Embargo, emshmargo: Cadillac Escalade Hybrid released into the wild
Embargo breaking has become another phenomenon that's equal parts corporate ignorance and now, just journalistic necessity. Farago over at The Truth About Cars has officially made it his mission to bust open any automaker-imposed embargo he finds, and his opening salvo is to publish a pic of the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. While we agree with Farago that our first duty is to serve the readers, we could think of bigger bombs to drop than this vehicle.
Regardless, the nitty-gritty of the "fuel-efficient" 'Slade involves mating the 6.0-liter V8 to a host of energy-saving technologies. To begin with, the engine features Active Fuel Management and a "late-intake valve closing" system, which, when partnered with a new electrically variable transmission with start/stop tech, regenerative breaking, a 300-volt nickel-metal hydride storage system, a 42-volt variable-assist power steering setup, an electrically-driven 300-volt air-con unit, plus a new exhaust and resonator, boosts fuel economy by... wait for it... 50-percent. As Mr. F. points out, that brings the average in-town fuel consumption up to 18 mpg from 12. Despite the improvement from egregious to simply bad fuel economy, GM believes the Escalade Hybrid will be hit with eco-conscious celebs. Somehow we doubt it.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
MoonRover 8:16AM (11/08/2007)
Please do not reprint anything form that awful site, they have zero credibility at Truth about cars, zero, zero, zero. They are a joke, a bunch of hollowheaded jackasses trying to write cutsie crap that's not worth reading. Take anything from that bottomless pit with a grain of salt, on second thought less than a grain of salt.
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Brian Dreggors 9:51AM (11/08/2007)
Agreed. TTAC is a classless, tactless joke that makes it hard for legtimate online media to operate.
sykerocker 5:53PM (11/08/2007)
Having not read the article (I'm banned for 'flaming' too much - Farago's definition of 'flaming' is to disagree with his basic tenant about GM: It must go bankrupt), I'm curious. Besides gleefully breaking the embargo, how many comments did Farago make about the truck not being good enough, GM must go bankrupt, shoddy construction, etc., etc., etc.?
AMcA 9:30PM (11/08/2007)
Oh, Farago is foully biased against US carmakers, but the site is still often interesting.
John Dee 11:03AM (11/08/2007)
It will be a hit for those who have a need for such a vehicle. Let's face it, as much as we hate those big vehicle, there are some people who need the room and/or to haul things. Many contractors use them as multi purpose vehicles. But some families will buy them because gas prices is no problem for them. Now those are ones we frown upon!
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Guenther 10:42AM (11/08/2007)
Problem is, No one NEEDS an Escalade. Some people may find a Tahoe moderately useful, but no one needs the drag-queen variant. That said, most of the target demographic could give 2 $#!+s about fuel economy.
Greg 2:39PM (11/08/2007)
Minivans have more room than the Escalade (and other similar 4x4s)
Let's see: 2008 Honda Odyssey. Max cargo capacity = 147 cu ft.
2008 Escalade: 109 cu ft
2008 Escalade ESV: 137 cu ft
In fact, the last few contractors that came to my house had minivans. I guess they are not that style conscious.
So the argument that someone needs a giant 4x4 for the interior capacity is clearly bogus.
But for towing the Slade is better. And more stylish to some eyes for sure.
The Ody gets 17/25 by epa. So slightly worse than the hybrid Slade in the city but better on the highway.
Having said this, there are obviously people who have an emotional need to drive something like this, so having the hybrid option is good. Saving 50% of a lot of gas (the consumption of a regular Escalade) is better than saving 50% of a little gas (the consumption of a Honda Civic).
Paul Allen 8:34AM (11/08/2007)
Speaking of zero credibility, a 50% increase in fuel economy is actually very significant, and 18 mpg city is a very good number for a vehicle of this size.
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Guenther 8:43AM (11/08/2007)
Eco-minded Ballers? Politicians, maybe. This makes LS600h look smart. If it serves as a testbed for new tech, its great. Otherwise, its like putting low-fat mayo on a BLT.
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XJ X-traordinaire 1:00PM (11/08/2007)
HA
dj 8:45AM (11/08/2007)
Instead of the gasoline engine, pair the hybrid system with the diesel that GM announced last week and you'll probably see city of MPG in the 26-30 range. Now that really turn some heads.
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J 5:56PM (11/08/2007)
Yeah, they could put a diesel engine in that hybrid vehicle. The problem is it would add the $4000-$6000 premium the diesel is likely to command. When coupled with the already expensive hybrid systems it becomes so complex and expensive it just wouldn't sell very much.
Stephen 3:43PM (11/09/2007)
the diesel would not work with the twomode hybrid system. it cannot handle that much torque, which would literally tear the transmission apart.
Josiah 8:46AM (11/08/2007)
How about a diet too? We're talking a premium SUV here, it should offer /some/ lightweight material tech.
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olddavid 9:28AM (11/08/2007)
Amen to comment one. RF has an agenda- to promote RF. They are not the ones I would choose to compliment or castigate, as mere acknowledgment will only spur them on to new lows. FWIW, I believe 18 to be damn respectable for this size of vehicle, too.
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rem83 8:57AM (11/08/2007)
Wow, that's a lot better economy than the pre-production numbers suggested. I remember hearing about improvements in the 20-30% range. I hope it doesn't cut down on any towing / hauling capability too much.
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Guenther 9:05AM (11/08/2007)
Eco-minded Ballers? Politicians, maybe. This makes LS600h look smart. If it serves as a testbed for new tech, its great. Otherwise, its like putting low-fat mayo on a BLT.
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sheth 9:08AM (11/08/2007)
what kind of idiot says 18mpg in the city is "bad" fuel economy when the Camry V6 gets 19? Give me a break. I understand that the press hates vehicles like the Escalade because it supposedly represents excess (but large German cars do not for some reason) but lets not twist the facts around. GM's lambdas only get 16 or 17 mpg under the new standards and they weigh far less than the Escalade. The Pilot gets 15mpg with AWD so I would say the Slade hybrid is pretty damn efficient.
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XJ X-traordinaire 1:06PM (11/08/2007)
Can I get an amen?
DriftPunch 1:06PM (11/08/2007)
You got it! I'm not an Escalade fan simply because luxury trucks don't work for me. However, to see owning an Escalade as some type of environmental crime, while worshiping similarly thirsty vehicles is quite hypocritical. If MB put a similar system into the G or GL class, people would be wetting their pants at how advanced MBs engineering is while touting their environmental responsibility.
I respect and even accept criticism from true environmentals, but dispise 'imagentialists'.