2015 Cadillac Escalade: First Impressions

2015 Cadillac Escalade⁶

For the past 10 years, I have not paid any mind to the Cadillac Escalade. Why, because for the past 14 years the Cadillac Escalade was just a rebadged GMC Yukon Denali and Chevy Tahoe. Don't believe me? Go on Google Images and look at the interior shots of all three vehicles in the same model year and you will see the similarities. Now of course the materials and colors will be different and there will be subtle layout differences, but look at the overall design. You will see that the steering wheels are identical, the center consoles are the same, and even the dashboards are similar. Pop the hood and you'll even see the same LS V8 mated to the same transmission in all the three vehicles. The main problem about rebadged cars is all of the problems found in the lower tier vehicle will be found in the more expensive vehicles. So in 2011 when the Chevy Yukon was recalled for steering and rear suspension problems, the 2011 GMC Denali and Cadillac Escalade suffered through those same recalls^1,2,3. And when the Chevy Yukon was recalled for brakes, steering, and transmission problems in 2012, the 2012 GMC Denali and Cadillac Escalade had to be recalled too^4,5. What happened to brand separation? Ford had this same problem with Mercury and Lincoln and look where that have gotten them; Mercury is dead and Lincoln had to overhaul their entire company to stay afloat. GM really needs to pay attention and do a better job at establishing brand separation. Even though some Audis use the same chassis as Volkswagen and some Lexus’s are based off Toyota’s platform, you cannot distinguish the lower tiered vehicles from its more expensive counterpart. Although GM rebadges a handful of their vehicles and all of those vehicles are currently North American exclusives, Cadillac cannot afford to mess up with any of their vehicles. They only have 5 main models in their lineup and they cannot assume that the ATS and the CTS (their most popular vehicles) will keep them out of trouble.

Thankfully, Cadillac is beginning to pay more attention to their brand image and is moving in the right direction despite GM’s dwindling stock numbers. The new 2015 Cadillac Escalade is beginning to redefine its image and move away from its Chevy and Yukon brothers. They are all based off the same platform, which is ok, but the Escalade offers a different exterior, interior, powertrain, and features than its younger brothers. That is a huge step in the right direction.  Let’s take a first look at the new Escalade, the SUV that reintroduce Cadillac into the luxury market back in 1999.

Design

Bold, advanced, and luxurious are the 3 words that came to mind when I first saw the new 2015 Cadillac Escalade. If you ask Cadillac what they think of the design, they would say art and science. Art and science is the new design inspiration that Cadillac is starting to use in their recent models. Whether you can see this art and science inspiration in the new Cadillac’s is based on a viewer’s perception but the inspiration is there.

Beautiful LED headlights and accent lights that extend down the bumper⁶

The headlights are the most noticeable design feature that holds the art and science DNA. These headlights are made up of LED lights instead of the traditional bulbs and projector beam units that we are used too. Because LED are lighter, brighter and last 20 times longer than traditional light sources, designers can go crazy when designing light units and consumers don’t have to buy and replace their bulbs anymore. When I look at the Cadillac’s headlights, it’s basically a vertical version of Acura’s Jewel headlights seen in their new vehicles. These LED ice cubes are then neighbored by a long LED accent light that runs all the way down to the bumper. Remember those accent lights; just like how you can recognize an Audi from afar just by its LED accent light, you will recognize current and future Cadillac’s with these long vertical accent lights day or night. The same concept is seen in the taillights, all LED lights (not new) formatted in very long and narrow tail lights (very new). The automotive internet world has shared some negative views and criticism about these tail lights. But I personally don’t believe people hate them because they are ugly, I believe people don’t like them because they different, new, and nothing else is like it one the market. People are natural conservatives; we don’t like change or new things. Just wait till 2015 and popularity increases, people will begin to like this tail light design. Overall exterior designs extremely well when you get the ESV model.

The current controversial tail lights⁶

The interior is just as luxurious and revolutionary as the exterior. I am pleased to see that the interior looks nothing like the GMC Yukon and Chevy Tahoe. It’s a beautiful montage of premium leather, woods, and technology. The very noticeable center stack retains the waterfall or V-like effect that is seen on the grill in the exterior. I pray that the QUE infotaiment system is improved in this Escalade because the current generation in the Cadillac ETS, ATS, and CTS is slow, hard to use while driving, and unresponsive. The QUE system is not all bad, its a good idea and may revolutionize the infotainment industry when it's fixed. But as of now, you will miss simple knobs and buttons to adjust climate control, control volume, and perform other simple actions. The no button theme also continues on the steering wheel, which will be interesting to try out for myself. For those who don’t know what I mean by no button theme; Cadillac’s new center console uses a black touch screen like plate instead of traditional physical buttons. The Que system will also collaborate with the all new 12” reconfigurable gauge cluster to display pages upon pages of driver information⁶.

All new interior including new steering wheel and virtual guage cluster .
That twotone color design is sexy.⁶

Luxury is maintained all the way to the back seats.
Looks better in the Kona brown color option⁶

There are 3 trim levels offered for the Escalade; Standard, Luxury, and Premium. The Luxury trim offers 22" rims, driver awareness packages (only warnings, not active), a head up display, and IntelliBeam headlamps6. One of the driver awareness features is the Rear Cross-Traffic Alert from the ETS. This feature is amazing! Everyone who drives full size SUVs know how nerve wrecking it can be when they back out into traffic in the city or close quarter environments. The IntelliBeam headlamps continuously scans for vehicles ahead and when they sense an oncoming vehicle, the headlight will dim to prevent you from blinding those vehicles. The Premium trim includes everything from the Luxury package but changes all of the driver awareness features from warnings to full automatic, and adds a 9" rear sear entertainment system6.

Cadillac has down a good job integrating the lines from the
power dome with the grill⁶

Powertrain

                The 2015 Cadillac Escalade’s powertrain is also all new and exclusive. The new Escalade will be equipped with a 6.2L V8 engine with direct injection, variable valve timing, and active fuel management producing a whopping 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque⁶. That’s a 17 hp and 43 lb-ft bump over the current Escalade’s 6.2L Vortec V8⁷. Does this new engine sound familiar? Does it sounds allot like the 6.2L V8 used in the new Corvette Stingray? Before you get too excited let me inform you that they are not the same engine. Despite occupying the same volume and using the same technology, this V8 is an all new engine available in the new Escalade and GMC Denali. Thanks to the active fuel management technology (disables 4 of the cylinders for maximum fuel economy) in the new V8, we should expect better fuel economy than the current generation (14 MPG city/18 MPG highway) despite producing more power⁷. Interesting fact; despite producing more power in the new engine, Cadillac actually lowered its trailering max from 8300 lbs to 8200 lbs^6,7. I wonder why that is. I know most don’t associate an Escalade as a vehicle to tow a yacht but I have seen it personally so there is a market niche.

Side profile of the new 2015 Cadillac Escalade⁶

                Carried over from the current model and found throughout GM vehicles, the new Escalade will include the Magnetic Ride Control. This suspension system is a GM savior. I knew it was something special when I saw that GM sold its usage to Ferrari. Magnetic Ride Control monitors the road about 1000 times a second and continuously makes adjustments to road conditions to produce the smoothest ride and best handling.

Competition

                The competitors for the Cadillac Escalade are the Land Rover, Infiniti QX56, Lexus GX, Lincoln Navigator, and maybe the Mercedes-Benz GL. Even though current and past Escalades was able to keep up with the large luxury SUV market, it was always towards the bottom of the list. Why? I believe past Escalades was able to sell mainly because of its image and statement it stood for rather than its quality, durability, and luxury. It's like the Hummer, people brought the Hummer because it was a Hummer. Buyers wanted that manly war-toughened vehicle and wanted to be seen in one, not because the Hummer was a good reliable car (it wasn’t) and could trek across the mountains like a military vehicle (not even close to be able to do that). The Escalade has a statement and image associated with it, and previous buyers brought the Escalade because of that image. Cadillac cannot continue to produce average vehicles and run their marketing strategy on this “buy a Cadillac because it’s a Cadillac” statement. They need to step up their game if they intend to dwell in this market place and charge a whopping $65,000 – $85,000 for an Escalade. America does not want an $80,000 version of a Chevy Tahoe, we want a luxury vehicle that offers performance, durability, technology that makes consumers question other companies like Lexus, and Infinity.

The ESV's proportions fits the Escalade's design well⁶

                In the past, I never paid the Cadillac Escalade any mind because it was an example of rebadging at its finest. I was serious when I said that America does not need an $80,000 Chevy Tahoe; that’s what the GMC Yukon Denali is for. America needs a Cadillac, a luxury vehicle that uses its art and science philosophy to produce vehicles that are unique and competitive in today’s market. Cadillac is beginning to branch into the right direction but based on my first look, they are not there yet. Yes Cadillac produced a new vehicle unique from its GM cousins, but I am not convinced they produced a vehicle that is seriously competitive against other luxury SUVs. Don’t get me wrong, people will purchase the new Escalade in large numbers mainly because it’s an Escalade. But Cadillac will struggle to attract enough new customers to move it up the top large luxury SUV list.

Work Cited

1.       MotorTrend. "2011 Cadillac Escalade Recalls." Motor Trend Magazine. MotorTrend.com, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. <http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2011/cadillac/escalade/recalls/>.

2.       MotorTrend. "2011 Chevrolet Tahoe Recalls." Motor Trend Magazine. MotorTrend.com, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. <http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2011/chevrolet/tahoe/recalls/>.

3.       MotorTrend. "2011 GMC Yukon Recalls." Motor Trend Magazine. MotorTrend.com, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. <http://www.motortrend.com/cars/2011/gmc/yukon/recalls/>.

4.       MotorTrend. "Chevrolet Tahoe Recalls." Motor Trend Magazine. MotorTrend.com, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. <http://www.motortrend.com/new_cars/08/chevrolet/tahoe/recalls/>.

5.       MotorTrend. "GMC Yukon Recalls." Motor Trend Magazine. MotorTrend.com, n.d. Web. 10 Dec. 2013. <http://www.motortrend.com/new_cars/08/gmc/yukon/recalls/>.

6.       Cadillac. "2015 Escalade Luxury SUV | Cadillac." Cadillac.com. Cadillac.com, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://www.cadillac.com/future-cars/2015-escalade.html>.

7.       Cadillac. "STANDARD & OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT." Cadillac.com. Cadillac.com, n.d. Web. 16 Dec. 2013. <http://www.cadillac.com/escalade-suv/features-specs/standard-optional-equipment.html>.

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2015 Ford Mustang: First Impressions

Aggressive looking 2015 Ford Mustang1

Finally a New Mustang! Because the 2015 Ford Mustang has just debuted last week and Ford has not released any specifications or details for it yet, I cannot write a full review. But what I can do is give you my first impressions of the 2015 Ford Mustang; it’s allot more than just a remodel.

Design

                I know that the designers of the Ford Mustang were under serious pressure when designing the 2015 model. The Mustang is now going on 50 years old, and over those years it have gathered a fan base that obviously loves the Mustang. To make dramatic changes to the design may bring new fans but may also lose a lot of loyal ones. So to deal with this dilemma, the designers decided to make conservative and progressive changes. Let’s look at the new 2015 Ford Mustang design and divide them into two sections, conservative and progressive, to show you what I mean.

Conservative

The front is more along the lines of an upgrade than a redesigned. It still has that mustang look that exist in the current generation's GT models. The new grill is based on the older GT but a little larger and with sharper lines. The grill is matched with a very aggressive lower vents and a more aggressive front splitter. Now for those who have read other reviews, you may have seen other auto enthusiast in the comment section claim that the new mustang’s grill is a carbon copy of the Aston Martin’s grill. Don’t listening to them; if we were talking about the Ford Fiesta, Fusion, or C-max than it would be a different story but the Mustang’s grill looks nothing like the Aston Martin’s. People are always repeating everything they hear without thinking. Just because a grill has a trapezoid shape, doesn’t make it an Aston Martin copy.

Check out the reintroduction of the fastback roofline2

                Also Ford decided to bring back the fastback roofline that reminds me of the 1968 Mustang Fastback Edition. All of the young fans who joined the Mustang fan club through the fourth (1994-2004) and fifth (2005-2014) generation may believe that the sloping roofline is new but all of the classic mustang fans know better. That’s why I mark the fastback roofline as a conservative redesign. My only problem about the fastback design is that it will sacrifice back seat head room. I guarantee that will be a main complaint when it comes out.

Updated Interior, looks much better than the previous generation1

                The interior also maintains a conservative design. Other than some updated buttons, multimedia screen, and vent; the overall design language is similar to the previous generations. But I really hope the designers took a progressive path in choosing materials and improving build quality.

Progressive

                The headlights and taillights are the most noticeable progressive changes on the new Mustang. The headlights, which remind me of the Fusion’s headlights, really add an aggressive look that fits nicely to the front design. The headlights feature 3 LED strips and projector beam headlights. The turn signal lights were moved out of the headlight unit and placed above the fog lights close to the bottom of the bumper.

Ford Mustang's Taillights1

                I already know that those tail lights will cause a lot of controversy among the Mustang community. I personally do not like them. I can see the 1969 Mustang’s taillight resemblance, but the size, curvature, and thick spoiler and bumper around the taillights makes it look like monkey lips. I know I'm exaggerating but you’ll see what I'm talking about when you get a real ¾ look at it. Will it distract the millions of potential customers that will purchase this generation over the years? No, of course not but I guarantee that there will be mixed feelings about the rear of the car. Oh, the sequential turn signal effect will be staying.           

Powerplant

                The famous 5.0 liter V8 will be offered in the GT model variant and it gets a significant upgrade that improves cooling, breathing, and efficiency. Ford has not released the any numbers for any of their engines but I guarantee that this V8 will produce more power than the 420 hp and 390 lb-ft V8 in the current generation. Also Ford has decided to keep the 3.7 liter V6. All of the performance enthusiasts are probably shaking their heads in disapproval right now but I believe Ford made this decision for marketing reasons. Despite the current V6 Mustang being reflected as a “woman’s mustang”, Ford sold just as many V6 models as the GT and GT500 combined so there is a market place. They already have an engine, so why abandon a popular option. Then there is the biggest surprise of all, Ford will be offering a 2.3 liter Ecoboost 4 cylinder engine in the new mustang. Let me pause to let that sink in. A 4 cylinder engine in a muscle car! I still can't get over the shock but it’s true. If Mustang fans call the V6 Mustang feminine, what will they call the I4 version? A baby Mustang? Ok back to being serious. With the engine being an EcoBoost engine, meaning it’s turbocharged and direct injected, I can expect V6 like torque and really good fuel economy. I can see this engine being a good option for those who want to own a Mustang but do not care about power. Again Ford is making market guided decisions to expand their reach. But on the flip side, I can see this engine being an expensive option to choose despite being a small engine. The EcoBoost powertrain throughout the Ford lineup is still young, so there is still a cost premium. Include the fact that it’s turbocharged, means more expensive maintenance cost. We are just going to have to see how this EcoBoost engine feels and how consumers reacts when the 2015 Mustang hits the showroom next year.

Don't believe me about the 4 cylinder? Here it is2

                These 3 choices of engines are mated to a 6 speed manual or a 6 speed automatic transmissions. The manual transmission is said to be new but other than the ability to handle the increase in power, it’s a manual. The automatic transmission on the other hand comes fitted with paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel. I wouldn’t even call them paddle shifters; they are more like paddle buttons. And because this transmission is not an automated manual or double clutch transmission, expect delayed upshifts and rebellious downshifts upon your commands. But those paddles are there to provide more control over your automatic.

                The most important news of all is addition of the long awaited independent rear suspension (IRS). Since the beginning of the Mustang’s life, it was fitted with a live rear axle. A live rear axle means that the rear differential and both of the rear wheels are mounted on the same axle. Some advantage of live rear axles is that they are cheaper to build and deliver more torque more efficiently than an IRS. Which is why drag cars are always fitted with live rear axles? A disadvantage of live rear axle is because both rear wheels and the heavy differential are connected together, the car gets upset easily when going over bumps during turns. This live rear axle set up is the reason why the IRS equipped Chevy Camaro has always excelled on the track when compared to the Mustang. Now since the new 2015 Mustang will be equipped with IRS, perhaps we will begin to see Camaro upsetting performance on the track in the GT and GT350 variants.

Ford’s Big Move Forward

                2015 is a big year for the Ford Mustang. Not only does it receive its redesign, independent rear suspension, and a new engine option; the Ford Mustang will now be sold internationally. Yes the Mustang will be coming into showrooms in Europe, China, Australia, and more. Now you always could get a Mustang in other countries beside the US but you had to purchase the Mustang through American’s marketplace and import it into your country, which means regulations to go through, import taxes, high shipping cost, etc. Basically, only the well off and wealthy customers owned Mustangs in other countries beside the US. There is one dilemma that cannot be ignored about this situation. In Europe, ¾ of all the cars on the road are diesel powered vehicles and gas (petrol) is more expensive than diesel (~$10 per gallon). So how will the 2015 Mustang be able to keep up with the high torque fuel efficient diesel powertrains Europeans are used too? The V8 offers a lot of torque like diesels do, but is not fuel efficient enough for consumers to support the high gas prices. The EcoBoost Inline 4 cylinder maybe fuel efficient like a diesel, but will feel gutless to potential buyers. Will the Mustang name and hot rod repetition negate all of those flaws? Furthermore, the introduction into Australia is also a really big deal. Since Ford will be discontinuing the Ford Falcon, which  is their powerful I6 and V8 sedan that they should produce here in the States to compete against the GM SS models and Dodge Charger SRT8. Australians are used to powerful sedans and utes, will a powerful coupe come in and complete and satisfy that niche? I honestly can't see the Mustang's role out in other countries to be so flawless like everyone is anticipating, but we are just going to have to wait and see what happens.

              

2015 Ford Mustang, in showrooms in Fall of 20141

                Well there are my initial first impressions of the new 2015 Ford Mustang. I will be closely keeping an eye on how that EcoBoost turbocharged 4 cylinder feels and influences the American and international market place. Also, I will be keeping an eye on how that independent rear suspension system makes the Mustang a stronger competitor one the Track. Most importantly, the price of the new Mustang will be the most anticipated fact that most will be waiting for. We are just going to have to wait until fall of 2014.

Resources

1.       Ford Motor Company. "2015 Ford Mustang." Ford.com. Ford, 2013. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. <http://www.ford.com/cars/mustang/2015/?searchid=79341629||9728619511&ef_id=UjHFvgAABQjveHEQ:20131210000001:s>.

2.       Fets, Jim. "2015 Ford Mustang First Look." Motor Trend Magazine. MotorTrend.com, 4 Dec. 2013. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. <http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/coupes/1312_2015_ford_mustang_first_look/>.

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