2023 Cadillac Escalade-V uncovered in the US, no nearer to Australia

Cadillac – the luxury division of US car giant General Motors – has applied its consecrated V-Series performance identification to its biggest and most well-known SUV – making the full-size 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V.

While technical details of the US luxury brand’s first performance SUV will not be released until later this year, official photographs released by Cadillac show the Escalade-V will profit from an incomplete styling makeover to match its sporty picture.

It is relied upon to be powered by a supercharged 6.2-liter V8, however, this is yet to be affirmed.

Likewise, with the whole Cadillac brand, the Escalade-V won’t make the journey (officially) to Australian showrooms, with nearby merchant General Motors Specialty Vehicles yet to layout any plans to present the brand. Cadillac was only weeks from an Australian launch in 2009, before parent GM pulled the pin at the last minute as the Global Financial Crisis took hold.

Under the cap of the Escalade-V is supposed to be the equivalent 6.2-liter supercharged V8 as the Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 muscle car and Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing car (among different vehicles), mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission driving every one of the four wheels.

While outputs are yet to be affirmed, the engine creates somewhere in the range of 485kW and 498kW in its different applications, and up to 893Nm – a significant upgrade over the standard Escalade’s 313kW/624Nm 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated petrol V8 (shared with the connected Chevrolet Silverado full-size pick-up presented in Australia).

Cadillac fans will take note of the hot Escalade wears the standard V-Series identification – rather than the top-rung V-Series Blackwing name – and accordingly would require a less powerful engine nearer in performance to regular Escalade models – perhaps an updated version of the previously mentioned 6.2-liter naturally-aspirated V8.

In any case, given the Escalade SUV’s extra size and weight – and that a flagship Escalade-V Blackwing is impossible, as it would require some type of race track capacity – it’s possible the supercharged engine will be standard in the flagship SUV, instead of a supercharger-less, circa-370kW bent-eight.

A video of the Escalade-V’s instrument cluster uncovers a showed redline of around 6200rpm – just below the 6500rpm of different vehicles with the supercharged ‘LT4’ V8 engine, yet well above the 5700rpm of the standard Escalade V8, recommending the supercharged mill is more probable.

New 22-inch alloy wheels fill the arches, however, they’re apparently wrapped in the similar Bridgestone all-season tyres as the regular Escalade. Retuned adaptive air suspension (delivering a lower ride height) and bigger brake discs are likewise likely to feature.

The Escalade-V has acquired a selection of styling moves up to separate from the standard model, including a revised front fascia with a black mesh grille and larger lower intakes, enlarged black side skirts, four exhaust tips, and a more aggressive rear diffuser.

V-Series branding decorates the front doors, alloy wheels, and tailgate, with red brake calipers likewise on offer.

No pictures of the interior have been released, beyond photographs and videos of a V-badged steering wheel and new digital instrument cluster graphics – however anticipate that features should incorporate revised front seats, carbon-fiber-look trim, and an array of V-Series identifications.

Further details of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V will be released in the northern spring of 2022 (March to May), in front of a US market launch reasonable before mid-2023 (to stay the Model Year 2023 vehicle).

Spy photographs propose both standard-wheelbase and ESV long-wheelbase versions will be accessible, in opposition to speculation.