Imagine reviving the Cadillac pickup truck a decade after its demise—with a rip-snorting, 782-hp supercharged V-8 underhood?
Imagine reviving the Cadillac pickup truck a decade after its demise—with a supercharger.
“This is something to brag about,” Escalade product manager David Schiavone said about Cadillac’s 682 hp, 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 2023 Escalade-V. It’s the most powerful full-size SUV in the industry, in the same ballpark as today’s hottest go-fast pickups, the 702hp Ram TRX and upcoming 700hp Ford F-150 Raptor R.
You know what else would be something to brag about? An open-bed Escalade-V EXT—performance, payload, and a sail panel. It doesn’t exist, but with some computer trickery we’ve revived the Cadillac truck of the past and draped it in some ostentatious hues for your enjoyment. Introducing the 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V EXT, the world’s most powerful sport-utility truck (SUT) that you weren’t longing for until now. Soak it in.
Remember the ambiguous OG Cadillac Escalade EXT SUV-truck mashup of the early 2000s? It was the pickup-truck version of the Escalade SUV and cousin of the good ol’ Chevy Avalanche. (Don’t confuse it with the ESV trim, standing for Escalade Stretch Vehicle, which is the long-wheelbase Escalade. The EXT never got the long-wheelbase treatment. And don’t call it theCaddilanche;call it theCaddilanche-V.) The Mexico-built Escalade EXT survived two generations (2002-2006 and 2007-2013) and ended with model-year 2013.
The Cadillac Escalade EXT’s strongest year was 2002 with over 13,000 upscale SUTs sold. It steadily dwindled from there, and by 2008, under 5,000 sold per year. Woof.
The EXT didn’t work out long-term—it’s hard to believe it’s been gone for almost 10 years—but given today’s power-hungry, V-8-thirsty clientele, we think the EXT revived as a supercharged performance SUV in-the-front, hard-working pickup truck in-the-back would be a winning combination. Furthermore, revival of the EXT after a decade-long absence would make for good marketing. Plus, there’s the 120th anniversary of Cadillac and nearly 20 years of the V Series, all of which could be touted in the return of the Cadillac pickup truck.
Could Cadillac surprise us with an Escalade-V EXT? It’s not impossible; the company may have some more tricks up its sleeve when it comes to the Escalade-V. Fingers crossed one is the rad SUT that dips its toes in several segments.
