Cadillac will supercharge the Escalade, according to a recent report. Several other body-on-frame GM SUVs that share the same basic underpinnings with the Escalade are allegedly in line to receive a big increase in power as well.
New for the 2021 model year, the fifth-gen Escalade launched with a 6.2-liter V8 as its standard engine. It puts out 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque already in it’s naturally aspirated form, and Motor Trend has learned from an anonymous source that the optional supercharger will bump horsepower up to 625. The 6.2-liter’s torque output will certainly go up as well. The supercharged Escalade won’t outrun the sold-out Dodge Durango SRT Hellcat though, which cranks out 710 horses, but the Escalade will be a strong competitor.
GM’s 6.2-liter V8 will not require significant modifications to handle the extra power, because the supercharger kit will be installed by dealers, not on the assembly line. This suggests that it’s more of a bolt-on job than one that requires taking the engine out and apart to install stronger connecting rods and forged pistons, for example.
ECU tweaks will be part of the package, too, and the fuel delivery system may require some upgrades. Interestingly, Motor Trend learned from Texas-based Hennessey that the SUV’s ECU is locked to tuners, which adds credibility to the report. Motorists who want more power will need to go through official sales channels, then.
Bigger brakes and a firmer suspension won’t be part of the package — at least not yet. The same source outlined a true high-performance evolution of the body-on-frame behemoth that will be quicker and tighter to drive. Oddly, it’s not being developed by the engineers in charge of Cadillac’s V-branded models, according to the report.
If the report is accurate, we’ll learn more about the supercharged Cadillac Escalade in the coming months, and it might go on sale in time for the 2022 model year. Expect the supercharger to come with a four-digit price tag. Chevrolet’s Tahoe/Suburban and GMC’s Yukon/Yukon XL will reportedly be available with a supercharger, too.
