Though the concept of a fully-electric Cadillac Escalade was once laughable, the Wreath and Crest company recently announced that it had begun developing an all-electric variant of its flagship SUV using GM’s EV platform. And after multiple teasers, the American luxury brand has now pulled the cover off of the forthcoming 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ.
Multiple electric motors generate a total of 560kW (750hp) and 785ft-lbs of torque — figures that allow the Escalade IQ to achieve an 8,000lb tow rating and a sub-5-second 0-60mph time. The Escalade IQ also features both Magnetic Ride Control 4.0 and Adaptive Air Ride Suspension — the latter of which can raise the vehicle’s ride height by an inch or lower it by two inches. The use of four-wheel steering affords the full-size SUV a 39.4’ turning radius as well as the ability to move diagonally. Riding on 24” wheels — the largest ever offered on an Escalade — the all-electric Escalade IQ stands at 75.1” tall and spans 224.3” in length, giving it similar dimensions to the petrol-powered SUV. The powertrain draws from a 24-module Ultium battery with more than 200 kWh of available energy on tap that delivers an impressive 750-mile (estimated) range. Utilizing flexible, high-voltage architecture that enables 800-volt DC fast charging, the SUV is able to deliver 100 miles of range after just 10 minutes of charging. What’s more, the battery pack also comes outfitted with Vehicle-to-Home bidirectional charging technology. Other noteworthy tech includes One-Pedal Driving, Variable Regen on Demand, and Super Cruise driver assistance.
While still clearly an Escalade, the IQ-spec has a refreshed design that’s markedly sleeker than even the latest model year. This new design includes the Escalade’s iconic vertical headlight setup that’s now been supplemented via a stacked series of sequentially-operating, horizontally-running LEDs and DRLs. The front end of the SUV has also been bestowed with a grille design with an overall shape that’s similar to that of the brand’s Wreath and Crest logo. Equipped with 119.2 total cubic feet of cargo space, the interior of this new full-sized model boasts a five-zone climate control setup, a tinted and UV-treated fixed panoramic glass roof, wireless onboard charging, a 55” pillar-to-pillar curved display, and the option to be built with an executive second row seating configuration. Where the regular Escalade’s engine is normally found, the SUV’s hood is now a front eTRUNK that boasts 12.2 cubic feet of storage space.
Priced starting from around $130,000, the 2025 Cadillac Escalade iQ will be available starting in late 2024.
