By DCB Editorial, January 14, 2025
Yes, America is serious about electric vehicles (EVs), and legacy automotive companies have been slow to embrace EVs, but times are a changing. While its growth may resemble that of a tortoise, it is destined to sprint into a long-distance race—a race that will ultimately be won by EVs. Tesla, for instance, currently boasts a market capitalization of $1.26 trillion, making it worth more than the top 10 legacy car companies combined, despite selling fewer than 2 million EVs annually.
Meanwhile, China is surging ahead in transitioning its population to embrace EVs, establishing itself as the global leader in EV technology. Cadillac, one of the oldest American car brands and a luxury name often compared to Range Rover—or at least that’s what they like to claim—has entered the EV race with the Escalade IQ.
The Cadillac Escalade IQ EV SUV is the company’s answer to luxury EV motoring. More akin to a land yacht than a conventional EV, the Escalade IQ tips the scales at over 4,000 kg, thanks to its massive 217 kWh battery—a capacity equivalent to 16 Tesla Powerwalls.
The Escalade IQ boasts an estimated range of 460 miles, though with current EV efficiency hovering around 80%, a real-world range of approximately 368 miles is more realistic.
The vehicle supports 350 kW fast charging, seats up to seven passengers, and has an extended wheelbase version in development. Its interior is packed with features and cutting-edge technology, the most important being the 40-speaker sound system.
Prices for the Escalade IQ start at $130,000 for entry-level versions, climbing to $175,000 for high-spec models. Pre-orders are open now, though availability is currently limited to the U.S.
