Green is the New Bling: Escalade Two-Mode Hybrid

Cadillac’s Escalade might be the current King of Bling, but its imposing looks, big, chrome-clad wheels and high-street style aren’t the only things that it’s known for. The Escalade, as well as the rest of the large SUV segment is controversial for gluttonous consumption. These (luxurious) beasts of burden can seat seven (or eight) plus luggage with room to spare and tow a boat with ease at the cost of fuel economy. In the eyes of the public and federal regulators, 12 miles per gallon just won’t cut it anymore.

General Motors isn’t oblivious to the situation and has spent millions upon millions of dollars researching and developing a solution - a hybrid solution. GM has already pledged to offer its Two-Mode Hybrid system with the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, and now it arrives on the ritzier cousin, Cadillac’s Escalade. Like the Tahoe and Yukon, GM has taken a no-compromise approach to engineering the Escalade Hybrid; there is no loss of interior room or cargo volume, while it can still tow up to 6,000 lbs of weight.

Starting next summer, Cadillac dealers will begin stocking the green version of the Escalade. Offered only in the standard wheelbase Escalade (for now), it will look almost identical to the regular Escalade with the exception of a few Hybrid badges, the most notable of which is located on its fender extractor vents.

Where the Tahoe and Yukon hybrids feature the electrical components mated up to GM’s 5.3-liter V8 engine with active fuel management, the Escalade receives a different engine, the 6.0-liter V8. While smaller than the 6.2-liter V8 that’s used to power the standard Escalade, the Two-Mode Hybrid system will more than make up the performance edge lost in displacement. Whereas the 6.2-liter is a V8 engine, no more, no less, the smaller 6.0-liter version connected to the hybrid drivetrain features cylinder deactivation as well as late intake valve closing for better fuel economy.

At the heart of the electric side of the Escalade Hybrid is a 300-volt nickel metal hydride battery pack that is used to power both the electric motors as well as a variety of electrically-driven accessories. For instance, the normally hydraulic power steering system has been converted to a 42-volt variable-assist electrical unit which saves about 0.5 mpg, while the conversion to a 300-volt air conditioner makes a significant improvement to fuel economy, particularly on hot summer days. By taking load off of the engine, fuel is saved, not to mention such upgrades allow these features to function when the car’s gasoline-powered engine is shut off, such as when it’s cruising on electric power alone.

All of these add up to some seriously pleasing numbers. Overall, in real world driving, expect to get about 50-percent better fuel economy in the city than the standard Escalade. That means jumping from about 12 mpg to 18 mpg. Pricing has yet to be announced, given that the 2009 model’s launch is so far away, but this sort of technology doesn’t come cheaply.