Cadillac Escalade Hybrid
Kelly Foss, www.car-data.com
The Cadillac Escalade has become the class leader of luxury full size SUV’s. This remains quitean accomplishment considering the competition. As of late, with unpredictable fuel prices, largeSUV’s have lost some of their luster in the public eye. Notwithstanding, there remains a sizeablemarket that either needs or really wants such machines and General Motors has done their part tomake the experience more palatable.
For several years GM has been developing what it calls a 2 Mode Hybrid drive. This technology issimilar to the combined gas and electric propulsion that we’ve seen in other hybrids but GM hasfocused on bigger vehicles where larger gains in fuel economy can be harvested. This year, hybridswill be available on all the large SUV’s and pickup trucks that GM produces.
The Escalade is a gorgeous machine. It delivers all the accoutrements that you expect from anexpensive luxury vehicle. Its forte is the way that it combines luxury and large SUV performance inone offering. The hybrid version of the Escalade takes the package one step further. With nocompromise in luxury and while maintaining similar levels of performance, the Escalade Hybrid nowadds dramatically increased fuel economy and reduced vehicle emissions.
Hybrids operate by adding the power of high-torque electric motors to the traditional gas engine. The vehicle carries a 300 volt rechargeable battery pack on board and the electric motor takepower from the battery and helps propel the vehicle. Electricity is generated while the vehicle ismoving and braking. The more you can use the electric motor, the less you need the gas engine whichreduces fuel consumption and emissions. The hybrid version of the Escalade is eerily quiet. Itdrives just like any other Escalade meaning it starts and you put it in gear and step on the gas togo and the brake to stop. Everything else seamlessly goes on in the background.
A typical gas version of the Escalade has an EPA rating of 12 city and 19 highway miles pergallon of fuel economy. The Escalade Hybrid gets 20 city and 21 highway. Note that city fueleconomy increases in the city by over 60% and highway by 10%, plus emission are decreased with theHybrid model.
The Escalade Hybrid presents an interesting alternative to the full size luxury SUV market.
