Why the Cadillac Escalade won't come to Australia
The Cadillac Escalade won't be released in Australia, as parent company General Motors instead doubles down on an electric-only model lineup for its luxury marque locally.
In lieu of the combustion-powered extra-large SUV, GM Specialty Vehicles is launching the related GMC Yukon Denali, while it says it's still weighing the hefty electric Escalade iQ for our market.
'When you look at the Cadillac Escalade… we do already have a vehicle off that platform [and] we have announced that Cadillac will be an EV brand only, so that wouldn't mean that we would move forward with the current Escalade, being an ICE product,' said GM Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala.
Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Escalade Credit: CarExpert
While it isn't bringing the Escalade to our market, GM is effectively selling the next most premium full-size, combustion-powered SUV it produces.
It's bringing the Yukon, GMC's restyled version of the Chevrolet Tahoe, here in Denali trim with various option boxes ticked – though technically there's an even fancier version of the Yukon overseas, the Denali Ultimate, which adds extra accoutrements like massaging front seats.
The Yukon Denali is powered by the same 6.2-litre naturally aspirated V8 found under the bonnet of the Escalade, and offers a raft of high-end features such as adaptive air suspension and Magnetic Ride Control.
It's built in left-hand drive in the US, but converted locally to right-hand drive (RHD) – the same arrangement a combustion-powered Escalade would have to have, given it's not manufactured in RHD in the factory.
But while GM has confirmed it has closed the door on the combustion-powered Escalade, it's keeping it open for the electric Escalade iQ. Escalade iQ Credit: CarExpert
The battery-powered body-on-frame SUV is far from a certainty for our market, however, with a number of obstacles that could prevent it from ever seeing a local showroom.
'IQ we will keep assessing, but right now our priority is the vehicles that we've announced,' said Ms Bala.
'We have said openly we'll keep analysing the iQ and where that fits and what could that be for us. Right now there are no plans. There are some complexities that come with that vehicle.
'That architecture doesn't have right-hand drive on it so we'd have to convert it here, plus there are some things we'd have to work through around the screen and how we do that for right-hand drive with software and things like that. Escalade iQL Credit: CarExpert
'Plus, when you look at what we're bringing in with Cadillac right now, having already got Lyriq on sale and we're delivering as of this month, adding in Optiq, Vistiq, Lyriq-V as well, we think that those vehicles are the bigger priority for our market.
'That's four cars… that we're doing in very quick succession, and we want to be able to launch and introduce them to the best of our ability and focus on the ones that we think have the greatest opportunity for our market.'
The Escalade iQ and its extended iQL sibling – which is longer and wider than even the stretched, combustion-powered Escalade ESV – use an enormous 205kWh nickel manganese cobalt aluminium (NCMA) lithium-ion battery.
These feature a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain with outputs of up to 560kW of power and 1064Nm of torque in Velocity Max mode, with upwards of 724km of claimed range.
MORE: Cadillac reveals its biggest, burliest EV yet
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The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed revealed as British brand's fastest SUV yet
It seems the axing of Bentley's legendary twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 last year wasn't all bad news, since the V8 that replaces it in the upgraded 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed makes the British brand's flagship SUV even quicker, faster, lighter and more agile than before. Revealed overnight ahead of first Australian customer deliveries in the third quarter (July to September) of 2026, the refreshed Bentayga Speed is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that produces 478kW of power and 850Nm of torque (over 2250-4500rpm). That's up 11kW but down 50Nm on the 12-cylinder model it replaces, yet because the V8 reduces kerb weight by 42kg to a still-hefty 2466kg, the latest Bentayga Speed is claimed to hit 60mph (97km/h) from standstill half a second sooner, in 3.4 seconds. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Given that 0-60mph time equates to a 0-100km/h time of about 3.5 seconds, it means the flagship version of Bentley's only SUV is now as quick as the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E-Performance plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV and the Kia EV6 GT electric 'SUV' (and now much quicker than a base Porsche 911). However, it's still slower than a host of other high-performance SUVs, including the Lamborghini Urus Performante, Ferrari Purosangue and Aston Martin DBX707 (all of which claim a 3.3-second 0-100km/h time), and electric SUVs including the Lotus Eletre R (2.9s), Porsche Macan Electric Turbo (3.3s) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (3.4s) Bentley says the newest Bentayga Speed is also faster than ever, with its top speed of 310km/h – almost 5km/h more than before – matching the DBX707 and bettering the Purosangue, but falling just short of the Urus SE Hybrid. To show off its extra pace, the V8-powered Speed scores a sports exhaust system as standard, but an optional Akrapovic titanium unit with quad outlets should make up for its four fewer cylinders when it comes to the exhaust note. There are also revised drive modes including a Sport mode that increases damping stiffness by 15 per cent and increases the stability control system threshold to "permit exhilarating drift angles". Combined with less weight over its nose, rear-wheel steering increases both high-speed stability and low-speed manoeuvrability, leading Bentley to claim the Speed is its most agile SUV ever. Cosmetically, the top-shelf Bentayga wears Speed badges on the outside and rides on unique 22-inch wheels, with the option of 23-inch rims wrapped around carbon-ceramic brake rotors. Completing the Speed package inside is a revised digital instrument cluster layout, Speed badging on the seats, scuff plates and the passenger side of the dashboard, and special quilted Precision Diamon trim highlights. Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the existing Bentayga Speed is priced at $531,500 before on-road costs, positioning it well above the entry-level 404kW/770Nm Bentayga V8 and the 340kW/700Nm V6 Hybrid (both priced from $395,800), as well as S and Azure variants with the same powertrains. The Mulliner Hybrid tops Bentley Australia's current Bentayga range at $646,800 plus on-roads. Content originally sourced from: It seems the axing of Bentley's legendary twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 last year wasn't all bad news, since the V8 that replaces it in the upgraded 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed makes the British brand's flagship SUV even quicker, faster, lighter and more agile than before. Revealed overnight ahead of first Australian customer deliveries in the third quarter (July to September) of 2026, the refreshed Bentayga Speed is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that produces 478kW of power and 850Nm of torque (over 2250-4500rpm). That's up 11kW but down 50Nm on the 12-cylinder model it replaces, yet because the V8 reduces kerb weight by 42kg to a still-hefty 2466kg, the latest Bentayga Speed is claimed to hit 60mph (97km/h) from standstill half a second sooner, in 3.4 seconds. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Given that 0-60mph time equates to a 0-100km/h time of about 3.5 seconds, it means the flagship version of Bentley's only SUV is now as quick as the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E-Performance plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV and the Kia EV6 GT electric 'SUV' (and now much quicker than a base Porsche 911). However, it's still slower than a host of other high-performance SUVs, including the Lamborghini Urus Performante, Ferrari Purosangue and Aston Martin DBX707 (all of which claim a 3.3-second 0-100km/h time), and electric SUVs including the Lotus Eletre R (2.9s), Porsche Macan Electric Turbo (3.3s) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (3.4s) Bentley says the newest Bentayga Speed is also faster than ever, with its top speed of 310km/h – almost 5km/h more than before – matching the DBX707 and bettering the Purosangue, but falling just short of the Urus SE Hybrid. To show off its extra pace, the V8-powered Speed scores a sports exhaust system as standard, but an optional Akrapovic titanium unit with quad outlets should make up for its four fewer cylinders when it comes to the exhaust note. There are also revised drive modes including a Sport mode that increases damping stiffness by 15 per cent and increases the stability control system threshold to "permit exhilarating drift angles". Combined with less weight over its nose, rear-wheel steering increases both high-speed stability and low-speed manoeuvrability, leading Bentley to claim the Speed is its most agile SUV ever. Cosmetically, the top-shelf Bentayga wears Speed badges on the outside and rides on unique 22-inch wheels, with the option of 23-inch rims wrapped around carbon-ceramic brake rotors. Completing the Speed package inside is a revised digital instrument cluster layout, Speed badging on the seats, scuff plates and the passenger side of the dashboard, and special quilted Precision Diamon trim highlights. Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the existing Bentayga Speed is priced at $531,500 before on-road costs, positioning it well above the entry-level 404kW/770Nm Bentayga V8 and the 340kW/700Nm V6 Hybrid (both priced from $395,800), as well as S and Azure variants with the same powertrains. The Mulliner Hybrid tops Bentley Australia's current Bentayga range at $646,800 plus on-roads. Content originally sourced from: It seems the axing of Bentley's legendary twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 last year wasn't all bad news, since the V8 that replaces it in the upgraded 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed makes the British brand's flagship SUV even quicker, faster, lighter and more agile than before. Revealed overnight ahead of first Australian customer deliveries in the third quarter (July to September) of 2026, the refreshed Bentayga Speed is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that produces 478kW of power and 850Nm of torque (over 2250-4500rpm). That's up 11kW but down 50Nm on the 12-cylinder model it replaces, yet because the V8 reduces kerb weight by 42kg to a still-hefty 2466kg, the latest Bentayga Speed is claimed to hit 60mph (97km/h) from standstill half a second sooner, in 3.4 seconds. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Given that 0-60mph time equates to a 0-100km/h time of about 3.5 seconds, it means the flagship version of Bentley's only SUV is now as quick as the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E-Performance plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV and the Kia EV6 GT electric 'SUV' (and now much quicker than a base Porsche 911). However, it's still slower than a host of other high-performance SUVs, including the Lamborghini Urus Performante, Ferrari Purosangue and Aston Martin DBX707 (all of which claim a 3.3-second 0-100km/h time), and electric SUVs including the Lotus Eletre R (2.9s), Porsche Macan Electric Turbo (3.3s) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (3.4s) Bentley says the newest Bentayga Speed is also faster than ever, with its top speed of 310km/h – almost 5km/h more than before – matching the DBX707 and bettering the Purosangue, but falling just short of the Urus SE Hybrid. To show off its extra pace, the V8-powered Speed scores a sports exhaust system as standard, but an optional Akrapovic titanium unit with quad outlets should make up for its four fewer cylinders when it comes to the exhaust note. There are also revised drive modes including a Sport mode that increases damping stiffness by 15 per cent and increases the stability control system threshold to "permit exhilarating drift angles". Combined with less weight over its nose, rear-wheel steering increases both high-speed stability and low-speed manoeuvrability, leading Bentley to claim the Speed is its most agile SUV ever. Cosmetically, the top-shelf Bentayga wears Speed badges on the outside and rides on unique 22-inch wheels, with the option of 23-inch rims wrapped around carbon-ceramic brake rotors. Completing the Speed package inside is a revised digital instrument cluster layout, Speed badging on the seats, scuff plates and the passenger side of the dashboard, and special quilted Precision Diamon trim highlights. Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the existing Bentayga Speed is priced at $531,500 before on-road costs, positioning it well above the entry-level 404kW/770Nm Bentayga V8 and the 340kW/700Nm V6 Hybrid (both priced from $395,800), as well as S and Azure variants with the same powertrains. The Mulliner Hybrid tops Bentley Australia's current Bentayga range at $646,800 plus on-roads. Content originally sourced from: It seems the axing of Bentley's legendary twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 last year wasn't all bad news, since the V8 that replaces it in the upgraded 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed makes the British brand's flagship SUV even quicker, faster, lighter and more agile than before. Revealed overnight ahead of first Australian customer deliveries in the third quarter (July to September) of 2026, the refreshed Bentayga Speed is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that produces 478kW of power and 850Nm of torque (over 2250-4500rpm). That's up 11kW but down 50Nm on the 12-cylinder model it replaces, yet because the V8 reduces kerb weight by 42kg to a still-hefty 2466kg, the latest Bentayga Speed is claimed to hit 60mph (97km/h) from standstill half a second sooner, in 3.4 seconds. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Given that 0-60mph time equates to a 0-100km/h time of about 3.5 seconds, it means the flagship version of Bentley's only SUV is now as quick as the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E-Performance plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV and the Kia EV6 GT electric 'SUV' (and now much quicker than a base Porsche 911). However, it's still slower than a host of other high-performance SUVs, including the Lamborghini Urus Performante, Ferrari Purosangue and Aston Martin DBX707 (all of which claim a 3.3-second 0-100km/h time), and electric SUVs including the Lotus Eletre R (2.9s), Porsche Macan Electric Turbo (3.3s) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (3.4s) Bentley says the newest Bentayga Speed is also faster than ever, with its top speed of 310km/h – almost 5km/h more than before – matching the DBX707 and bettering the Purosangue, but falling just short of the Urus SE Hybrid. To show off its extra pace, the V8-powered Speed scores a sports exhaust system as standard, but an optional Akrapovic titanium unit with quad outlets should make up for its four fewer cylinders when it comes to the exhaust note. There are also revised drive modes including a Sport mode that increases damping stiffness by 15 per cent and increases the stability control system threshold to "permit exhilarating drift angles". Combined with less weight over its nose, rear-wheel steering increases both high-speed stability and low-speed manoeuvrability, leading Bentley to claim the Speed is its most agile SUV ever. Cosmetically, the top-shelf Bentayga wears Speed badges on the outside and rides on unique 22-inch wheels, with the option of 23-inch rims wrapped around carbon-ceramic brake rotors. Completing the Speed package inside is a revised digital instrument cluster layout, Speed badging on the seats, scuff plates and the passenger side of the dashboard, and special quilted Precision Diamon trim highlights. Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the existing Bentayga Speed is priced at $531,500 before on-road costs, positioning it well above the entry-level 404kW/770Nm Bentayga V8 and the 340kW/700Nm V6 Hybrid (both priced from $395,800), as well as S and Azure variants with the same powertrains. The Mulliner Hybrid tops Bentley Australia's current Bentayga range at $646,800 plus on-roads. Content originally sourced from:
West Australian
4 hours ago
- West Australian
2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed revealed as British brand's fastest SUV yet
It seems the axing of Bentley's legendary twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 last year wasn't all bad news, since the V8 that replaces it in the upgraded 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed makes the British brand's flagship SUV even quicker, faster, lighter and more agile than before. Revealed overnight ahead of first Australian customer deliveries in the third quarter (July to September) of 2026, the refreshed Bentayga Speed is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that produces 478kW of power and 850Nm of torque (over 2250-4500rpm). That's up 11kW but down 50Nm on the 12-cylinder model it replaces, yet because the V8 reduces kerb weight by 42kg to a still-hefty 2466kg, the latest Bentayga Speed is claimed to hit 60mph (97km/h) from standstill half a second sooner, in 3.4 seconds. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . Given that 0-60mph time equates to a 0-100km/h time of about 3.5 seconds, it means the flagship version of Bentley's only SUV is now as quick as the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E-Performance plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV and the Kia EV6 GT electric 'SUV' (and now much quicker than a base Porsche 911 ). However, it's still slower than a host of other high-performance SUVs, including the Lamborghini Urus Performante , Ferrari Purosangue and Aston Martin DBX707 (all of which claim a 3.3-second 0-100km/h time), and electric SUVs including the Lotus Eletre R (2.9s), Porsche Macan Electric Turbo (3.3s) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (3.4s) Bentley says the newest Bentayga Speed is also faster than ever, with its top speed of 310km/h – almost 5km/h more than before – matching the DBX707 and bettering the Purosangue, but falling just short of the Urus SE Hybrid. To show off its extra pace, the V8-powered Speed scores a sports exhaust system as standard, but an optional Akrapovic titanium unit with quad outlets should make up for its four fewer cylinders when it comes to the exhaust note. There are also revised drive modes including a Sport mode that increases damping stiffness by 15 per cent and increases the stability control system threshold to 'permit exhilarating drift angles'. Combined with less weight over its nose, rear-wheel steering increases both high-speed stability and low-speed manoeuvrability, leading Bentley to claim the Speed is its most agile SUV ever. Cosmetically, the top-shelf Bentayga wears Speed badges on the outside and rides on unique 22-inch wheels, with the option of 23-inch rims wrapped around carbon-ceramic brake rotors. Completing the Speed package inside is a revised digital instrument cluster layout, Speed badging on the seats, scuff plates and the passenger side of the dashboard, and special quilted Precision Diamon trim highlights. Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the existing Bentayga Speed is priced at $531,500 before on-road costs, positioning it well above the entry-level 404kW/770Nm Bentayga V8 and the 340kW/700Nm V6 Hybrid (both priced from $395,800), as well as S and Azure variants with the same powertrains. The Mulliner Hybrid tops Bentley Australia's current Bentayga range at $646,800 plus on-roads.
Perth Now
4 hours ago
- Perth Now
2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed revealed as British brand's fastest SUV yet
It seems the axing of Bentley's legendary twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre W12 last year wasn't all bad news, since the V8 that replaces it in the upgraded 2026 Bentley Bentayga Speed makes the British brand's flagship SUV even quicker, faster, lighter and more agile than before. Revealed overnight ahead of first Australian customer deliveries in the third quarter (July to September) of 2026, the refreshed Bentayga Speed is powered by a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 that produces 478kW of power and 850Nm of torque (over 2250-4500rpm). That's up 11kW but down 50Nm on the 12-cylinder model it replaces, yet because the V8 reduces kerb weight by 42kg to a still-hefty 2466kg, the latest Bentayga Speed is claimed to hit 60mph (97km/h) from standstill half a second sooner, in 3.4 seconds. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Given that 0-60mph time equates to a 0-100km/h time of about 3.5 seconds, it means the flagship version of Bentley's only SUV is now as quick as the Mercedes-AMG GLC 63 S E-Performance plug-in hybrid (PHEV) SUV and the Kia EV6 GT electric 'SUV' (and now much quicker than a base Porsche 911). However, it's still slower than a host of other high-performance SUVs, including the Lamborghini Urus Performante, Ferrari Purosangue and Aston Martin DBX707 (all of which claim a 3.3-second 0-100km/h time), and electric SUVs including the Lotus Eletre R (2.9s), Porsche Macan Electric Turbo (3.3s) and Hyundai Ioniq 5 N (3.4s) Bentley says the newest Bentayga Speed is also faster than ever, with its top speed of 310km/h – almost 5km/h more than before – matching the DBX707 and bettering the Purosangue, but falling just short of the Urus SE Hybrid. Supplied Credit: CarExpert To show off its extra pace, the V8-powered Speed scores a sports exhaust system as standard, but an optional Akrapovic titanium unit with quad outlets should make up for its four fewer cylinders when it comes to the exhaust note. There are also revised drive modes including a Sport mode that increases damping stiffness by 15 per cent and increases the stability control system threshold to 'permit exhilarating drift angles'. Combined with less weight over its nose, rear-wheel steering increases both high-speed stability and low-speed manoeuvrability, leading Bentley to claim the Speed is its most agile SUV ever. Supplied Credit: CarExpert Cosmetically, the top-shelf Bentayga wears Speed badges on the outside and rides on unique 22-inch wheels, with the option of 23-inch rims wrapped around carbon-ceramic brake rotors. Completing the Speed package inside is a revised digital instrument cluster layout, Speed badging on the seats, scuff plates and the passenger side of the dashboard, and special quilted Precision Diamon trim highlights. Australian pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the existing Bentayga Speed is priced at $531,500 before on-road costs, positioning it well above the entry-level 404kW/770Nm Bentayga V8 and the 340kW/700Nm V6 Hybrid (both priced from $395,800), as well as S and Azure variants with the same powertrains. The Mulliner Hybrid tops Bentley Australia's current Bentayga range at $646,800 plus on-roads.
