Way back in 1987, The New York Times began a story on GM with a lead that echoes through the ages: “Just about the last thing the General Motors Corporation needs these days is more ”cannibals.”’ With all the turmoil GM has endured since ’87, you might think that it would have taken The Gray Lady’s advice by now. But no. Motor Trend reports that the new Cadillac Escalade will be based on GM’s played-out Lambda platform, joining the Traverse, Enclave, Outlook and Acadia in cannibal Hell. As usual MT manages to look on the sunny side of the move, claiming that the Lambda’s “oversubscription” is precisely why “a Cadillac version makes economic sense.” And yes, it will likely be the only Lambda-based whip with a (small block- the new Northstar has been axed) V8 now that the planned Enclave Super has been canceled. Still, the new Escalade won’t just steal sales from well-equipped Enclaves, it will also put the squeeze on the Theta-based SRX CUV. Besides, if Caddy is still a legitimate luxury brand, shouldn’t its flagship Ute retain its fuel-swilling truck platform to keep it in line with such damn-the-fuel-prices competitors as the Range Rover and Hummer? After all, the new 2009 Escalade paid off its tooling costs within three months of going on sale. Unless of course this is just more cheap-and-dirty “retooling for increased energy efficiency” bailout loan fodder.
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At least it isn’t a new model that would compete against the Escalade. I wonder if it’ll look significantly different from the other Lambdas… although given the changes in the Acadia, Outlook, Enclave, and soon-to-be Traverse, I sort of doubt it. Is it a good thing that the new ‘Slade is to be no longer based on the Yukoburbahoe? I feel like the Lambda is at least a little more refined and will make it look like less of a blinged-out Suburban.
Well, they have to do something about the Escalade. Selling $80,000+ vehicles for $65,000 tells me there is a problem. And in spite of those “deals,” it’s selling very poorly in its current form. Further, the current Escalade is a very politically incorrect vehicle. Sure, some people don’t care what others think about their choice of vehicle, but others are surely very conscious. Since Escalade sales are down 32.4% YTD and 44.4% in August, it doesn’t seem like a very sustainable proposition.
Basically, GM will be trading one rebadge (since the Escalade is, of course, just a Tahoe/Yukon with a new front clip and nicer interior) for another. I’d actually expect a Lambda-based Escalade to have more unique sheetmetal than the truck-based model does.
Do GM have any understanding of it own business or the Folks that actually buy GM cars and trucks?
I dont get it, GM builds and hypes a product for about 10 years now, builds a loyal fan base for it, and than turns right around to tell the world just how stupid and irrelevent the orginial concepts really was! If the Escalade can be a CUV than the Escalade was never a valid concept to begin with.
Like it or not a large part of the Escalade appeal is due to the fact that is a full-sized truck based SUV. The Escalade does NOT appeal to commonsense or good sense it appeal to those that do seek EXCESS! The folks that like Escalades do so because it is BIGGER, otherwise such vehicles like MB ML, and Porsche Cayennes would be more popular with the Escalade set.
Now if the Escalade moves to the Lambda platform what is the point of the SRX anyway? Even thought the SRX has not been sellling as well as GM might have hoped, the fact that is was unique from the Lambda clones gave the Cadillac brand some prestige.
There is a reason that the Nissan Morano and Inifiniti FX do NOT share a platfrom! Toyota may share a platfrom between the the Highlander and RX BUT they still have the LandCruiser/ LX for the “real” players.
GM needs to understand that there is more to a car than just a NAME. This is just like Caddy going FWD in the 1980s when NONE of their customers wanted it!
This is going to crush the rappers! Or send them to Lincoln for the Navigator.
The Escalade’s appeal is it’s huge size, brash styling, powerful V8 engine, all of which demand a fullsize SUV structure.
Again, I fail to see the need for GMC at all considering Cadillac has luxury SUVs covered and the Tahoe covers the market for fullsize SUVs for everyone else.
GM is going to neuter and destroy another one of it’s brands that was very strong with this knee-jerk reaction.
So is this the first time since the ill-fated Cimarron that GM will be offering the same platform for 5 brands?
Done right, I actually think it would work. Especially if the Outlook and/or Acadia aren’t around for the long haul.
The toughest bit, other than getting the interior up to Cadillac spec: a worthy powertrain. Are they going to mate a small block V8 to the six-speed automatic? A turbo six might also fly. But no four-speed automatic, please.
GM working hard to bring Cadillac down market. What ever happen to Cadillac having it’s own engineering and being this model of excellence, oh yeah they shit on that idea a long time ago. Why would anyone want to pay whatever $10-15,000 premium to buy a bringed out version of 4 other CUV’s that are practically selling for nothing. The Enclaves are selling for under $30,000 now exactly how much more different can this be from the Buick besides Art & Sciences body panels.
When you thinking GM can’t get more stupid they find a way to surprise you. Guess that is why I am not getting a bailout I haven’t proven my stupidity yet. The stupider and more irresponsible you are the more money you get from the government.
Considering how respectable the LaCrosse Super is, I think the Lambda with a 5.3L V8 might be worth it. And it gives Lincoln a reason to keep the Navigator around.
I drive one of these occasionally for work – its in the fleet. Its the big, big one – its a monster. However, it will seat 6 very comfortably with their golf stuff, and driving it, while different than the dts sedan i usually drive, is easy. David E davis, late of Automobile mag, likes this big behemeth because it can in fact haul lots of people, dogs, shotguns, and all in comfort through mud, slime and dung. I agree wholehartedly. For what it is, its an amazing vehicle.
It amuses me that there are people who would buy this thing for a daily driver, unless they have lots of money and kids, but they do. I see them all over the place with one person in them.
Perhaps this is what GM is after, the casual user. Those afraid of gas shock. Its easy to put in $120.
They might wind up alienating both groups. The status seekers AND the rich sportsmen.
The new concept may not be bling enough for status seekers, or burly and elegant enough for the sportsmen.
“Escalade will be based on GM’s .. Lambda platform, joining the Traverse, Enclave, Outlook and Acadia”
Why is GM neglecting Pontiac? Hummer? Opel? Holden? Those brands deserve a nice CUV, too. Coca-Cola operates on the principle that a thirsty person should never be more than a few feet from a Coke machine, and see how successful they are!
We still have 2008 Escalades on our lot and the 2009’s are arriving with a $98,000.00 MSRP if you can believe that! (In Canada, Non Hybrid)
With GMAC leasing gone in Canada, who is going to buy these things with a 1600.00 a month payment?
So the new truck-based Escalade, and the newly developed hybrid Escalade, are gone in a year then?
It looks like a jacked up station wagon to me. I guess that’s better than driving a regular Cadillac station wagon… also known as a hearse!
Lower it six inches, put some aggressive non-GM designed wheels on it, remove all the chrome, and you have a winner.
Anybody else in for a V8 wagon for half the price of a 5 series? :)
The original Escalade was not much more than a rebadge, and looked that way, but I actually liked the looks of the 2002-2006(?) Escalade, until they jumped the shark with the current model. The Escalade now looks almost cartoonishly bulky, and I particularly hate the vertically stretched grille.
Personally, I think they should keep the Escalade on the current platform. Just as it says in the article, it will compete with both the SRX and Enclave for sales. Keeping it full size and saying damn the torpedoes of high gas prices seems the way to go.
And from the side, the Lambda-based Escalade looks startlingly like the current SRX.
This actually makes some sense. Really.
If you think about it, a statistically insignificant number of people make use of the features lacking in the Lambda but present in the GMT900 (which amounts to, what, towing capacity?), while a large number probably would benefit from what the Lambdas do better: space, economy, ride and handling.
Sure, purists will whine, but Mercedes still makes the G-Class and sells, what, six or seven units a year? Or how about the Lexus LX570, that’s sure selling like hotcakes.
Other than the inherent stupidity of five Lambda crossovers and the loss of the big V8, this isn’t a bad idea. If GMC and Buick are heading for the dustbin of history and Saturn gets a Zafira instead, it seems even better an idea.
210delray :
September 9th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
So is this the first time since the ill-fated Cimarron that GM will be offering the same platform for 5 brands?
Nope I think the GMT360 platform has been used as follows:
1.) Chevy TrailBlazer/EXT
2.) GMC Envoy/XUV/EXT
3.) Buick Rainier
4.) Oldsmobile Bravada (DOA)
5.) Isuzu Ascender
6.) Saab 9-7x
7.) Hummer H3 (I think it’s the same platform)
I guess I’m surprised they didn’t do the full monty and make a Cadillac Trailscalade / Saturn TrailVue / Pontiac Trailstice version.
krazykarguy:
You’re right — 6 brands using the same platform. The H3 is actually based on the Colorado pickup.
And if you’re speaking of any given model year, the record is 5 because the Bravada died a year before the 9-7X was born (from jets).
What are those—vents?—on the door!? Thanks for the laugh!
Oh, the irony. I remember the early 2000’s. When Saab was looking for a suitable platform for its upcoming 9-7X. And they were nixed the Sigma-based SRX platform, because “Cadillac wanted to preserve its exclusivity.” Those were the days…
I can’t wait to see a Daewoo rebadged as a Cadillac.
Aveo de Ville?
That C-pillar looks an awful lot like the sail panel from a C4 Corvette or 1990’s Firebird/Camaro.
More recycling, but not the good kind…
What is meant by oversubscription?
I read the comments and no one seems to have remarked on the possibility that there will be two Escalades, one based on the Lambda and one based on the GMT-900 platform? They do have two today, don’t they? The Escalade/Tahoe and Escalade/Avalanche? They might have the same underpinnings but they’re two fairly different takes on the Escalade.
I have also read, can’t recall where, that the Lambda platform is not suitable for the two-mode hybrid running gear. If they don’t keep the super-size Escalade alive, they probably won’t have a hybrid for those Cadillac owners who feel a need to be green.
If they don’t keep the super-size Escalade alive, they probably won’t have a hybrid for those Cadillac owners who feel a need to be green.
You mean all six Escalade Hybrid owners? The intersection between “Green Buyers” and “Escalade Buyers” is vanishingly small.
So i guess the Escalade EXT will be a lengthened Travencloutadia platform?
What nonsense.
The Escalade is exactly what it is: big, brash and blinged out. It’s a status symbol in the same way the Range Rover and LX570 is. Take that away and Cadillac really only becomes a shadow of itself (especially if the rappers have nothing to put in their videos). If GM decides to move it from the truck to crossover platform, kiss the DUB and Hollywood set goodbye.
@ nudave’s “Aveo de Ville” comment:
The moment GM puts the Crest and Wreath on an Aveo is the day I cut every single tie to Cadillac and General Motors, history be damned!
Don’t laugh; I think it’s closer than we may believe…
I followed the link to the 1987 NYTimes article. Wow. Just change the model names and the whole article could be recycled.
Well, if there’s any truth to this recent WARD, maybe this is evidence that GM is preparing to move everything to either Chevy or Cadillac and kill the other brands.
Gross! The only thing I dislike about driving is the fact that I have to see so many ugly cars on the road with me.