Cadillac Escalade Hybrid to be Released in Fall

After seeing the success rival automaker Toyota has had with hybrid vehicles, General Motors is expanding its line of hybrid automobiles.  Up next is the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, which will be available at most Cadillac dealers in the fall of 2008.  Cadillac calls the new Escalade Hybrid “…truly the fullest expression of responsibility without sacrifice….”

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According to Edmonds, “The Escalade hybrid will gain 25 percent in fuel economy, which should put its fuel consumption at highway speeds close to 30 mpg.”  The Escalade Hybrid will use a 2-mode hybrid transmission to transition between fuel-efficient battery power and a high-performing standard gasoline engine.  The gasoline engine is a 332-horsepower V8 capable of towing up to 6,000 pounds.

Car and Driver caught an early glimpse of the new Escalade Hybrid and had this to say:  “GM claims that harmful emissions will drop significantly, and fuel economy will be boosted by some 25 percent compared with [models] equipped with the 5.3-liter V-8. The fuel-economy disparity with the standard Escalade, which comes with the gluttonous 403-hp, 6.2-liter V-8, should be even more significant.” 

Car and Driver went on to say, “…some changes will be made to the grille and front bumper to create a distinction between the hybrid and the more hedonistic standard model. After all, what’s the point of driving a hybrid in Hollywood if you can’t show the thing off? No changes are expected for the interior, however—the wood is already fake.”

The standard Cadillac Escalade starts at $56,890.  There are no reports yet about the sticker price of the new hybrid Escalade.

 

Kate Miller-Wilson is a freelance writer living in the Twin Cities.  Visit her website or email her for information about her freelance writing service. She is a regular contributor to the exotic car rental blog and the author of a blog on parenting.