GM unveils new high-performance SUV

DETROIT – General Motors will offer a new high-performance version of its flagship Cadillac Escalade SUV, adding to its growing lineup of high-performance gasoline vehicles ahead of the brand’s push for full electrification by 2030.

The Detroit automaker said Friday that the 2023 Cadillac Escalade V-Series, like its other high-performance vehicles, “will feature Cadillac’s peak performance, bold, standout design and innovative technology.”

The new V-series is very similar to other current Escalade SUVs, but is expected to offer significantly higher performance. According to videos released by the automaker, the engine sound is also more like that of a sports car than a full-size SUV.

The Cadillac “V” or “V-Series” designation has traditionally been used for performance vehicles. According to media reports, the Escalade V-Series will be powered by the 6.2-liter V-8 engine currently used in the CT5-V Blackwing sedan. The engine generates 668 horsepower and 659 Nm of torque. That compares to the current Escalade with a 6.2-liter V-8 that makes 420 horsepower and 460 lb-ft of torque.

A GM spokesman declined to provide more details on the new car, saying more information would be available in the spring.

Automakers are increasingly adding performance options to their lineups to increase profit margins before they move to electric vehicles that can offer more performance but lower margins.

Cadillac is expected to lead GM’s goal of all-electric vehicles by 2035. The luxury brand is expected to be all-electric by 2030, including the Escalade.