The Cadillac of SUV's?

[Philpug]

"The Cadillac of..." is ... was? a preface of quality or luxury. There was a time when if someone said your product was the Cadillac of, you know you had a top of the line whatever. While that has waned with a new generation, no other brand has taken that rein. No one says The Lexus/Mercedes/Apple/Sony/Rolex/Anyotherbrand of... It has been and still to this day, the Cadillac of.

Cadillac is introducing the Cadillac of SUV's, the new Escalade-V with their most powerful gas motor offered in a production vehicle, a massaged Supercharged 6.2L from the Corvette.

Here is the full article from Autoblog...

2023 Cadillac Escalade-V has GM's most powerful gas engine

2023 Cadillac Escalade-V full-size luxury SUV revealed with a huge 682 horsepower from a supercharged V8. It's GM's most powerful gas engine.

www.autoblog.com

Excess? Is a starting price of $149K, to much? Who's to say where the line in drawn. Almost every euro brand has a SUV in this stratosphere of a price and most have 0-60 times sub 5 seconds but none have what the Escalade-V offers and that is a volumous interior, space not only to transport your friends at bullet train speed but also room to carry their stuff.

 

[Tom K.]

Seems over the top to me for an SUV, but if the sellout rate of their recent Blackwings -- which they stated would be the last "pure" ICE versions -- is any indicator, they'll sell every one that they build.

Coincidentally, I rode/drove around in a Roush pickup the past week in Moab. Super cool and fast, but honestly, the novelty of an approximately 650 x 650 pickup kind of wore off......never thought I'd say that! Also, too loud to actually own and use on longer trips.

 

[scott43]

One of my more well-to-do friends drives a Ford Raptor as his primary weapon of choice...

 

[Bad Bob]

Wife gave the choice between new vehicle or new skis this year. Think I will stick with the skis.
That one is a 'win the Lotto toy'.

 

[James]

Outside of Secret Service etc use, just more A-holes on the highway playing with their toy.

 

[Seldomski]

Where's my 712hp supercharged V8 minivan?

 

[dbostedo]

Where's my 712hp supercharged V8 minivan?

Well not quite there, but you could hunt down a Mercedes R63 AMG from 2007... it had a 503 HP 6.2L V8.

 

[wooglin]

But will it rally?

 

[Don in Morrison]

I've taken a '67 Impala on "roads" where Escalade owners are afraid to go.

 

[Seldomski]

Well not quite there, but you could hunt down a Mercedes R63 AMG from 2007... it had a 503 HP 6.2L V8.

Haha, the review here is fun:

2007 Mercedes-Benz R63 AMG

Mommy Mercedes goes mental, R63 AMG seats six and goes 155 mph.

www.caranddriver.com

 

[slowrider]

Where's my 712hp supercharged V8 minivan?

Too much hp for most drivers. Just say'n.

 

[fatbob]

Didn't it start as a joke in the movie Get Shorty?

 

[fatbob]

Plus can't see the Escalade hacking it in Europe vs the 3.low second DBX 707 and Ursus which are the toys of choice for the modern day planet killing dilletante to get to the PJ.

 

[Muleski]

Obviously, no concern about the fuel costs, let alone the overall carbon footprint.

I was fueling up our Landcruiser a couple of days ago. $85. Which, I noticed. For sure. Not pleased. And ready to be embarrased.

Next to me was a woman filling up her Suburban, and in front of me a guy with a F250. I am guessing that both had big tanks. Her pump went off at $155. She was shaking her head. The guy with the truck said he’d be about the same…..and fills up 2-3 times a week.

Not sure if a DBX driver will even notice. Probably has “people” to take care of that stuff!!

I notice my neighbor’s MB AMG E6.3 sitting idle in his garage a lot more!

 

[scott43]

I mean, gas is a commodity..

 

[cantunamunch]

I mean, gas is a commodity..

So are E85 and LPG. One might argue that big behemoths like ^that are relatively suitable candidates for conversion.

 

[bbbradley]

The Cadillac of --> something for old people.

 

[Uncle-A]

The Cadillac of --> something for old people.

OK, than what's for young people?

 

[Philpug]

OK, than what's for young people?

That was one of my points, there isn't a "The _____ of ...." to replace "The Cadillac of ..."

 

[cantunamunch]

That was one of my points, there isn't a "The _____ of ...." to replace "The Cadillac of ..."

Eh not sure about that. I hear "The Tesla of"... quite a lot - to indicate premium price, tech forward and modernistic design.

I submit that the change in touchstone brand also carries a change in implicit qualities. I submit that it is completely appropriate that changing Cadillac to Tesla changes the connotation of the expression.

Changing the combination of premium price and luxury over to the combination of premium price, tech forward and modernistic design is exactly what makes the expression modern.

In other words, it is no longer appropriate for something to be just top of the line. It has to be a modern line.