VIDEO: Meet the 2009 Cadillac Escalade hybrid
Click the Escalade hybrid for a high-res gallery
This fall, GM is adding its 2-Mode hybrid drivetrain to the Cadillac Escalade in an attempt to actually make some money off the system. Those of you who thought the existing Tahoe and Yukon hybrids were too rich for the average Joe, with prices starting at $50,000, you might want skip right past the Escalade, which is expected to be priced in the mid-70s. The Escalade uses the same 6.0L V8 as the other Two-Mode hybrid vehicles and will be available with both rear- and four-wheel-drive. The extra mass of the better-equipped Escalade means that it loses 1 mpg compared to its lesser siblings, getting 20 mpg city and 21 mpg on the highway. Unfortunately it looks like Escalade hybrid buyers will still be saddled with those ridiculous "HYBRID" graphics along the rocker panels. If you're interested in a tour of what will likely be the second most expensive hybrid after the Lexus LS600h, check out the video after the jump.
Gallery: 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
[Source: GMNext]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Ignatius 8:30PM (7/14/2008)
I'd rather put $40,000 towards a Volt...
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BlackbirdHighway 10:00PM (7/14/2008)
I guess they will sell a few to NFL players and folks like that, but I don't see it being a big winner in this economy.
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Chris M 10:20PM (7/14/2008)
Sales of the Tahoe hybrid weren't great, this more expensive version won't sell well either. They really should have hybridized a smaller more streamlined Caddy sedan to get more respectable fuel economy figures, thus better sales. As Toyota has discovered, there is a large and rapidly growing market for fuel efficient luxury cars.
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khooper 11:22PM (7/14/2008)
As to the question of whether you can achieve size able improvements in gas mileage without compromising utility and luxury? Cadillac has demonstrated it's a possibility and has delivered on that promise. A big shock for all of us!
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psarhjinian 2:22AM (7/15/2008)
Let's see....
Saab buyers are (or were, before GM gutted the brand) left-leaning, affluent and willing to be avant-garde about packaging and design. Basically, the same people who buy Priuses.
GMT900 SUV--and especially Escalade--buyers are practicers of conspicuous consumption, are looking to dominate other drivers and generally subscribe to anti-green philosophies.
So, who does GM give the hybrid to? Exactly the people who wouldn't buy it, while the people who would are likely the last to get it.
Real smart marketing going on in that company; the kind that loses you ten percent market share in ten years.
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Armand 2:49AM (7/15/2008)
What an absolutely retarded vehicle.
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armmat 2:50AM (7/15/2008)
Again...what an absolutely retarded vehicle.
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Nick 3:26AM (7/15/2008)
psarhijinian has a good point...people who buy Escalades are typically not the ones looking for clean products, so why should they be interested in this Hybrid Escalade since they can afford the gas anyway?
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ROOLLY 4:24AM (7/15/2008)
The Tahoe and Yukon that use some aluminum body pieces, lighter seats and a more aerodynamic front end to maximize gas savings. None of that was done in the Escalade because all they wanted was to be able to stick the hybrid badges on it. The fact is that the people who end up buying this will probably never even check their mileage because it's not that important to them - all they care about is that it says "Hybrid".
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brn 8:39AM (7/15/2008)
I'm not sure that manufacturers are targeting volume sales with their hybrids. Ford has been making a very sensible hybrid SUV for a number of years now. Do they advertise? How many do you see on the road?
If one believes the media *cough*, parts are very hard to come by. Companies need to build hybrids because that "looks good" to the public. They need to keep the numbers down, because they can't get parts for volume.
I bet that's a primary reason Ford hasn't released the Fusion hybrid yet. Sales for that thing would be crazy.
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virgil 9:21AM (7/15/2008)
My guess is that building / engineering a hybrid powertrain into an SUV is just a whole lot easier than trying to cram it into a compact such as the civic. More space to work with and a sturdy underframe to support the added battery weight, are just two of the advantages. They just took the route of least resistance - put the hybrid powertrain into the easiest model to do so, and then worry about smaller hybrids that have to be built from the ground up (i.e. pruis) later on.
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UH2L 9:44AM (7/15/2008)
psarhjinian,
Good points. (And even as a former GM marketer), I agree with you. As a longtime Saab customer, I would buy a Saab diesel or hybrid in a minute. When I worked at Saturn, I pushed for more efficient powertrains because Saturn buyers also tend to be more environmentally conscious.
As for the Escalade hybrid though, with the Tahoe hybridy already engineered, they might as well do it to counter Lexus who I don't believe has a full-size SUV hybrid.
Much of GM's marketshare loss is their own fault, but some of it is just the increased number of competitors, and some is partially due to the incessant negativity from the press. For instance, who has historically sold the most mid-sized cars in the U.S.? It's GM, but because they come in many models, the press spins it by saying that nobody wants to buy GM's cars because the Accord and Camry sell more individually.
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Rob O. 12:53PM (7/15/2008)
SUV hybrids are nothing more than a sad, misguided, & greedy attempt on the behalf of automakers to seem "green" yet continue to cater to outdated, redneck attitudes. The whole idea of the improved fuel efficiency of a hybrid is almost completely negated by the added weight & poor aerodynamics of SUVs. (Not to mention that they’re still not nearly as safe as they’d have you believe.)
And $70k?! For Pete's sake, you could buy a fairly decent house for the price of this hulking monstrosity!
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Max 10:45AM (7/25/2008)
$70k can buy you a house? Where are you living? $70k barely gets you rent in MA! If you want any decent house here, you'll have to at least give up a Lamborghini.
Anyway, I own an Escalade and would certainly consider buying a hybrid. Comparing a Volt/Prius/Civic, etc. to an Escalade is silly. People need all sorts of vehicles, so I believe it's in their best interest to make hybrid versions of all cars (who wants to try bringing home a piece of furniture or try to pack for a week long vacation with 4 people in a Prius?!?!).
Why NOT make a hybrid SUV? People are saying it's a waste because they still get bad gas mileage, but to improve from 11.6 (what I get now) to 20mpg is fantastic. Being conservative, I'd be using 400 gallons less fuel a year. Not only saving money, but being more enviro friendly as well (and yes, I know an SUV still isn't nearly as friendly as a Prius, but it's a big improvement).
People forget that the reason many people can afford Escalades is because they don't spend their money foolishly to begin with! So, you're darn tootin' I "would" care about saving myself $1,600/year. Of course, it's not really savings because you blow the money on extra MSRP. But, hey people also waste that same $$ with a $22k Prius when they could buy some $15k economy 4-seater and save more money up front then they save in gas over the long run...
BTW that "Hybrid" plastered on the rocker panel is hideous! Just a gratuitous "Hey, I'm trying to be green!" symbol. Silly.
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