Automotive

America's luxury renaissance continues with Cadillac Escala Concept

America's luxury renaissance continues with Cadillac Escala Concept
The Escala provides clues as to what a future Caddy flagship might look like
The Escala provides clues as to what a future Caddy flagship might look like
View 27 Images
Cadillac has used suit fabric to trim the interior
1/27
Cadillac has used suit fabric to trim the interior
The taillights make use of OLED tech to sit deeper within the bodywork
2/27
The taillights make use of OLED tech to sit deeper within the bodywork
The rear seat of the car are designed to act as a comfortable place to relax on long journeys
3/27
The rear seat of the car are designed to act as a comfortable place to relax on long journeys
In 2016, luxury and technology go hand in hand
4/27
In 2016, luxury and technology go hand in hand
The rear seat trim is unique, but we're worried it'll need dry cleaning
5/27
The rear seat trim is unique, but we're worried it'll need dry cleaning 
Three curved OLED screens make up the dashboard display
6/27
Three curved OLED screens make up the dashboard display
The dash previews Cadillac's next generation infotainment setup
7/27
The dash previews Cadillac's next generation infotainment setup
The front seats are designed to feel high-tech and sporty
8/27
The front seats are designed to feel high-tech and sporty
All of this looks almost production ready
9/27
All of this looks almost production ready
The OLED headlamps are recessed for a more sinister look
10/27
The OLED headlamps are recessed for a more sinister look
The car's wheels are designed to look complex and layered
11/27
The car's wheels are designed to look complex and layered
The taillights are a modern take on the classic vertical Cadillac lights
12/27
The taillights are a modern take on the classic vertical Cadillac lights
Cadillac has chosen a sloping tail for a bit of extra drama
13/27
Cadillac has chosen a sloping tail for a bit of extra drama
The face is unmistakably Cadillac, but it's also different to anything we've seen from brand before
14/27
The face is unmistakably Cadillac, but it's also different to anything we've seen from brand before
Power comes from a 4.2-liter V8 engine
15/27
Power comes from a 4.2-liter V8 engine
The Escala is 6 inches longer than a CT6
16/27
The Escala is 6 inches longer than a CT6
Cadillac and Mercedes have both gone big with their new concepts
17/27
Cadillac and Mercedes have both gone big with their new concepts
The shape of the Escala is similar to the Audi A7's design
18/27
The shape of the Escala is similar to the Audi A7's design
Cadillac is a part of a big American luxury revolution
19/27
Cadillac is a part of a big American luxury revolution 
The Escala rides on 22 inch wheels
20/27
The Escala rides on 22 inch wheels
Cadillac has photographed the car next to a private jet to add to luxury feeling of the car, presumably
21/27
Cadillac has photographed the car next to a private jet to add to luxury feeling of the car, presumably
Cadillac says the Escala will inspire the next generation of its cars
22/27
Cadillac says the Escala will inspire the next generation of its cars
The beautiful tail end of the Escala is on way Cadillac wants to make it stand out
23/27
The beautiful tail end of the Escala is on way Cadillac wants to make it stand out
Cadillac has built the car on the CT6's platform
24/27
Cadillac has built the car on the CT6's platform
Cadillac wants the Escala to get us thinking about what a flagship Caddy might look like
25/27
Cadillac wants the Escala to get us thinking about what a flagship Caddy might look like
The grille of the Escala is meant to look complex and textured
26/27
The grille of the Escala is meant to look complex and textured
The Escala provides clues as to what a future Caddy flagship might look like
27/27
The Escala provides clues as to what a future Caddy flagship might look like
View gallery - 27 images

For too long, American luxury hasn't stood for much in the motoring world. While from BMW and Mercedes churned out a steady flow of forward thinking flagships, Cadillac and Lincoln spent decades hanging on to outdated notions of what makes a luxury car. It seems something has finally twigged in boardrooms around Detroit, and a slew of recent concept and production cars suggest American luxury is undergoing a modern resurgence. The Cadillac Escala Concept is yet more proof.

Escala (Spanish for "scale") is a clear statement of where Cadillac wants to take its next generation of cars. Although the marque has a big sedan already, this would neatly slide in above it in the range. More is always better in the world of halo cars, and the CT6 is reasonably restrained in its design anyway, so it's not too much of a stretch to imagine the Escala taking the flagship position in Caddy's lineup.

Power comes from a 4.2-liter V8 engine
Power comes from a 4.2-liter V8 engine

Although it's instantly recognizable as a Cadillac, the Escala takes the brand's modern design cues and makes them that little bit fancier. The deep-set headlights have been made over with OLED elements for a more sinister look, while the grille and 22-inch wheels have been designed to look complex and layered. Sitting on a 210.5 inch (5.35 m) wheelbase, it's 6 inches (15 cm) longer than the brand's current flagship. Good thing, too, because the CT6 might be fit for a king, but this looks fit for a dictator.

It's certainly handsome, but we think Cadillac could have done more to make it stand out against cars like the Lincoln Continental launched in Detroit this year. Perhaps the exterior designers were sandbagging and trying to make the cabin the star of the show because inside is where the Escala really shines. The front half of the cabin, where the real work is done, puts the emphasis on cramming as much tech in as possible, while the rear seats are designed to deliver on comfort.

The front seats are designed to feel high-tech and sporty
The front seats are designed to feel high-tech and sporty

That means the driver is faced with three curved OLED screens, sitting in place of a traditional instrument cluster and center console. Each display is backed with stitched leather, and the screens preview the infotainment systems set to debut on the next generation of Cadillacs.

Voice and gesture control are both a part of the package, but a rotary controller does most of the heavy lifting when it comes to input, hopefully spelling an end to the reign of the current CUE system.

Aside from the layered screens, the rest of the cabin is stock-standard luxury concept. Leather has been used throughout, and suit-style fabric provides a unique coating for the door pulls and seat backs. Just make sure you get it steam cleaned every new and then, or your workmates will know you're outfit repeating...

Cadillac has photographed the car next to a private jet to add to luxury feeling of the car, presumably
Cadillac has photographed the car next to a private jet to add to luxury feeling of the car, presumably

The whole package is built around Cadillac's luxury car architecture, making use of the same intelligent mix of materials that keeps the CT6 light. Power comes from a twin-turbo 4.2-liter V8 motor with cylinder deactivation. At the moment it's just a prototype, so there's no power figures available, but stay tuned for more information if it's actually slotted into a production model.

Even though it's a concept, the Escala looks close to production ready. It's built on an existing architecture, uses an engine that actually exists and doesn't use absurd materials inside. We wouldn't be surprised to see a production version appearing in the future. For now, the concept is on display at the Pebble Beach Concept d'Elegance.

If it arrives, a showdown with the Lincoln Continental is inevitable. If that's not a clash to prove American luxury is back, nothing is.

Source: Cadillac

View gallery - 27 images
4 comments
4 comments
dugnology
Not entirely awful. Cadilliac needs to rename their products. The whole "Letter Number" scheme that works for BMW, Mercedes and Audi doesn't work well with the Oldster crowd in the USA.
MK23666
Looks more like a Lincoln. Excuse me, It looks more like what a Lincoln (Continental) SHOULD look like.
Island Architect
some nice clean passages but it kind of makes me want to grab some red plastic and glue it to the top of the tail lamps... raise it about 1.5 "
Fairly Reasoner
Is that a Maybach?