The Escala (the name means “scale” in Spanish) is based on the same Omega platform, but this car is more abundant in all key dimensions. Versus the CT6, the wheelbase has been stretched by 4.7 inches and the overall length by 6.5 inches. The front track is wider by 2.7 inches, the rear by 2.4 inches. Taki Karras, the Escala’s exterior design manager, also points out the longer dash-to-axle ratio—a key visual metric of luxury-car design.
The Escala also is more powerful. Whereas the CT6 tops out with a 404-hp 3.0-liter twin-turbo V-6, under the Escala’s extended hood beats a 4.2-liter twin-turbocharged V-8, an engine that is slated to debut in the CT6 and likely will power the production version of the Escala as well, bringing some 500 horsepower to the table in the latter application.
A new look
The rear of the car comes to a point in the centre, and the thin-blade vertical taillights—which here extend up onto the tops of the rear fenders—both continue current Cadillac design language. We see a greater evolution at the front, where the vast, mesh grille’s shield shape exactly mirrors that of the Cadillac crest that floats within it. The vertical lighting elements are toned down from recent Cadillac models, and horizontal lighting elements are introduced. Cadillac says the new front-end look is one “that will begin appearing on production models soon.” A highlight of the profile view is a brushed-metal trim piece at the base of the front door that sees its shape repeated in the kick-up of the beltline at the C-pillar. To our eyes, the overall design tacks tastefully between tedious and overwrought—just as a luxury sedan should.
Inside, a woven wool cloth provides relief from the otherwise monochrome pale-grey leather. The cloth—an unusual choice for a luxury car today—appears on the seatbacks, the door panels, the lower dash, and the rear seats. The upper dash features a layered trio of curved-OLED digital screens in front of the driver; rear-seat passengers have retractable screens in the front seatbacks. Overhead is a panoramic glass roof, and thin A-pillars and the B-pillar-less greenhouse further contribute to the cabin’s airiness.
A statement of intent
Johan de Nysschen, president of Cadillac worldwide, characterizes the Escala as “a statement of intent for the next iteration of the Cadillac design language, and also technical concepts in development for future Cadillac models.” The design language previewed here will begin to appear on production models starting in the late-2018 time frame.
But as to the bigger question of whether this car directly previews a new flagship model, de Nysschen hedges a bit: “Depending on the development of [the] market segment for large luxury sedans, Escala is a potential addition to our existing product plan.” It could be that just when Cadillac appears to have its flagship sedan in near-production-ready form, the market for such cars will be too inhospitable to launch it. In that case, Caddy’s future flagship will be the same as its current one: the Escalade.
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