Cadillac’s Escalade may earn a “V” badge via the Corvette Z06’s supercharged V8 engine

By Miles Branman September 11, 2015

2015-cadillac-escalade-platinum- — Cadillac Escalade Platinum Image used with permission by copyright holder

A new report from Motor Trend suggests Cadillac is working on a range-topping Escalade to compete with the most powerful SUVs on the market.

The Escalade V could be powered by the supercharged 6.2-liter V8 of the Cadillac CTS-V and Corvette Z06 tuned to somewhere above 600 horsepower and 600 lb-ft of torque. Paired with the mammoth powertrain will be the CTS-V’s eight-speed automatic.

Considering the 2016 CTS-V makes 640 hp and 630 lb-ft of torque, the Escalade V could only be overshadowed in outright power by the upcoming Jeep Gran Cherokee Trackhawk, which will have 707 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque on tap thanks to the Hellcat’s 6.2-liter supercharged V8. In addition to the new motor, the Escalade V will use GM’s Magentic Ride Control suspension (already available in some trims), feature unique bodywork on a lowered suspension, and should also get a brake upgrade.

Superpowered SUVs are of course nothing new at this point, with the GLS63 AMG, Range Rover Supercharged, Porsche Cayenne Turbo S, and BMW X5 M all making in excess of 550 hp, and that’s excluding what tuning shops like Hennessey have done to dial up the performance far beyond sane levels.

Considering the weight of the Escalade (between 5,500 and 5,800 pounds, depending on optional equipment), it will be no small task to re-engineer the SUV’s driving dynamics to assure it won’t take flight at the first indicator of a corner. The majority of the Escalade V’s rivals start with lower, more shapely bodies before they take steps to improve handling, while the Escalade’s high-strength chassis is engineered for towing and ride quality. The development team will deserve more than a pizza party when they’re done.

The Cadillac Escalade V could make its debut at the 2016 New York auto show in April, with a price tag hovering around the $100,000 mark.

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