Plugging in the Whale: The Cadillac Escalade IQ
In a move that surprises no one, General Motors building its own all-electric version of the Cadillac Escalade. Yes, ladies and gents, the vehicle the size of a blue whale and with the aerodynamics of a brick is getting an electric makeover.
They’re calling it the Escalade IQ, presumably because GM wants to remind us that even our cars will soon be smarter than us. The Escalade IQ joins Cadillac’s lineup of EVs, which include the Celestiq and the Lyriq SUV. The Lyriq is billed as more “attainable,” which, in Cadillac speak, means it only costs as much as a small house in the Midwest, rather than a mansion in Malibu.
It’s all part of GM’s master plan to turn Cadillac into an exclusively EV brand by 2030. This a bold strategy, considering that by 2030 we might all be living on Mars with Elon Musk, leaving our earthly possessions (and our Escalades) behind.
GM’s Ultium Platform: Powering the Future of EVs
All GM’s EVs are based on its Ultium platform. It’s akin to the universal Ikea manual for electric vehicles, with the difference that you can’t lose any screws, or it won’t go ‘vrooom’ anymore. This platform will be used across multiple GM brands. Which includes the Chevy Equinox EV, the Silverado, and the GMC Hummer EV — and presumably, this new electrified behemoth, the Escalade IQ.
Bigger, it seems, is still better when it comes to SUVs. Many automakers are leaning into this trend, creating larger and larger electric SUVs to sate the American market’s demand for vehicles they can’t park. A case in point is Kia’s EV9, a hotly anticipated three-row SUV that might also double as a mobile condo.
The last Escalade GM released was its largest and longest ever. This is not exactly surprising for a brand that seems to be in a perpetual game of “my car’s bigger than your car.” We’ll have to wait and see what the new IQ will look like. But I’m personally hoping for an in-built step ladder to get into the vehicle.
General Motors Building The Escalade IQ: A Luxury EV with a Luxury Price Tag
The current gas-powered Escalade starts at a modest $80,000. But considering GM’s audacious EV, the GMC Hummer, starts at $111,000. I’d expect the Escalade IQ to have a price tag that would make a Silicon Valley billionaire blush. Still, I suppose if you can afford to lose a small child in the back seat of your car, you can afford the electric bill to charge it.
Until then, keep your eyes on the roads (and possibly the sidewalks). The era of electric SUVs is here, whether you asked for it or not.
