 

We already knew that the Cadillac Escalade-V would pull motivation from the same engine as what’s under the hood of the Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing: the supercharged 6.2L V8 engine (production code LT4). Under the hood of the performance-oriented luxury SUV, that eight-cylinder is capable of a whopping 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque. The supercharged engine bolts to Cadillac’s 10-speed automatic transmission, throwing power to all four wheels. The luxury marque estimates that the Escalade-V can gallop from zero to 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. 

Sitting atop that eight-cylinder powerhouse is a 2.65L R2650 TVS supercharger that helps to accommodate the higher inlet and exhaust restrictions due to the full-size SUV application. It spins at 13,500 RPM, generating approximately 10 pounds of boost, with a electronically controlled bypass valve for optimal performance. The supercharger has four-lobe rotors designed to facilitate a larger power band while providing low-end torque and high-RPM power. 

The “racing Mondrian” V-Series badge is exclusive to Cadillac V-Series vehicles, named in reference to Piet Mondrian, whose art inspired the insignia. In fact, the Escalade-V is the first SUV to wear the V-Series badge, joining the ultra-high-performance Cadillac CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing sedans in the luxury marque’s lineup. V-Series badging can be found throughout the Escalade-V interior, including on the driver and front passenger doors, liftgate, and steering wheel.

There are plenty of features to further set the Cadillac Escalade-V apart from its competition. It sports unique front fascia designed to represent its aggressive V-Series designation while helping it breathe. Expelling those deep breaths is a sporty-looking quad exhaust outlets with black tips. The six-piston Brembo brake calipers are painted bright red, visible behind exclusive 22-inch aluminum wheels.

The Escalade-V boasts V-Mode, a customizable driving setting that allows the person behind the wheel to customize the high-performance SUV’s handling. Adjustments made available through V-Mode include Sport or Tour settings for steering calibration, suspension settings, and brake pedal feel. Engine sound can be tuned between Stealth, Tour or Sport thanks to the active exhaust valves, and the AWD system can be fixed between Tour, Sport or Snow/Ice depending on driver preference. Finally, V-Mode allows engine performance to be toggled between Tour, Sport or Snow/Ice mode, creating a unique driving experience for every condition.

The Escalade-V also features the luxury marque’s Super Cruise semi-autonomous driver assist technology. with available towing functionality to come at a later date. 

“Customers and enthusiasts have asked for an Escalade-V, and we’re thrilled to bring this high-performance SUV to market in the year of Cadillac’s 120^th anniversary,” said Rory Harvey, Global Cadillac Vice President. 

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V is set to go on sale late this summer, and will carry a starting MSRP of $149,990 for the regular-length variant. An extended-length ESV model will also be available. 

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