You’ve seen it in movies. You’ve seen it in music videos. And now, there’s a decent chance you’ll see it parked outside an embassy or a Bollywood vanity van.
Cadillac could be prepping to bring the Escalade to India. Nothing’s been confirmed just yet, but the signs are hard to ignore. GM has recently upped its trademark filings in the country and is reportedly exploring a premium relaunch for the Cadillac brand, not with crossovers or hatchbacks, but with the big, brash, unapologetically American Escalade.
Wait, what is the Escalade?
To call it a full-size luxury SUV would be like calling Mount Everest a hill.
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Length: Over 5.3 metres
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Power: 420 bhp, 6.2-litre V8 petrol engine
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Torque: 624 Nm
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0–100 kmph: Around 6.5 seconds
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Transmission: 10-speed automatic
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Drive: 4WD
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Variants: Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade-V
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Expected Price (India, CBU): ₹1.5 crore and upwards
There’s also a full electric version called the Escalade IQ, which Cadillac might consider if the EV space proves favourable.
What makes the Escalade special?
For one, it’s iconic. It’s Cadillac’s answer to the Range Rover, the GLS, and the LX 600, except it’s more… excessive in all the right ways.
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Triple-screen 38-inch curved OLED display
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AKG audio system with up to 36 speakers
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Air suspension with adaptive dampers
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Optional Super Cruise hands-free highway assist
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Plush seating for seven, or six if you want the captain’s chairs
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And enough chrome to signal your presence from orbit
The Escalade-V, if launched, takes things to another level — 682 bhp from a supercharged V8 and 0–100 kmph in under 5 seconds. Yes, in something that weighs as much as a small apartment.
Why now?
Cadillac has been absent from India for years, and General Motors no longer sells passenger vehicles here. But with the luxury SUV segment booming — and buyers now accustomed to splurging over ₹1 crore for cars from BMW, Mercedes, and Land Rover — this might be the right time for a comeback.
Plus, the Escalade has a strong brand recall, even in India. It’s long been a status symbol for NRIS, film stars, and anyone who grew up on a diet of American pop culture.
Can it work?
That depends on a few things:
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CBU pricing: ₹1.5 crore or more means it’ll face the GLS Maybach, LX 600, and Range Rover Autobiography
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Brand network: Cadillac will need to either piggyback on an existing luxury network or invest in showrooms and service
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Fuel type: A thirsty V8 may raise eyebrows, but the Escalade IQ (EV) could make a smarter case for urban India
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Size: Will it even fit in Indian parking lots? Barely. But that’s sort of the point.
The bottom line
If Cadillac brings the Escalade to India, it will be a halo product. Something to stir the pot, turn heads, and reintroduce the brand to a new generation of Indian luxury buyers.
It won’t be cheap. It won’t be subtle. But it just might be brilliant.
