2023 Cadillac Escalade-V detailed

The Cadillac Escalade has finally been given the V-Series treatment, and, well, there’s the potential for a lot of tyre-shredding fury.

Although Cadillac is aiming to be an all-electric brand by 2030, the Escalade-V is powered by a hand-built 6.2-litre supercharged V8 petrol engine making 508kW at 6000rpm, and 885Nm at 4400rpm. It’s connected to a standard 10-speed automatic transmission and full-time active all-wheel drive system.

According to Cadillac, the engine is related to CT5-V Blackwing’s V8, but has a larger 2.65L supercharger that can spin up to 13,500rpm. In the big SUV, power is up 10kW and torque has increased by 5Nm.

For comparison, the rest of the Escalade range is powered by either a naturally-aspirated 6.2-litre V8 petrol making 313kW and 624Nm, or a 3.0-litre straight-six turbo-diesel with 207kW and 624Nm.

The standard wheelbase Escalade-V is capable of accelerating from 0-60mph (0-97km/h) in 4.4 seconds and completing the quarter mile (400m) dash in 12.74 seconds with a terminal speed of 177km/h.

The Escalade-V rides on 22-inch alloy wheels with 275/50 all-terrain tyres paired with a tweaked adaptive suspension system with Magnetic Ride Control 4.0, and retuned rear air springs and dampers.

Drivers can tweak the SUV’s setup via the new V-Mode system, which can lower the suspension by 20mm, and offers two or three preset settings for the suspension, steering, brake feel, engine sound (including a stealth mode), all-wheel drive, and engine performance.

There’s also a launch control system, and braking has been improved thanks to six-piston Brembo units up front.

Being the Escalade’s new range-topping model, the V-Series is loaded with kit, including a 38.0-inch curved display area with multiple OLED screens, a 36-speaker AKG Studio Reference sound system, semi-aniline leather seats, a heated steering wheel, and massaging front seats.

The Escalade-V goes on sale in the US during the third quarter with prices starting from US149,990 ($216,000).

That’s quite a step up from regular Escalade models, which, depending on trim, are priced between US$76,295 ($110,000) and US$101,595 ($146,000).