We haven't looked at the Cadillac sales figures recently, but we bet the Escalade and the XT5 are making the most money. Like most automakers, their idea of luxury is turning away from the traditional sedan and might include five or six SUVs next decade.
And that means sooner or later there will be a flagship SUV that doesn't have a body on frame design or even a 6.3-liter V8 engine. We can only imagine how much more money Cadillac would be making if it had something like the Audi Q7 - car-based, light and efficient.
According to the Detroit gossip, several 4x4 Cadillacs will be launched in the next five years, including the entry-level XT1, the XT3 compact that will rival the GLC-Class and a 3-row flagship that's likely to be called XT7. It will ride on the Omega flagship RWD platform with the CT6. So you can think o it as the Mercedes GLS-Class rival.
You might already know about the super-sexy Escala concept and how it could preview future Cadillac designs. It's refined and a lot more understated that current production models, and we like that. The paint is dark silver; the chrome has been reduced to a minimum, and so have the LEDs lights.
But what would the Escala look like if it were an SUV? Well, like this rendering created by RM Design. It looks more like a wagon than anything else, resembling a cross between a Volvo and a Tesla Model X. That's what some people want their "SUV" to be like, not the rappers, though.
Best of all, an XT7 based on the Omega platform would handle a lot better. You could even dream about a V performance model, with two turbochargers or some sort of performance hybrid drive. Whatever the case, you cannot prepare for the fully autonomous future while still using ladder frames.
So far, the German manufacturers have stayed away from the uber-luxury SUV segment. But BMW is working on the X7 while Audi has the Q9 lined up. With the Bentley Bentayga now on the market, we also know that customers are willing to spend supercar money on their 4x4. So will America play this game too?
Update: Well, it seems GM Authority commissioned the Escala SUV sketches and doesn't want them being spread around. So we'd had to take them down. In their place, we give you a guy sketching a Cadillac SUV.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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