Will Stylish New Sheet Metal and a Higher Quality Interior Attract More Premium Buyers?
Cadillac took the wraps off of the 2007 Escalade ESV and 2007 Escalade EXT in Detroit last week. It is only fitting that these two "pimp daddy mobiles" of the large luxury SUV market segment be revealed in The Motor City, at one of the world's bigger auto shows of the year.
The ESV is a stretched Escalade, riding on the same wheelbase as Chevy's monstrous Suburban and GMC's Yukon XL, both totally revised for 2007 and shown last week at the year's first major auto show in Los Angeles. Like the Suburban and Yukon XL, the Escalade ESV is capable of carrying eight people comfortably, plus much of their luggage.
The EXT, on the other hand, continues forward with a pickup bed behind the second row of seats, the latter which fold down before the rear wall opens up to extend the box length for longer cargo, the same as Chevy's Avalanche.
Both
the ESV and the EXT are powered by a new 6.2L all-aluminum V8 engine that doles out 403-horsepower and 417 lb-ft of torque while rolling on 18-inch chrome rims - and to all you professional athletes and hip-hoppers out there, don't worry 22-inch dubs are optional.
Instead of combining the two vehicles, which from the D-pillar rearward are completely different, it's probably best to review one at a time, starting, of course, with one of the biggest, baddest SUVs of them all.
For those to which size matters, the Escalade ESV is all about "going big or going home." The largest in the Escalade family, the ESV is 53.4 cm (21 inches) longer than its "entry-level" sibling.
Like
the regular length Escalade, the ESV's exterior boasts smoother, cleaner exterior lines, only interrupted by nicely detailed front fender vent ports. The more detailed signature grille is as bold as ever, and should appeal to those premium buyers willing to move up-market from the Chevy Suburban and GMC Yukon XL that shares its basic architecture.
The interior of both Big Daddy Escalades, EXT included, comes in two colours, Ebony and Cashmere, the latter for those days when beige just won't do. With an instrument panel that is lower and moved forward compared to the previous example, its gauges light up via white needles and blue light inlays on continuously lit, white-LED backlighting.
The
spacious cabin comes equipped with heated and cooled leather seats, and for those who suffer from cold hands, you don't even need a warm heart now that you can get this ride with a heated steering wheel? The Escalade ESV also comes with some other creature comforts, like an available 8-inch touch-screen navigation system, as well as a segment-first Bose 5.1 Digital Surround Sound system integrated into the new family of radios that play DVD audio/video, CD audio/video, MP3s and XM Satellite Radio. On that note, the ESV also adds an extra 8-inch flip-down monitor to make sure that third-row passengers are entertained.
Cadillac took the wraps off of the 2007 Escalade ESV and 2007 Escalade EXT in Detroit last week. It is only fitting that these two "pimp daddy mobiles" of the large luxury SUV market segment be revealed in The Motor City, at one of the world's bigger auto shows of the year.
 |
| Cadillac took the wraps off of the 2007 Escalade ESV and 2007 Escalade EXT in Detroit last week. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
The ESV is a stretched Escalade, riding on the same wheelbase as Chevy's monstrous Suburban and GMC's Yukon XL, both totally revised for 2007 and shown last week at the year's first major auto show in Los Angeles. Like the Suburban and Yukon XL, the Escalade ESV is capable of carrying eight people comfortably, plus much of their luggage.
The EXT, on the other hand, continues forward with a pickup bed behind the second row of seats, the latter which fold down before the rear wall opens up to extend the box length for longer cargo, the same as Chevy's Avalanche.
Both
 |
| Both the ESV and the EXT are powered by a new 6.2L all-aluminum V8 engine that doles out 403-horsepower and 417 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
Instead of combining the two vehicles, which from the D-pillar rearward are completely different, it's probably best to review one at a time, starting, of course, with one of the biggest, baddest SUVs of them all.
For those to which size matters, the Escalade ESV is all about "going big or going home." The largest in the Escalade family, the ESV is 53.4 cm (21 inches) longer than its "entry-level" sibling.
Like
 |
| The Escalade ESV is all about "goingbig or going home," with 53.4 cm (21 inches) over its "entry-level" sibling. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |
The interior of both Big Daddy Escalades, EXT included, comes in two colours, Ebony and Cashmere, the latter for those days when beige just won't do. With an instrument panel that is lower and moved forward compared to the previous example, its gauges light up via white needles and blue light inlays on continuously lit, white-LED backlighting.
The
 |
| The spacious cabin comes equipped with heated and cooled leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and so much more. (Photo: General Motors of Canada) |