2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid /Review

2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid will settle the dilemma between owning a large, capable SUV and saving money on gas and protecting the environment.  That’s because an efficient 332-horsepower, 6.0-liter V-8 is paired to GM’s two-mode hybrid system that features dual electric motors, a continuously variable transmission, and a nickel-metal hydride battery pack.  Like most hybrids, the 2011 Escalade Hybrid’s system recharges the battery pack through regenerative braking.  Fuel estimates check in at 20 mpg in the city and 23 mpg on the highway.  For those concerned about the environmental impact of the Escalade Hybrid, just know that it emits between three and four fewer metric tons of carbon dioxide than the gas-only Escalades.  Competition includes the GMC Yukon Hybrid and the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid.

The Escalade Hybrid is available in four-wheel drive for enhanced traction and handling, and can tow up to 5,800 pounds (2WD model).  The Escalade Hybrid is bathed in hybrid badges, which instantly sets its exterior apart from other Escalades.  A power liftgate, 22-inch chrome wheels, power sunroof, and xenon headlights are standard, while LED headlights and power-retractable running boards are optional.

The 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid can seat up to eight occupants in three rows.  Cargo volume is also cavernous with 108.9 cubic feet of space to fit all of your luggage or equipment.  Leather interior, power, heated, and cooled front seats, heated second-row seats, tri-zone climate control, heated and cooled cup holders, a navigation system, Bluetooth® connectivity and a USB/iPod port are just some of the impressive standard features.  Monitor the Escalade’s hybrid activity and efficiency through informative graphics displayed on the navigation screen and instrument cluster.

As for safety, the 2011 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid features three-row side curtain airbags, driver and passenger airbags, antilock brakes, an electronic stability system with traction control, rearview camera, and a blind spot warning system as standard equipment.  A suite of OnStar safety technologies and communications also comes standard and notify the authorities in the event of an accident.  Standard maintenance such as scheduled oil changes, replacement of engine and cabin air filters, tire rotations and more are covered for four years or 50,000 miles.

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PricingMSRP: $74,135 to $88,435
Invoice Price: $69,316 to $82,687
EPA Fuel Economy (MPG)
20 City /23 Highway
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Cadillac CTS-V Black Diamond Edition

Cadillac will offer this spring a Black Diamond Edition of the high-performance CTS-V that comes with a host of popular performance options and an exclusive tri-coat paint, also called "Black Diamond."

The Black Diamond Edition, available in the CTS-V Sedan, Coupe and Wagon models, will be the first use by an automaker of JDSU's proprietary Spectra Flair pigment in North America. JDSU, a Milipitas, Calif.,-based optical technology firm, specializes in cutting-edge color solutions for a wide range of markets. Its pigments are used in certain DuPont paints supplied to Cadillac.

In the Cadillac CTS-V Black Diamond, a dark tri-coat paint is embedded with Spectra Flair Bright Silver pigment. While other luxury makers offer metallic paints, Black Diamond is created through a meticulous process that gives the paint added dimension.

Instead of simply containing small bits of metal, the Spectra Flair pigment in Black Diamond uses aluminum flakes encapsulated in a glass-like substance called magnesium fluoride. The result is a paint that has a diamond-like sparkle as light hits the surface from different angles.

"The Cadillac CTS-V Black Diamond Edition is like a finely crafted, tailored tuxedo," said Michelle Killen, Cadillac exterior paint designer. "The base color may be a simple black, but the details and richness of the material set it apart."

Black Diamond helps Cadillac meet growing demand by luxury buyers for paints that are set apart not just by their color but also by their special effects.

"Auto makers and consumers are looking to differentiate the color black, an ubiquitous color in automotive," said John Book, Custom Color Solutions product manager at JDSU. "Black Diamond offers the discerning Cadillac customer a special option color that stands out and remains true to their sense of luxury and style."

In addition to the unique paint, Cadillac CTS-V Black Diamond comes standard with content that complements its look and feel.

The special edition has:

• Satin Graphite 19-inch wheels with yellow Brembo brake calipers. These six-piston front, four-piston back brake calipers provide exceptional stopping capabilities.
• Recaro seats that feature 14 adjustable elements, French-stitched leather and microfiber suede inserts in the center sections of the cushions and seatbacks.
• Midnight Sapele wood trim known for its durability and distinctive grain

"We've already established V-Series as a serious sub-brand for Cadillac," said Rich Pinto, Cadillac creative designer. "Black Diamond further establishes V-Series in the market as a performance-minded line of vehicles with a luxury twist."

The Cadillac CTS-V Black Diamond comes with a suggested retail price, including destination charges, of $69,190 for the manual or $70,490 for the automatic, a $4,850 premium over the CTS-V base price. The CTS-V Black Diamond will be available at U.S. dealerships in March 2011.

The CTS-V Black Diamond Edition joins Cadillac's award-winning V-Series line of performance luxury vehicles. The CTS-V Sedan, Coupe and Wagon all feature a supercharged 6.2L V8 engine with 556-horspower, Magnetic Ride Control suspension that reads and reacts to the road 1,000 times a second and Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tire

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