It looks like the gas-guzzling Escalade is heading towards a greener future. General Motors has announced that they are working on an all-electric version of their popular large SUV, which will be called the Escalade IQ.
Not much is known about the Escalade IQ at the moment, except that it exists and will carry the IQ name. It’s expected that the new SUV will be built on GM’s Ultium platform, which also supports the Chevrolet Equinox, Silverado, and the GMC Hummer EV.
The Escalade IQ will be part of GM’s electric car lineup in the Cadillac brand, joining other models like the Lyriq SUV and the high-end Celestiq. This is another step in GM’s plan to transition all of Cadillac’s cars to electric by 2030.
Depending on its release date, the Escalade IQ could be one of the few electric SUVs available. The Kia EV9 is coming out later this year and will likely hit the market before the IQ. However, there’s a growing demand for electric SUVs in the U.S., where larger vehicles tend to sell better. Aside from the EV9, the Escalade IQ will be competing with the more expensive Rivian R1S. Given that the Hummer EV starts at a hefty $111,000, it’s probable that the Escalade IQ will also be priced closer to the Rivian than the Kia.
Since details about the IQ are limited, it’s possible that it could be quite different from the traditional combustion engine model, beyond just the switch to an electric drivetrain. Many car manufacturers are using the move to electric as an opportunity to significantly redesign and enhance the features of their vehicles. This strategy has been quite successful for others. For example, the Ford Mustang Mach-E shares only the name with the classic Mustang but has become one of the better-selling electric vehicles. Similarly, the Kia EV6 and Hyundai Ioniq 5 have unique designs that stand out from other cars in their brands’ lineups and have received positive reviews.
The exact release date of the Escalade IQ is still unknown, but GM aims to have all of Cadillac’s cars be electric by 2030. Hopefully, we’ll learn more about the IQ within the next year or so.