2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
I attended a dinner for the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid at a chic restaurant in NYC the other night. The Escalade took center stage in a cobbled courtyard right off Madison Avenue creating quite the buzz. I haven’t driven it yet... but it’s coming to my neighborhood soon...
What it is: The world’s first hybrid on a large, luxury SUV.
Specs: 20/21 mpg, 332 hp, 367 lb-ft of torque, 0-60 in 8 seconds.
Looks: Big, bold and handsome with large HYBRID signage on the flanks and signature green logo’s. One onlooker gave a thumbs down to the signage. I think that if you’re going to be driving it, you should let the world know.
What Cadillac says: “The arrival of Escalade Hybrid means that consumers can now use less fossil fuel, reduce emissions and still enjoy the benefits of a full-size luxury SUV,” remarked Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager.
What it does: Seats eight, can carry or trailer tons of cargo.
How it works: Available in 2WD and 4WD configurations, the new hybrid system enables the Escalade Hybrid to drive low speeds on just electricity alone. Plus, the 6.0L V-8 engine to operate in its more economical four-cylinder mode for longer periods of time. GM’s Active Fuel Management technology lets the V-8 engine seamlessly shut off half of its cylinders when less power is needed for cruising.
When the brakes are applied or the vehicle is coasting, the electric motors in the hybrid system create electricity that is stored in the 300-volt battery onboard. This stored energy is used to move the vehicle and the regenerative braking cycle is renewed.
The big quiet: Hybrid by definition should equal quiet. And this one promises to be super quiet. A new exhaust system was created place to allow comfortable interior acoustics. One of the engineers noted that they had to substantially “quiet all the systems down to make it more transparently hybrid”.
Escalade aesthetics: A first for LED headlamps on a utility vehicle. Buttery leather, seamless wood and aluminum that’s soft to the touch on the inside.
- Posted by
- Holly Reich June 19, 2008, 11:27 AM
- Permalink
- Categories:
I think the GM Tahoe/Yukon/Escalade hybrids are awesome. The city mileage is competitive with 4-cyl mid-sized cars and the highway mileage is competitive with crossovers! I purely technical terms, these cars are just superb.
But the hybrid marketing might fool people into expecting an economical vehicle like, say, a Camry hybrid. For anyone who doesn't need a luxury vehicle that can carry 7 and tow 6000 lbs, this is NOT an economical vehicle.
The HYBRID sticker is tacky and should be removed.
I'd like to see GM use the technology in everyday cars like the Malibu or the CTS.
Good for Cadillac. That thing is still ostentatious at best. I defend your right to own one and love it, but I hate hate hate them.
Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.
blackladder--GM is coming out with a hybrid Malibu.
ewilfong-- glad you got that off your chest. btw, i don't own one.
Hehe. I meant "your" in the universal sense. Do any of the Edmunds staff drive Escalades?
don't know the answer to that one...
AUTHOR: allenfre
DATE: 06/27/2008 06:46:23 PM
EMAIL: allenfre@live.com