Cadillac reveals electric Escalade IQ

PLUS: Lucid Air Sapphire, ChargePoint strategy, and armored BMW i7 sedan.

If you have trouble reading this message, view it in a browser. The 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ Electrifies the Flagship      This week Cadillac took the wraps off the Escalade IQ, with the battery-electric SUV arriving on the automaker's Ultium platform.     When it comes to specs, the Escalade IQ looks to top every category, from battery size to horsepower.    Speaking of the battery, it's a 24-module, 200-kWh pack. The battery size alone guarantees a very hefty curb weight, but Cadillac says the Escalade IQ will still be able to sprint from 0 to 60 mph in under 5 seconds. And it will be able to tow 8000 pounds, with well over 700 hp on tap.    Of course, the main event for owners will be the interior, and that's also where the Escalade IQ will try to dominate the competition. A 55-inch screen stretches from port to starboard, keeping the bridge crew suitably infotained.    "Escalade IQ raises the standard just as the original Escalade redefined luxury a quarter-century ago," said John Roth, vice president, Global Cadillac. "This reimagining of an icon marks the next step in Cadillac's all-electric future"    But the Escalade IQ won't actually be the brand's electric flagship. That role will be played by a different model.      Read on to discover all the features in the IQ, and to find out how much it'll cost when it goes on sale. READ THE FULL STORY Lucid Air Sapphire Is Still Luxury but Also 'Flat-Out Performance'      It was abundantly clear even before such model was formally announced that eventually we'd see a no-holds-barred performance version of the Lucid Air. All the basic ingredients were already there—all Lucid had to do was add a third motor and tune it for handling.    Easier said than done.    But Lucid did just that, building the Air Sapphire performance sedan to a money-no-object standard, capable of 0-to-60-mph launches in 1.89 seconds—making it quicker than the Tesla Model S Plaid.    And the following numbers might take a couple of minutes to absorb: 1234 hp and 1430 lb-ft of torque.    One would think numbers like these would decimate its range, but Lucid still managed to squeeze out 427 miles of range with three motors on board.    Read on to find out what driving this rocket ship is actually like.  READ THE FULL STORY This Armored BMW i7 Is the First of Its Kind      Despite the fact that BMW once supplied armored 7-Series cars to the State Department, spotting one stateside was a tall order.     But is this secretive category of cars ready for the EV era?    BMW certainly thinks so, having taken the wraps off the first factory-armored electric sedan, just ahead of the IAA Mobility in Munich, Germany.    Dubbed the i7 Protection, this model boasts a high level of ballistic safety with the ability to withstand many common assault rifle rounds.     Still, there are new threats out there now that can target even the best-engineered armored sedans—threats that didn't really exist even half a decade ago.    Here's what this sedan is all about.    READ THE FULL STORY First Came Range Anxiety, Then Broken Charger Anxiety READ MORE At 25%, California Is Edging Closer to Its ZEV Sales Targets READ MORE Kia Rolls Out EV9 at Electrify Expos in NY, Seattle, Miami READ MORE GM's Vehicle-to-Home Charging Will Be Standard by 2026, Thanks to Ultium READ MORE 7 EVs Worth Waiting for in 2024 READ MORE Big Rims, Twin Motors Drive the 2025 Cadillac Escalade IQ READ MORE Spread the word: If you know someone interested in staying on top of the rapidly growing EV segment, feel free to pass this newsletter along. SIGN UP Follow Us Unsubscribe Privacy Notice Autoweek.com ©2023 Hearst Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Hearst Email Privacy, 300 W 57th St., Fl. 19 (sta 1-1), New York, NY 10019