2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT Test Drive

Details in elements such as wraparound fascias, styled mirrors and integrated running board, including optional articulating running boards, enhance Escalade EXT’s flowing design and bolster the refined feeling. All major sheetmetal and body components are new and feature crisp, taut lines. The sleek, toned look includes a faster windshield angle of 57-degrees, which flows gracefully into the roofline. This also improves aerodynamic performance, which helps improve fuel economy and reduce wind noise.

Escalade’s completely transformed interior carries through on the new Escalade EXT.

The warm and inviting interior is complemented with premium materials and a distinct layout. The cabin also is more spacious, with an instrument panel that is lower and moved forward in the vehicle. This interior comes in two colors: Ebony and Cashmere . The Escalade features a unique instrument panel, instrumentation gauges with while needles and blue light inlays with continuously lit, white-LED backlighting, Nuance leather-covered seats, leather covered door trim and center console, fabric-covered interior pillars and available heated and cooled front seats and heated steering wheel.

Escalade EXT also includes an available 8in. touch-screen navigation system, as well as a DVD system with a large 8in. flip-down screen for rear passenger enjoyment. A segment first Bose 5.1 Digital Surround Sound system is integrated into the new family of radios that play DVD audio/video, CD audio/video, MP3s and XM Satellite radio.

Standard equipment inside include 14-way power front seats with heated cushions and backrests, steering wheel radio controls, remote vehicle starter, HID headlamps, power adjustable pedals, power windows/door locks, driver information center with personalization, rain-sensing wipers, cruise-control, heated wash fluid system, dual-zone automatic climate control, thick-pile carpeting, front and rear floor mats, grab handles for all passenger doors, chrome-clad roof rack, and dual map lamps with theater dimming.

Options not mentioned above include 22in. chrome wheels and tires, power sliding sunroof, heated/cooled front seats, rear heated seats, and a heated steering wheel.

Powering this elegant and luxurious full-size multi-function truck is a new 6.2 liter V8 rated at 403hp and 417lb.ft. of torque. This all-aluminum engine uses variable valve timing to optimize camshaft timing to improve low-rpm torque and high-rpm horsepower. This powerful V8 engine is mated to a new Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission turning all four wheels. One of the industry’s most advanced automatics; the 6L80 features clutch-to-clutch shifting and has a wide, 6.04:1 overall ratio-including two OD gears-that helps deliver an excellent balance of performance and fuel economy, up to 20mpg on the highway.

A strong frame and chassis support the more powerful powertrain and enable exceptional responsiveness and ride and handling smoothness. The new, fully boxed frame offers 49% increased torsional stiffness and a 35% improvement in beaming stiffness compared to last year’s model.

Underpinning the new Escalade EXT is a more refined suspension system that reacts more quickly to your inputs. Up front is an independent setup with coil-over-shocks, 36mm stabilizer bar. This road-sensing suspension features real-time damping. The rear setup features a five-link setup with coil springs, gas-charged shocks and a 28mm stabilizer bar. The addition of standard power-assisted rack & pinion steering enhances the speed and precision of your inputs, whether you are moving straight-ahead at high-speeds, or attaching curving roads. Also further enhancing your ride control over slick and wet road surfaces is the standard all-wheel-drive system that seamlessly integrates torque from the rear to front axles when needed, giving you torque and power when and where you need it.

Larger, four-wheel disc brakes, 13in. up front and 13.5in. in the rear, and an all-new Bosch ABS system help ensure braking performance. ABS works with the Stabili-Trak stability control system’s new rollover mitigation technology. This software algorithm technology uses sensors to proactively predict vehicle ‘tip-up’ and apply appropriate brake force to help prevent such events.

Like all premium vehicles, the Escalade EXT is designed to be very safe and secure with numerous safety systems and crash-avoidance technologies. New occupant protection features include head curtain side airbags with rollover protection for all seating rows and an industry-first 360-degree front safety belt pretensioner activation system. The list of other safety features include front and rear crush zones, side airbags up front as well as front airbags with front passenger sensing, ultra-sonic rear park assist with an optional rear camera system, tire pressure monitoring system, and OnStar with two-way communications and automatic sensing when an airbag deploys prompting an OnStar representative to call you on the system. This year OnStar comes with ‘turn-by-turn’ navigation where-in the system carefully guides you to your destination turn-by-turn. I tried it and you cannot get lost.

This new multi-functional and very versatile full-size truck is not for everybody, but if you need this type of vehicle and love to be surrounded with the latest in automotive luxury and high-technology, the all-new 2007 Cadillac Escalade EXT is right for you.

There is no other choice in the luxury vehicle segment.

ALL NEW 2007 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT
“THE PERFECT BLEND OF LUXURY AND VERSATILITY”

COPYRIGHT:2007:HARVEY SCHWARTZ – EDITOR, AUTOMOTIVE ADDICTS

Type: Large Truck
Where Built: Mexico
EPA Class: Sport Utility Vehicles

Dimensions
Exterior
Length: 222 in.	Width: 79.1 in.
Height: 74.5 in.	Wheel Base: 130 in.
Ground Clearance: 10.6 in.	Curb Weight: 5838 lbs.
Gross Weight: 7200 lbs.
Interior
Front Head Room: 41.1 in.	Front Hip Room: 64.4 in.
Front Shoulder Room: 65.3 in.	Rear Head Room: 40 in.
Rear Shoulder Room: 65.3 in.	Rear Hip Room: 62.3 in.
Front Leg Room: 41.3 in.	Rear Leg Room: 39.1 in.
Maximum Cargo Capacity: 109 cu. ft.	Maximum Seating: 5
Performance Data
Performance
Base Number of Cylinders: 8	Base Engine Size: 6.2 liters
Base Engine Type: V8	Horsepower: 403 hp
Max Horsepower: 5700 rpm	Torque: 417 ft-lbs.
Max Torque: 4300 rpm	Maximum Payload: 1362 lbs.
Maximum Towing Capacity: 7600 lbs.	Drive Type: AWD
Turning Circle: 39 ft.

Fuel Data