2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV Safety

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV Safety second-row captain's chairs had the only Latch anchors in this three-row SUV. The Latch anchors are easy to access. The tether anchors are at the bottom of the captain's chair seatbacks, so their accessibility isn't great but this isn't uncommon. A variety of child-safety seats fit without a problem in the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV Safety, with the exception of the third row's center seating position.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV Safety received three out of five stars in rollover crash-test ratings by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, but it hasn't undergone the agency's other crash tests. It also hasn't been crash-tested by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Standard safety features include rear-wheel drive, all-disc antilock brakes, an electronic stability system with rollover mitigation technology, traction control, a blind spot warning system, a backup camera with rear parking sensors, and six airbags, including side curtains for all three rows. Four-wheel drive is optional in the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV Safety.

2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV was so big it made all the other cars around it feel like an entourage of hangers-on. The high notes aren't so much new notes.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV has shiny 22-inch wheels, chromed air vents, and a power liftgate and running boards.

The running boards were a source of pain early in my test drive because I kept whacking my shins on them as they automatically dropped down when I opened the door.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV is 222.9 inches long. Make sure to measure your garage before bringing this beast home. Don't say you weren't warned.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV has a 403-horsepower, 6.2-liter V-8. It uses regular gas or E85 ethanol, which lowers its fuel economy to 9/13 mpg.

2011 Cadillac Escalade

It's easy to consider the 2011 Cadillac Escalade a superstar because of its flash and reputation, but after my experience in the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV, I'm convinced it's more like a diva.
This SUV is ginormous, and I was interested to see how it really worked as an everyday family hauler. However, the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV didn't really care what I thought. It was going to do whatever it wanted.

The three-row 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV, which is 20 inches longer than the Escalade, drove like a mansion on wheels and felt like one when we were in it. With its V-8 engine, driving on the highway was awesome as long as the road was mostly straight.
Parking lots were difficult and I couldn't imagine running errands in the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV without parking far away from the other cars so I wouldn't worry about the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV's butt hanging out of the spot.

With a starting MSRP of $66,080, the 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV isn't for the faint of heart.
My test car, a top-of-the-line Premium Edition with four-wheel drive, cost $88,295. Let's just get the obvious out of the way: The 2011 Cadillac Escalade ESV with four-wheel drive gets an EPA-estimated 13/18 mpg city/highway. Ouch. So much for the kids' college fund.

Cadillac ATS 2012 CUE System

Cadillac has lagged the industry in infotainment, but that will change next year. General Motors spent the past 30 months developing CUE, short for Cadillac User Experience.

The infotainment system's simplicity might remind users of an iPod Touch screen. You don't need to pull out a 500-page owner's manual and try to figure out how to use something. Icons are big, it's intuitive, easy to use. You will see the interface mimics a tablet computer.

Cadillac CUE will be standard on the 2013 Cadillac XTS sedan arriving next year and optional on the 2013 Cadillac ATS and SRX. The XTS replaces the DTS and STS in Cadillac's lineup. The Cadillac ATS 2012 is Cadillac's new compact car, which also arrives in 2012. Pricing was not announced.

Cadillac claims several industry firsts for its infotainment system. Here are some of the key features of Cadillac CUE:

Feedback: Buttons on the faceplate pulse when pressed to acknowledge the driver's commands.

Multi-touch gestures: Interactive motions (tap, flick, swipe and spread) popularized by smartphones and tablets are incorporated on to the 8-inch LCD screen to let the driver scroll lists and zooming in or out of a maps, for example.

Proximity sensing: When the driver's hand gets within eight inches of the screen, additional ions appear on the screen that give the driver more choices of things to control.

Speech recognition: The system lets consumers speak as they would in conversation and not with awkward commands and sequences.

Cadillac CUE will apply technology in a useful, meaningful way, that is relevant for the luxury buyer who will be able to access all of the audio data on the smartphone.

Cadillac ATS Tease

The engineers took the Cadillac ATS prototype to Nurburgring. Cadillac has already posted a blacked-out teaser shot of the car.

The Cadillac ATS is the all-new Cadillac compact luxury sport sedan with which Cadillac will battle the segment's king, the BMW 3 Series.


The Cadillac ATS is developed on the rear-wheel-drive architecture that borrows heavily from the larger Cadillac CTS and is expected to be used by other GM divisions besides Cadillac.

Eventually, the Cadillac ATS range is expected to include a Cadillac ATS coupe and a Cadillac ATS convertible, possibly a small wagon and at least one Cadillac ATS V-Series performance variant by 2015.

Cadillac CTS-V Performance and Security

2012 Cadillac CTS-V Performance

The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V is powered by a 6.2-liter supercharged V8 that produces 556 hp and 551 pound-feet of torque. Rear-wheel drive and a six-speed manual are standard, but a six-speed automatic is a no-cost option. In Edmunds testing, a manual-equipped CTS-V Coupe went from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 14 mpg city/19 mpg highway and 16 mpg combined with the manual and 12/18/14 with the automatic.

2012 Cadillac CTS-V Security

The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe comes standard with high-performance antilock brakes, stability control and traction control, front-seat side airbags and side curtain airbags. Also standard are a rearview camera, a blind-spot warning system and GM's OnStar emergency communications system. In Edmunds brake testing, the CTS-V stopped from 60 mph in a superb 104 feet. Few cars can beat that.

Standard equipment includes 19-inch wheels, summer performance tires, high-performance brakes, a limited-slip differential, magnetically controlled adaptive suspension, automatic and adaptive xenon headlamps with washers, foglamps, rear parking sensors, a blind-spot warning system and automatic wipers.

Cadillac CTS-V Coupe's Comfort and convenience features include keyless ignition/entry, remote ignition, dual-zone automatic climate control, a cabin odor filtration system, heated eight-way power front seats, driver memory functions, a power tilt-and-telescoping steering wheel, leather/faux-suede upholstery, a split-folding rear seat and an auto-dimming rearview mirror.
Electronic features include Bluetooth, a rearview camera, a navigation system, real-time traffic and weather, a pop-up touchscreen interface and a 10-speaker Bose surround-sound audio system with a CD/DVD player, satellite radio, digital music storage and an iPod/USB audio interface.

2012 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe

This is not your grandfather's Cadillac Coupe DeVille. This modern two-door Cadillac has a 556-horsepower supercharged V8. The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe is most definitely a head-turner. The problem is that the Cadillac Coupe pays for its styling with significant practical drawbacks. While the Cadillac Coupe's cabin design is a dead ringer for the attractive and well-built one found in the Cadillac CTS-V sedan, actual interior room is notably less. Of course, coupes are expected to be less spacious but the Cadillac CTS Coupe doesn't even meet these lowered expectations. As such, a 2012 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe isn't going to be as easy to live with on a regular basis as a BMW M3 or Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. The Cadillac CTS-V goes from zero to 60 mph in 4.2 seconds, which is the quickest for its class, and good enough to stand toe-to-toe with high-end sport coupes like the Jaguar XKR and Porsche 911. Those latter cars cost vastly more than the Cadillac CTS-V. So there is definitely a trade-off to be had when considering the 2012 Cadillac CTS-V Coupe. The 2012 Cadillac CTS-V is a four-passenger high-performance version of the CTS Coupe.

Cadillac Ciel

With every new concept must come reports of a production future, and the Cadillac Ciel convertible is no exception.

Revealed at last month's Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, the Cadillac Ciel puts a modern twist to a colourful history of extravagant convertibles, more easily described as land yachts.

According to British magazine Autocar, GM is considering putting the Cadillac Ciel (or a version of it) into production as a new halo model for its North American luxury public.

Known internally as the Omega project, the Cadillac Ciel is reportedly not far off getting a green light for development, but it remains unclear whether it will launch as a four-door convertible or as a new Holden Caprice-sized limousine.

The report adds that Cadillac's General Marketing Manager has described the Ciel as a critical element in the brand's push to return to the top of American buyers' shopping lists. For now, Butler has confirmed only that GM is "studying its options."

In the meantime, Cadillac fans can look forward to the arrival of the mid-sized ATS, a new rival for the BMW 3 Series, Mercedes-Benz C-Class and Audi A4.

2012 Cadillac ATS

Cadillac ATS is the mid-size compact sedan. The new Cadillac has long been speculated to wear the ATS badge.



The Cadillac ATS will share its platform with the next-gen Camaro. The Cadillac ATS sedan will come in 2012, and could also spawn a wagon and a convertible version. Its size and styling will put it up against the IS and G range, along with the 3-Series and C-Class.

You may think the Cadillac CTS already fits that segment, but the C-Class is a 5-Series sized car, despite being competitive on price with the next set down. An upcoming Cadillac DTS replacement in the form of the Cadillac XTS, also due in 2012, will offer a larger car to compete with the 7-Series, S-Class and Lexus' LS line, putting the Cadillac CTS into better perspective.

Positioning a car like the Cadillac ATS in a lower price range might be a very good strategy.

Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid and it's V8 6.0 engine was the first SUV from the luxury segment. The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid stands from the rest of it's family with distinctive features: exclusive grille and front bumper, 22" wheels, LED lights and white & blue interior lights.

The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid carries the GM Two-Mode Hybrid system. The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid system consists of an Electric Variable Transmission (EVT), the Energy Storage System, and a NiMH battery pack improve the fuel efficiency.

Thanks to this system, along with others like the Active Fuel Management (which disconnects four cylinders when not all are needed) the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid is 40% more efficient than traditional models according to EPA.
Considering the size and the 337 HP of the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, those numbers aren't bad at all. Capable of running with E85 fuel, the emissions can be reduced even more.

Cadillac CTS Convertible

Drop Top Customs, a Florida-based company that brought other convertible models at last year's SEMA Show, is now getting ready to chop the roof off the freshly revealed Cadillac CTS Coupe. The soft top Cadillac will be revealed for the first time at this year's edition of the gathering, which runs from November 2 to 5 at the Las Vegas convention center.

Cadillac's upcoming Alpha-platform mid-size/compact sedan will be named Cadillac ATS, according to new reports breaking today. The new Cadillac has long been speculated to wear the ATS badge, but to date General Motors has kept mum on the topic.

We already know a fair bit about the upcoming Cadillac ATS, which will share its Alpha platform with the next-gen Camaro. The Cadillac ATS sedan will come in 2012, and could also spawn a wagon and a convertible version. Its size and styling will put it up against the Lexus IS and Infiniti G range, along with BMW's 3-Series and Mercedes-Benz's C-Class.

You may think the Cadillac CTS already fits that bill, but in reality, the C-Class is a 5-Series/E-Class-sized car, despite being competitive on price with the next set down. An upcoming DTS replacement in the form of the XTS, also due in 2012, will offer a larger car to compete with the 7-Series, S-Class and Lexus' LS line, putting the CTS into better perspective.

Beyond that, however, details on the Alpha range are scarce--powertrains options could include a choice of turbocharged four or six-cylinder engines, as well as any number of naturally-aspirated mills. The transmission will almost certainly be a six-speed auto, though a six-speed manual offering is also possible.

2008 Cadillac CTS arrived

The 2008 CTS arrived in Chicagoland dealerships this week and has a base price of $32,990 -- $540 less than the 2007 model with the same engine. The all-new model comes standard with a 3.6-liter V-6 engine that delivers 263 horsepower, but for an additional power boost, you can opt for the 3.6-liter Direct Injection engine that delivers 304 horsepower.

For 2008, the CTS takes previously optional features -- such as 17-inch wheels, a Bose eight-speaker surround sound system, Stabilitrak and tire pressure monitoring -- and makes them standard fare.

Cadillac El Dorado 1967

The Ypsilanti, MI public school district operates a vocational training program called the Regional Career Technical Center (RCTC).

This year's project was a 1967 Cadillac Eldorado donated by Christopher Scott Norman. The students had 77 days to finish the car between the time they received it and this year's Detroit Autorama show in March. As many as thirty students led by teacher Bill Burnette had a hand in the project although a core group of seven did the bulk of the work.

2009 Cadillac CTS-V

The supercharged V8 slated for use in the next-gen Cadillac CTS-V will be none other than a "detuned" version of the 7.0L LS7 powerplant debuting in the Corvette Blue Devil, or rather, Corvette Z07. The version used in the CTS-V is to produce about 600 horsepower, or around 100 horses short of what the Z07 will produce.

Pick any possible competitor for the next CTS-V and it's obvious that all will come up short to Caddy's new mega muscle sedan. The BMW M3 and Audi RS4 both produce only 420 horsepower, while the horsepower happy AMG team stuffed only 503 in the Mercedes-Benz C63 AMG. Even the BMW M5, which is larger than the CTS, will come up short with an upcoming horsepower bump into the low-500 horsepower range. In short, the CTS-V will offer the same amount of horsepower as the 2008 Dodge Viper, which is pure insanity. GM's got stones, folks, and Cadillac is clearly the prime beneficiary of its newfound fortitude.

2007 Cadillac SRX

The big Cadillac SRX boasts a smooth 3.6-litre V6 petrol engine. The smooth unit is mated to a five-speed automatic gearbox, giving decent pace. Acceleration to 60mph in 9.3 seconds is competitive, while in-gear performance is also impressive. On the road, this translates into a relaxing experience. The Cadillac SRX feels sprightly and keen to respond to the throttle, while the engine doesn't have to be pushed that hard.

The handling is also a pleasant surprise. It's far from car-like, but it's not the large, unwieldy beast you expect. Instead, it has quite firm suspension, and body control is fairly good.

It doesn't wallow too much in bends and the steering has decent feel. The ride is OK too; the model soaks up bumps and potholes well, and is a good motorway cruiser.

The Cadillac SRX has been on sale for a few years, but only in 2007 was it offered in right-hand-drive guise. And little prepares you for seeing one in the flesh. Make no mistake, this is a big SUV with plenty of road presence.

Yet thanks to the well proportioned styling, it hides its size quite well. It looks more like a large estate, and the long LED tail lights give it a modern, upmarket appearance. Its upmarket credentials mean Cadillac see it as a rival to the Range Rover, but with a bargain price in its favour.

It's also positioned close to the Audi Q7, BMW X5, Mercedes ML and Volvo XC90.

Billed as a seven-seater, you wouldn't put your worst enemy in the rearmost row. A high load floor makes them uncomfortable for adults, and there are no headrests either. They can be (slowly) folded out of the way at the press of an electric button though.

There's plenty of room in the middle room, too. And though American cars have traditionally been blighted by poor interiors, the Cadillac SRX's cabin surprised us. Soft-touch plastics give an upmarket feel, while the twin glovebox is clever.

Some of the switchgear is low-rent though, and the cheap plastic and nasty wood on the steering wheel is disappointing. The rim doesn't move for reach, either, although the Cadillac SRX does get electrically adjustable pedals, and the driving position feels quite car-like. It's decent value too, and equipment levels are impressive.

However, the lack of a diesel engine and V6 engine's thirst means fuel bills will be high, and residuals are unlikely to be very good.

2008 Cadillac STS

Cadillacs need V-8s, at least. We know that. Except that GM's most potent V-6 ever, a new direct injection 3.6-liter, has come along. With its 11.3:1 compression ratio, it has 47 more horses than the 3.6 on which it is based. The '08 STS V-6 is just 18 horses shy and 22 pounds trimmer than the STS V-8. Keep the hood shut and no one will know.

Direct injection also gives slightly better fuel mileage and cleans start-up emissions by 25 percent. GM's plans for a new premium double-overhead cam V-8 thus becomes clearer. Direct gas injection, variable-valve timing and at least five liters displacement (to make sure it's sufficiently more powerful than this engine) is obviously in the works. The engine goes into production in 2009, in time for an all-new STS expected for the '10 model year.

Most direct injection gas engines start up with a gravelly diesel voice. Not the Cadillac's 3.6, with fuel system sound shields and covers to prevent metal-on-metal clatter. The engine remains quiet until you put your foot into it, unleashing a V-6 rumble satisfying enough to make you roll down the windows. It's wrapped in a facelifted STS with a Sixteen concept-inspired nose and a tastier interior that hides much, albeit not all, of the '07 STS' plastic-y parts with supple leather and vinyl as well as elegant woods and metals.

StabiliTrak 3 will be available for about $1,000, with a new active front steering system, offered at launch only with all-wheel-drive. This hyper-power steering feels more natural than BMW's, with none of the linearity problems. Cadillac's way of showing it off was to let us drive a conventional '07 and the new car with active steering around a handling course. The active steering required about half the left-right motion of the conventional steering, and we didn't have to remove our hands from 10 and 3 o'clock to make any of the turns.

There's also an effective blind-spot alert and lane-departure control, combined as a safety package for about $1,000. The blind-spot alert isn't alarming as in the large, vertical lamp in the base of the Audi Q7's side mirrors. Cadillac instead places an amber symbol in the side mirrors that light up when a vehicle enters a blind spot from behind. The lane-departure control beeps at you and lights up on the dash when you cross readable lane paint without signaling. You can drown out its beep if you crank up the tunes. Both warning devices can be shut off, but they're useful, and they'll reward the alert driver much more than the latte-drinking, mobile-phone wielding one.

Cadillac only let out the rear-drive '08 STS on public roads for initial impressions. Yes, the DI V-6 felt like a V-8, although its six-speed automatic hiccupped a few times, either a pre-production problem or lack of break-in miles. The interior still suffers hard black plastic, particularly at the top of the doors, but it's Cadillac's nicest non-v interior until the '08 CTS arrives. That car gets the same DI V-6 with slightly different power and torque numbers due to different intake and exhaust tuning. The kicker is that with its all-new interior and sheetmetal, the '08 CTS could render the STS V-6 as superfluous as an STS V-8.

2008 Cadillac CTS

You're looking at the single most important car Cadillac will launch this decade. The new 2008 Cadillac CTS will prove once and for all whether GM's luxury division can truly deliver on the promise of its radical "Art & Science" styling revolution and run wheel to wheel with the likes of Audi, BMW, Lexus, and Mercedes-Benz. There's a lot at stake for GM with this car: prestige, credibility, and the corporation's reborn faith in the primacy of product. By definition, there's also a lot at stake for the American auto industry: "Hey, forget pickup trucks, guys. We can do this stuff, too."


With its edgy panels, wedgy stance, and bold light graphics, the new Cadillac CTS appears a straightforward design evolution of the current car. That's no bad thing: Although now in its final model year, the current Cadillac CTS is selling better than ever. But you only need to walk around the 2008, to run your hands over the surfaces, to eyeball the details to realize this is probably the most revolutionary Cadillac sedan in decades. And here's why: You can see GM has spent serious money on this thing.
The front fender is a case in point. If you look closely at where the fender meets the base of the A-pillar, you'll notice not only the die-cast metal (not plastic) chrome vent, but a near bas-relief effect around it that's as ordered and intricate as a Frank Lloyd Wright faade. "My head still has the dents in it from the clubbing I got from the manufacturing guys," laughs exterior designer John Manoogian. "They told me it would defy the laws of physics to try and stamp that thing."



But stamp it they did. Along with the rear quarter panel that includes a crisply chiseled notch wrapping around the leading edge of the C-pillar, doors with a gash like a thumb run though wet clay that starts near the bottom of the front fender and runs to a point above the rear-axle centerline, and an aluminum hood that features hypnotic combinations of positive and negatively curved surfaces, sharp creases, and soft transitions.
In terms of sheer manufacturing competence, the precise, complex execution of the sheetmetal rivals that of BMW. But it's more than just a panel engineer's masterclass: In the metal the new Cadillac CTS oozes a character and charisma the somewhat cold and clinical current model lacks. "The idea was to use a little more art and a little less science so the car didn't look so computer generated," says Manoogian of the new Cadillac CTS. "We wanted the car to look as if the surfaces were all developed by hand."

2008 Cadillac XLR-V

It idles smoother and quieter than a garden-variety Cadillac XLR. Only the 19-inch rolling stock, mesh front grille-work, stainless-steel tailpipes, and a discreet badge or two hint that this version of Cadillac's edgy two-seat roadster is different from others. But mash the throttle, and you'll know it is: The intake tract moans, the supercharger whines, and the flapper valves in the mufflers open to let the exhaust breathe free. Oh, and there's another indicator: The speedometer needle will pass the "60" mark in 4.5 seconds.


Cadillac appears serious about its "v-Series" performance sub-brand, and why not: AMG and M have worked like charms for Mercedes-Benz and BMW. Brewing up high-powered versions of mainstream models isn't a new idea. But it is a smart one that adds brand value and exclusivity, sells more cars, and pleases enthusiast drivers and lead-footed car-magazine geeks. Like us.
The Cadillac XLR already had some good stuff going for it, such as a chassis designed and built by the same gang that brings us the Corvette. A Northstar V-8 motor. Unique B2 bomber-like styling. And a trick, retractable hardtop. To that foundation, add more power, handling, braking, interior upgrades, overall 'tude--and a six-figure price tag--and you have the Cadillac XLR-v.


The heart of Cadillac's third v model is a supercharged Northstar that's been thoroughly reengineered; more of it is new or revised than is carried over from the naturally aspirated version. Displacement drops from 4.6 to 4.4 liters via a slight bore reduction. The blower is a Roots-type design, and unique manifolding places it low in the engine valley. The integrated intercooler is a neat bit of work. Instead of looking like a repurposed radiator, it's made up of extruded aluminum tubes that bristle with cooling fins.
Considerable attention was paid to noise/vibration/harshness control. Variable valve timing on intake and exhaust cams was retained to ensure a wide, flat powerband, and block and heads are aluminum. Routing the exhaust through the chassis center tunnel and squashing the oil pan enough for the Northstar to clear the Cadillac XLR's low hood account for the 26-horse deficit relative to the STS-v sedan.

2007 Cadillac Escalade

Take a walk around the '07 Cadillac Escalade and it's basically the same size as its predecessor. But the platform is completely new. Along with the 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, this new Cadillac Escalade rides on a fully boxed frame with hydroformed rails in the front and rear. According to David Schiavone, product manager for the Cadillac Escalade, bending rigidity has improved 35 percent, and torsional rigidity is up 49 percent.

Overall length measures 202.5 inches, an increase of 3.5 inches over last year, while wheelbase, width and height are the same. Compared to the Lincoln Navigator and Infiniti QX56, the Escalade is about 5 inches shorter nose to tail, with a 5-inch-shorter wheelbase. To improve handling and smooth out the ride, engineers widened the Caddy's front track 3 inches (now 68 inches) for 2007, while the rear track is up 1 inch (67 inches).

In place of the old truck's independent torsion-bar front suspension, the '07 Cadillac Escalade gets a more sophisticated coil-over-shock design with a larger 36mm stabilizer bar. In back, there's still a five-link solid axle setup, though the rear stabilizer bar measures 28mm to last year's 32mm. All suspension mounts are stiffer this year, Schiavone tells us, and the adaptive Road Sensing Suspension remains standard fare. Rack and pinion steering is new, and it should be a significant improvement over the 2006 model's sloppy, recirculating-ball setup.



Braking has never been a strong point for the Cadillac Escalade, so engineers addressed that as well, fitting the '07 model with an all-new brake system that includes larger rotors and stiffer front calipers. The ABS is more sophisticated this year, but we would have liked to see Cadillac add Electronic Brakeforce Distribution and BrakeAssist as well.

Eighteen-inch wheels are standard, with the 22s, which come wrapped in Bridgestone performance tires (285/45R22), available as an option. Cadillac didn't originally plan to offer wheels that large, but customers wanted them. If you've read about the danger of dubs, rest assured that Cadillac has you covered on the safety front. "We designed the 22s to mate with the ride and handling of the vehicle," Sipes says.

Sirloin Under the Hood
Three hundred forty-five horsepower doesn't astound like it used to, so engineers bored out the Cadillac Escalade's 6.0-liter V8, turning it into a 6.2-liter that pumps out 403 hp at 5,700 rpm and 417 lb-ft of torque at 4,400 rpm. That gives the Caddy an easy 100-hp edge over the Navigator and allows it to take back the torque crown from the QX56 (390 lb-ft). Additionally, unlike the outgoing 6.0-liter, the 6.2-liter has an aluminum block.

More impressive than its big horsepower number is the fact that this pushrod engine uses variable valve timing on both its intake and exhaust valves to improve acceleration and efficiency — it's the first mass-produced OHV engine to incorporate this feature. Starting in 2008, Cadillac will equip the Escalade with cylinder-deactivation technology (GM's Displacement on Demand) as well, which should further improve fuel mileage.

Without DoD, Sipes says the '07 model should do 2 mpg better on its highway estimate than the 2006 model, which is rated at 17 mpg highway and 13 mpg city. If true, this is impressive considering the new truck weighs 250 pounds more than its predecessor and delivers 58 more horsepower.

Much of the credit for the improved fuel usage has to go to the new six-speed automatic transmission. With the wider gear spread, engineers were able to use a shorter first-gear ratio to give the Cadillac Escalade more off-the-line kick, while lowering the final-drive ratio from 3.73 to 3.42 to improve fuel economy. The new transmission also offers a manual-shift mode.

Look into the cabin of the 2006 Cadillac Escalade and there's leather and wood, but it's obviously tacked onto a 10-year-old pickup skeleton. In contrast, the 2007 version looks like a genuine luxury vehicle. The two-tone dash has graceful lines that easily accommodate a large navigation screen and generous walnut inlays. Soft-touch surfaces are everywhere, as they should be in this class, and they have attractive European-style grain patterns. The steering wheel is no longer an eyesore, and it frames a set of white-and-blue electroluminescent gauges. A Bose 5.1 Surround Sound audio system is standard.



Although almost all of the Cadillac Escalade's competition now use console-mounted shifters, Cadillac has stuck with the tried and true column-mounted lever.

Depending on your passenger-hauling needs, the 2007 Cadillac Escalade can be equipped to accommodate six, seven or eight. Heated front seats are standard, but you'll spend a little extra to cool your backside and heat the steering wheel.

The Cadillac Escalade has never been a safety leader, but that could change in 2007. Cadillac's StabiliTrak stability control system is standard, and as on the Navigator, it now incorporates a rollover avoidance feature that measures the vehicle's pitch angle and activates the system if necessary.

Rear park assist is included on every Cadillac Escalade, but if you order a navigation system, you get a handy rear backup camera as in the QX56 and LX 470. Standard remote start lets you make a quick getaway when you need to, and the system even automatically begins heating or cooling the interior.

Finally, the '07 Cadillac Escalade spreads some goodwill, as it's designed to do less damage to smaller vehicles in frontal and offset collisions, thanks to collapsible brackets on its front frame rails.

If you're not blinded by all the chrome and horsepower, the 2007 Cadillac Escalade is available with virtually every safety and luxury feature you could want. That doesn't exactly make it a sensible purchase, but full-size luxury SUVs have never been for sensible people anyway. And according to Jeff Kuhlman, the director of Cadillac Communications, "You can expect prices of the Cadillac Escalade to be in the neighborhood they are today."