ESCALADE ATTRACTS NEW BUYERS TO CADILLAC

In a few short years, Escalade has taken its place as a leader in the luxury SUV market, and as the starting point for Cadillac's product renaissance.

The Escalade symbolizes Cadillac's commitment to bold, breakthrough products. But perhaps more importantly, it has served as a beacon for bringing new buyers into the division and a symbol of Cadillac's revitalization.

An instant hit with professional athletes, musicians, movie stars and automotive enthusiasts, Escalade's self-assured stance and strong lines have attracted younger, more affluent buyers to Cadillac, inspired song lyrics and created quite a following. The average Escalade buyer is 50 years old, about 12 years younger than the average Cadillac buyer.

The best-in-class Vortec 6000 6.0L V-8 engine achieves 345 horsepower (257 kw) at 5200 rpm and 380 lb.-ft. of torque (515 Nm) at 4000 rpm, making Escalade the world's most powerful full-size SUV*. The engine links to the Hydra-Matic 4L60-E heavy-duty electronically controlled four-speed automatic transmission with overdrive.

Escalade's exterior uses sheer, chiseled shapes and crisp, tailored lines to create what appear to be almost computer-generated surfaces. Inside, the Escalade's comfortable seats feature a simple, clean, European-style appearance. Front-row buckets have 14-way power adjustment, power side bolsters and power lumbar support. Heated seating, with separate cushion and seatback settings, can be found in all bucket seats and in the outer positions on the optional second-row bench seat.

The instrument panel and cluster features an ebony background that offsets the white facing of the graphics and control knobs for a harmonious, integrated look. Minimalist cluster gauges have brushed painted halos highlighting the tachometer and speedometer . Italian jewelry designer Bvlgari designed the analog clock displayed in the console. A jeweled wreath and crest horn-pad emblem is found on all Escalades.

For audio/visual aficionados, Escalade has an available DVD rear-seat entertainment system with a 7-inch flip-down screen and DVD navigation system, standard XM Satellite Radio and a premium nine-speaker Bose sound system with an in-dash six-disc changer and digital signal processing for superb imaging, stage and spectral response. The navigation system uses an onboard computer and vehicle sensors to interact with the Global Positioning System (GPS) and the DVD map database to provide precise vehicle location and to calculate a driving route to a destination. It can help locate and route to addresses, intersections, and points of interest such as ATMs, restaurants, hospitals and museums – all with visual and voice-guided directions.

XM Satellite Radio (continental U.S. only) provides more than 120 coast-to-coast, digital-quality channels of original commercial-free music and premier news, sports and talk as well as advanced traffic and weather information for select major metropolitan areas nationwide. Consumers can subscribe to the basic service for $12.99 a month. In addition, GM customers with GMAC financing can choose to include the XM subscription in their car payments.

OnStar-equipped Escalades will feature OnStar dual-mode (analog-digital) equipment. OnStar's digital equipment also includes enhanced hands-free voice recognition capabilities including more intuitive continuous digit dialing and improved voice recognition accuracy. OnStar is the leading provider of in-vehicle safety, security and information services in the United States and Canada . Using the GPS satellite network and wireless technology, OnStar features core safety services and OnStar Hands-Free Calling that allows drivers to make and receive voice-activated phone calls using an externally mounted antenna for greater reception.

All 2006 Cadillac owners will receive 12 months of complimentary access to Cadillac Virtual Advisor by OnStar. Cadillac Virtual Advisor service begins at activation of OnStar Hands-Free Calling. Cadillac Virtual Advisor provides three-day weather forecasts and traffic reports within pre-selected ranges of 5, 10 or 15 miles of the vehicle's location in most major markets. Cadillac Virtual Advisor also monitors traffic for up to three personalized routes and reports information on up to 10 selected stocks on the DJI and NASDAQ markets – all at the touch of a single button.

The Escalade has GM's Passenger Sensing System (PSS). PSS uses the latest sensing technology to turn the front passenger air bag on or off. If the sensor system detects an unoccupied front passenger seat or the presence of a smaller occupant, the front passenger air bag is designed to automatically turn off so it would not deploy in the event of a frontal collision. A status indicator on the instrument panel alerts occupants that the passenger air bag is on or off. Even with this system, GM strongly recommends restraining child passengers in an appropriate child seat placed in the second or third row of the vehicle. Never install a rear-facing infant seat in front of an active air bag. GM also recommends that all children 12 and under ride in the rear seat when possible.

Side impact air bags are also standard for both the driver and front passenger. In addition, side-impact door beams and energy-absorbing foam blocks on the interior help protect occupants against head injuries.

The Escalade also has dual-stage frontal air bags for supplemental protection for front seat passengers. Dual-stage frontal air bags are designed to help reduce the risk of air bag-induced injury. When the air bag system's control unit detects an impact, it determines whether the crash is severe enough to trigger a deployment, and whether the primary amount of inflation is sufficient. The primary stage alone will deploy in most frontal impacts requiring the supplemental protection of an air bag, while a secondary stage is designed to deploy in more severe frontal collisions.

Driver confidence is assured in unpredictable weather conditions with Escalade's full-time all-wheel drive system, four-channel StabiliTrak system and a Borg-Warner one-speed full-time open-differential transfer case.

by GM Media

by Cadillac