With the introduction of its 2002 Escalade luxury SUV, Cadillac did more than show off its latest production model - it also gave a clear signal of where its exterior design is going in the future.
Cadillac says its design follows a "unique blend of art and science." In sheet metal terms, that means sheer, chiseled shapes and crisp, sharp, tailored lines, with the front end being its most distinctive exterior feature.
Susan Docherty, the Canadian who is now brand manager for Escalade worldwide, says the exterior is "distinguished by a modified version of Cadillac's signature, badge-shaped grille," which is inspired by Cadillac's Evoq concept roadster.
The grille's high-tech look is created in part by satin nickel finish and chrome accents. Docherty says the brightwork highlights also extend to the running boards, luggage rack and door pull handles, "creating an integrated appearance."
Larger, sparkling halogen headlamps "create a jewel-like appearance," she says, "while chrome lamp bezels add luxurious touches."
The vehicle's front fascia incorporates two recessed tow hooks and rectangular halogen fog lamps. Both front and rear fascias wrap around painted steel impact bumper bars.
Escalade also has a larger, diamond-shaped center high-mounted stop lamp. The exhaust is fitted with a polished, stainless steel tip, Docherty points out, and protective body-colored cladding extends the vehicle's sheer lines into the side quarter panels and lower body
Integrated, body-colored running boards complete the look.
Docherty is quick to add that Escalade's new shape covers "meaningful technologies that customers want and use."
Once again the Escalade shares a lot of components with the GMC Yukon Denali, but for its second generation it has also taken off on a more unique path.
The big news on the technology front would have to be the 6-litre V8, which is part of the AWD version of the new Escalade. It delivers 345 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 380 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm, which Docherty points out makes it the most powerful GM SUV and the most powerful in its segment.
The engine links to a new Hydra-Matic 4L60-E heavy-duty electronic 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. This power goes to the road through 17-inch wheels and tires and Docherty promises this all offers "a smoother ride and better handling."
The rear-drive Escalade gets by on the Vortec 5300 V8, which makes 285 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 325 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. This is more than the 5.7-litre V8 in the first Escalade, by the way. Plus, the new engine serves up 90 percent of its juice from 1600 to 5000 rpm.
But Escalade for 2002 is about more than pure grunt, Docherty points out.
It also gets StabiliTrak on the AWD model, she says, and that "improves stability on all road surfaces at all speeds. Its precise, all-weather control is particularly beneficial when driving on slick road surfaces or during emergency maneuvers, such as when a drivers swerves to avoid an object on the road."
Stabilitrak fits nicely with Escalade's Road Sensing Suspension (RSS), Docherty claims. "This fully automatic system significantly improves body stability, ride comfort, handling, trailering performance and wheel control under all loading conditions."
The RSS uses electrically-controlled shocks, four electronic wheel position sensors, a steering angle sensor, and a computer control module. "Using sensor and vehicle inputs," Docherty explains, "the module adjusts the damping function on all four shock absorbers independently in real time, monitoring each input 1000 times a second."
Other features of note in the 2002 Cadillac Escalade would include:
Interior highlights include an all-new, upscale instrument panel with integrated floor console, heated Soft Nuance leather seats with new sew styles and colors, the upgraded Bose stereo, a sophisticated new Driver Information Center and that lightweight third-row seat.
Docherty says the all-new instrument panel is one of the Escalade's most notable features. It's trimmed in aluminum halos, it has analog gauges that include an odometer with trip distance, an engine hour meter, a tachometer, fuel, voltimeter, oil pressure and engine temperature. There's now also a transmission temperature gauge that allows drivers to monitor transmission fluid temperature for the first time.
"New instrument pointers and white cluster backlighting are useful and attractive," Docherty says, and the IP's inner cluster is coated in a silver soft touch paint finish, and the cluster bezel is accented with rich Zebrano wood.
The upgraded driver message center monitors and reports the status of up to 19 vehicle functions, and the standard OnStar three-button system is housed in the IP for easy access.
Docherty says Escalade's steering wheel is trimmed with wood and has a soft, leather wrapped shift lever with a chrome ring tip. The steering wheel displays Cadillac's new wreath and crest emblem and also has a duplicate set of audio controls so drivers need not avert their eyes from the road to control the sound system.
Cadillac says its design follows a "unique blend of art and science." In sheet metal terms, that means sheer, chiseled shapes and crisp, sharp, tailored lines, with the front end being its most distinctive exterior feature.
Susan Docherty, the Canadian who is now brand manager for Escalade worldwide, says the exterior is "distinguished by a modified version of Cadillac's signature, badge-shaped grille," which is inspired by Cadillac's Evoq concept roadster.
The grille's high-tech look is created in part by satin nickel finish and chrome accents. Docherty says the brightwork highlights also extend to the running boards, luggage rack and door pull handles, "creating an integrated appearance."
Larger, sparkling halogen headlamps "create a jewel-like appearance," she says, "while chrome lamp bezels add luxurious touches."
The vehicle's front fascia incorporates two recessed tow hooks and rectangular halogen fog lamps. Both front and rear fascias wrap around painted steel impact bumper bars.
Escalade also has a larger, diamond-shaped center high-mounted stop lamp. The exhaust is fitted with a polished, stainless steel tip, Docherty points out, and protective body-colored cladding extends the vehicle's sheer lines into the side quarter panels and lower body
Integrated, body-colored running boards complete the look.
Docherty is quick to add that Escalade's new shape covers "meaningful technologies that customers want and use."
Once again the Escalade shares a lot of components with the GMC Yukon Denali, but for its second generation it has also taken off on a more unique path.
The big news on the technology front would have to be the 6-litre V8, which is part of the AWD version of the new Escalade. It delivers 345 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 380 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm, which Docherty points out makes it the most powerful GM SUV and the most powerful in its segment.
The engine links to a new Hydra-Matic 4L60-E heavy-duty electronic 4-speed automatic transmission with overdrive. This power goes to the road through 17-inch wheels and tires and Docherty promises this all offers "a smoother ride and better handling."
The rear-drive Escalade gets by on the Vortec 5300 V8, which makes 285 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 325 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm. This is more than the 5.7-litre V8 in the first Escalade, by the way. Plus, the new engine serves up 90 percent of its juice from 1600 to 5000 rpm.
But Escalade for 2002 is about more than pure grunt, Docherty points out.
It also gets StabiliTrak on the AWD model, she says, and that "improves stability on all road surfaces at all speeds. Its precise, all-weather control is particularly beneficial when driving on slick road surfaces or during emergency maneuvers, such as when a drivers swerves to avoid an object on the road."
Stabilitrak fits nicely with Escalade's Road Sensing Suspension (RSS), Docherty claims. "This fully automatic system significantly improves body stability, ride comfort, handling, trailering performance and wheel control under all loading conditions."
The RSS uses electrically-controlled shocks, four electronic wheel position sensors, a steering angle sensor, and a computer control module. "Using sensor and vehicle inputs," Docherty explains, "the module adjusts the damping function on all four shock absorbers independently in real time, monitoring each input 1000 times a second."
Other features of note in the 2002 Cadillac Escalade would include:
- Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist, make backing up safer
- OnStar personal calling and Virtual Advisor services
- A climate control system Docherty calls best-in-class
- An optional sunroof
- And 11-speaker Bose Acoustimass audio system
- Standard third-row, 8-passenger seating with "best-in-class comfort"
- A single-load, in-dash six-disc CD changer
- A one-piece lightweight liftgate
- Larger, heated, memory, fold-away outside mirrors, and
- A Diversity Antenna System
Interior highlights include an all-new, upscale instrument panel with integrated floor console, heated Soft Nuance leather seats with new sew styles and colors, the upgraded Bose stereo, a sophisticated new Driver Information Center and that lightweight third-row seat.
Docherty says the all-new instrument panel is one of the Escalade's most notable features. It's trimmed in aluminum halos, it has analog gauges that include an odometer with trip distance, an engine hour meter, a tachometer, fuel, voltimeter, oil pressure and engine temperature. There's now also a transmission temperature gauge that allows drivers to monitor transmission fluid temperature for the first time.
"New instrument pointers and white cluster backlighting are useful and attractive," Docherty says, and the IP's inner cluster is coated in a silver soft touch paint finish, and the cluster bezel is accented with rich Zebrano wood.
The upgraded driver message center monitors and reports the status of up to 19 vehicle functions, and the standard OnStar three-button system is housed in the IP for easy access.
Docherty says Escalade's steering wheel is trimmed with wood and has a soft, leather wrapped shift lever with a chrome ring tip. The steering wheel displays Cadillac's new wreath and crest emblem and also has a duplicate set of audio controls so drivers need not avert their eyes from the road to control the sound system.
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