Latest news with #JessBala
Perth Now
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
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
West Australian
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
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 . 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. 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. '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
7NEWS
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
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. 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. 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. '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.
7NEWS
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Cadillac Australia thinks one hot electric SUV is enough for now
Cadillac will soon reveal the Optiq-V, which will be only the third SUV and the second electric vehicle to wear its vaunted V-Series performance nameplate. And it won't be coming here. 'No, [Optiq-V isn't] coming here. We'll have a Lyriq-V,' GM Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala told CarExpert. 'We haven't done a V-Series here before, so we want to assess that one first and then we have to look at different regulations within battery architectures and things like that. 'So we'll start with Lyriq-V, and we'll continue to assess if there are opportunities that arise.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. As both an electric SUV and a member of the V-Series line, the Optiq-V is expected to get a more powerful dual-motor all-wheel drive electric powertrain than the regular Optiq, which is due on sale here in 2026. The larger Lyriq-V is also due here in 2026. General Motors' luxury brand has yet to confirm powertrain details for the Optiq-V, recently releasing only a pair of teaser images, but it says its engineers have 'delivered a unique package prioritising precision, dynamic suspension and tight steering for an exhilarating driving experience'. The regular dual-motor all-wheel drive Optiq produces 224kW of power and 480Nm of torque, with power supplied by an 85kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) lithium-ion battery. It features strut front suspension, and as with the larger Lyriq there's a five-link rear suspension system and Passive Plus Dampers all round. Visible changes evident from Cadillac's two teaser images include V-Series badging and a rear spoiler, though we'd also expect other aesthetic upgrades to include more aggressive rocker panels and unique wheels. The Optiq-V will slot in under the Lyriq-V – at least in the US market – with the larger SUV featuring a dual-motor electric powertrain producing 459kW and 880Nm. Cadillac claims a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of just 3.3 seconds in V-Mode or Velocity Max mode. That just shades the 3.4-second sprint time of the supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing sedan when equipped with an automatic transmission, despite being down 40kW and 13Nm and weighing more. The Lyriq-V pumps out an extra 71kW and 270Nm over the regular dual-motor Lyriq, though it doesn't gain Magnetic Ride Control like other V-badged models within Cadillac's lineup. Instead, it features standard Continuous Damping Control. Changes over the regular Lyriq include a quicker steering ratio, Brembo front brakes, a new artificial propulsion sound, and new Competitive and customisable V-Mode drive modes. While it's quick, it's quite different from the traditionally V8-powered models that have worn the V-Series nameplate over the years. Cadillac's first V-Series model was the 2004 CTS-V sedan, which featured an overhead-valve 5.7-litre V8 (later a 6.0-litre) shared with the Chevrolet Corvette, mated with a six-speed manual transmission. It was soon joined by the STS-V sedan and XLR-V convertible, which used a supercharged version of Cadillac's Northstar overhead-cam V8, mated with a six-speed automatic. These lasted a single generation, but the CTS-V went for two more generations, both with supercharged V8 power. V-Series models were later joined by tamer VSport models, which swapped V8 power for twin-turbocharged V6 engines. That said, not every hardcore V-Series model has packed a bent eight, with the BMW M3 -rivalling ATS-V for example being the first V with a twin-turbo V6. In recent years, Cadillac revised its V-Series strategy, rolling out models like the CT4-V and CT5-V that are less powerful than previous Vs – the CT4-V even features a four-cylinder engine, a first for a V-Series – but replacing the full-fat ATS-V and CTS-V models with new CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing models. It also introduced the first ever Escalade-V, the first time the V-Series name has been used on an SUV.
Perth Now
02-05-2025
- Automotive
- Perth Now
Cadillac Australia thinks one hot electric SUV is enough for now
Cadillac will soon reveal the Optiq-V, which will be only the third SUV and the second electric vehicle to wear its vaunted V-Series performance nameplate. And it won't be coming here. 'No, [Optiq-V isn't] coming here. We'll have a Lyriq-V,' GM Australia and New Zealand managing director Jess Bala told CarExpert. 'We haven't done a V-Series here before, so we want to assess that one first and then we have to look at different regulations within battery architectures and things like that. 'So we'll start with Lyriq-V, and we'll continue to assess if there are opportunities that arise.' Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Optiq-V Credit: CarExpert Supplied Credit: CarExpert As both an electric SUV and a member of the V-Series line, the Optiq-V is expected to get a more powerful dual-motor all-wheel drive electric powertrain than the regular Optiq, which is due on sale here in 2026. The larger Lyriq-V is also due here in 2026. General Motors' luxury brand has yet to confirm powertrain details for the Optiq-V, recently releasing only a pair of teaser images, but it says its engineers have 'delivered a unique package prioritising precision, dynamic suspension and tight steering for an exhilarating driving experience'. The regular dual-motor all-wheel drive Optiq produces 224kW of power and 480Nm of torque, with power supplied by an 85kWh nickel manganese cobalt (NCM) lithium-ion battery. It features strut front suspension, and as with the larger Lyriq there's a five-link rear suspension system and Passive Plus Dampers all round. Lyriq-V Credit: CarExpert Visible changes evident from Cadillac's two teaser images include V-Series badging and a rear spoiler, though we'd also expect other aesthetic upgrades to include more aggressive rocker panels and unique wheels. The Optiq-V will slot in under the Lyriq-V – at least in the US market – with the larger SUV featuring a dual-motor electric powertrain producing 459kW and 880Nm. Cadillac claims a 0-60mph (0-96km/h) time of just 3.3 seconds in V-Mode or Velocity Max mode. That just shades the 3.4-second sprint time of the supercharged V8-powered CT5-V Blackwing sedan when equipped with an automatic transmission, despite being down 40kW and 13Nm and weighing more. Supplied Credit: CarExpert The Lyriq-V pumps out an extra 71kW and 270Nm over the regular dual-motor Lyriq, though it doesn't gain Magnetic Ride Control like other V-badged models within Cadillac's lineup. Instead, it features standard Continuous Damping Control. Changes over the regular Lyriq include a quicker steering ratio, Brembo front brakes, a new artificial propulsion sound, and new Competitive and customisable V-Mode drive modes. While it's quick, it's quite different from the traditionally V8-powered models that have worn the V-Series nameplate over the years. Cadillac's first V-Series model was the 2004 CTS-V sedan, which featured an overhead-valve 5.7-litre V8 (later a 6.0-litre) shared with the Chevrolet Corvette, mated with a six-speed manual transmission. (front to back) Cadillac XLR-V, STS-V and CTS-V Credit: CarExpert It was soon joined by the STS-V sedan and XLR-V convertible, which used a supercharged version of Cadillac's Northstar overhead-cam V8, mated with a six-speed automatic. These lasted a single generation, but the CTS-V went for two more generations, both with supercharged V8 power. V-Series models were later joined by tamer VSport models, which swapped V8 power for twin-turbocharged V6 engines. That said, not every hardcore V-Series model has packed a bent eight, with the BMW M3-rivalling ATS-V for example being the first V with a twin-turbo V6. In recent years, Cadillac revised its V-Series strategy, rolling out models like the CT4-V and CT5-V that are less powerful than previous Vs – the CT4-V even features a four-cylinder engine, a first for a V-Series – but replacing the full-fat ATS-V and CTS-V models with new CT4-V Blackwing and CT5-V Blackwing models. It also introduced the first ever Escalade-V, the first time the V-Series name has been used on an SUV. Thus far, the more hardcore Blackwing nameplate hasn't graced an electric vehicle.
