Cadillac Escalade GMT800
The Cadillac Escalade is a full-size luxury SUV engineered and manufactured by General Motors. It was Cadillac's first major entry into the SUV market. The Escalade was introduced for the 1999 model year in response to competition from the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Lexus LX as well as Ford's 1998 release of the Lincoln Navigator. The Escalade project went into production only ten months after it was approved. The Escalade is built in Arlington, Texas. The word "escalade" refers to a siege warfare tactic of scaling defensive walls or ramparts with the aid of ladders or siege towers.
Unlike its Chevrolet and GMC siblings, which launched for the 2000 model year, Cadillac delayed the Escalade's switch to the GMT820 chassis until February 2001 as a 2002 model, the last of the three General Motors full-size truck and SUV brands to switch to the new chassis; Cadillac unveiled the 2002 model year Escalade in August 2000 at Pebble Beach, while continuing to sell the 2000 model year trucks. Rear-wheel drive was standard, as was a 5.3 L V8. All-wheel drive was standard on the ESV and EXT, and was optional on the short wheelbase Escalade. The special high-output Vortec 6.0 L V8 engine was the sole engine choice on all-wheel drive models whether it was the short wheel base, ESV, or EXT until mid-year 2005 when the 5.3L was dropped altogether. Mid-year 2005, all rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive Escalades came with the high output 6.0L Vortec V8. All models (except for the EXT) offered seating up to eight people.
Plenty of space and plenty of toys, there has been significant profit to be made from full-size luxury SUVs, though the Escalade hardly burnishes Cadillac's rich history of beautiful, luxurious and quality cars.
Cadillac Escalade GMT800
The Cadillac Escalade is a full-size luxury SUV engineered and manufactured by General Motors. It was Cadillac's first major entry into the SUV market. The Escalade was introduced for the 1999 model year in response to competition from the Mercedes-Benz M-Class and Lexus LX as well as Ford's 1998 release of the Lincoln Navigator. The Escalade project went into production only ten months after it was approved. The Escalade is built in Arlington, Texas. The word "escalade" refers to a siege warfare tactic of scaling defensive walls or ramparts with the aid of ladders or siege towers.
Unlike its Chevrolet and GMC siblings, which launched for the 2000 model year, Cadillac delayed the Escalade's switch to the GMT820 chassis until February 2001 as a 2002 model, the last of the three General Motors full-size truck and SUV brands to switch to the new chassis; Cadillac unveiled the 2002 model year Escalade in August 2000 at Pebble Beach, while continuing to sell the 2000 model year trucks. Rear-wheel drive was standard, as was a 5.3 L V8. All-wheel drive was standard on the ESV and EXT, and was optional on the short wheelbase Escalade. The special high-output Vortec 6.0 L V8 engine was the sole engine choice on all-wheel drive models whether it was the short wheel base, ESV, or EXT until mid-year 2005 when the 5.3L was dropped altogether. Mid-year 2005, all rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive Escalades came with the high output 6.0L Vortec V8. All models (except for the EXT) offered seating up to eight people.
Plenty of space and plenty of toys, there has been significant profit to be made from full-size luxury SUVs, though the Escalade hardly burnishes Cadillac's rich history of beautiful, luxurious and quality cars.