No bling: Cadillac Escalade-V is built to go fast

Possibly the fastest and most powerful Escalade yet?

When people think of the Cadillac Escalade, most associate it as a luxury SUV often used by the rich, powerful, and even politicians. But the automaker thinks the Escalade can go fast too. That’s why Cadillac is working on something called the Escalade-V – a high-performance version of the company’s luxury SUV.

Cadillac has yet to reveal full details of the new Escalade-V. However, the manufacturer did give us our first look at the upcoming SUV. At first glance, it looks very much like a standard Escalade but look closely and you’ll notice it lacks chrome unlike the regular model. The front end also receives some minor tweaks with a mesh grille and a revised lower spoiler.

More evident changes can be found at the rear of the Escalade-V. There’s a new rear valance with an integrated diffuser and four large exhaust tips sticking out the bumper. That alone should be a good indicator of what Cadillac changed with this SUV. Inside, there’s also a new V badge on the steering wheel.

Aside from the photos, a short teaser video of the SUV was also released. It doesn’t show much, but it does let us listen to the Escalade-V’s powerful roar.

At the moment, the automaker has yet to reveal powertrain details of the new Escalade-V. But if the quad exhaust and the “V” name are any hints, it could use the same engine as the CT5-V Blackwing. For those unfamiliar, the CT5-V Blackwing uses the same supercharged V8 as the Camaro ZL1. In the sedan, the engine makes 677 horsepower and 893 Nm torque, and it is available with either a 6-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic.

There’s no official launch date for the Cadillac Escalade-V. But with the teasers released, it might not be long now. While there is no official Cadillac dealership in the country, we won’t be surprised to see gray market importers offering this performance SUV once deliveries begin.