Page 18 · Richmond Review
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Friday, August 8, 2014
Welcome elcome to the driver’s seat
Visit the 2015 Escalade gallery at DrivewayBC.ca
An Escalade worth the wait Cadillac recently held the introduction of its all-new Escalade in the heart of Toronto, specifically the heart of Yorkville. This upscale slice of Toronto real estate is home to spendy shops, exclusive restaurants and luxurious hotels. This is a place to be seen or be seen in a vehicle that projects the image one wants to portray. Media guests for the Escalade launch stayed at Toronto’s very first boutique hotel, The Hazelton. As one Torontonian put it, “that’s about the fanciest place in town.” It certainly draws an upscale crowd of rich people, or posers, looking the part. With a steady lineup of Ferrari, McLaren and other exotics parked outside, Cadillac was front and centre showing off its new full-size luxury SUV to a young, well-healed crowd of Toronto socialites and business people. Looks Getting a full-size truck into a boutique hotel is like trying to park in one of those parking spots labelled “small car”. To get around this, the party part of the launch was held on a garage rooftop, transformed into a nightclub, complete with gourmet finger food, fancy
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Escalade is wonderful as there is plenty cocktails and live performers, including the requisite fire-twirling entertainers. of room to stretch out when the long There was even an Escalade-inspired golf wheelbase (ESV) model is chosen. cart to shuttle guests to the roof. The Granted about 70 per cent of all buyers star of the show was the all-new 2015 choose the shorter wheelbase as it Escalade, a vehicle Cadillac hopes will looks less imposing and some might make up about 20 per cent of its overall not need the interior vastness. Under sales. With a $6,000 price drop and very the hood is GM’s premium 6.2L V8 with competitive packages, they hope even a whopping 420hp and 460 lb.-ft. of It has been wealthy shoppers will stop to see the torque. This might seem like overkill seven years since value in this SUV. It sure got attention, but this larger engine can switch off thanks to the fabulous LED projector we’ve had an all-new to just four cylinders under light load, headlamps and taillights. The angular Escalade…the wait more often impacting fuel economy. The shape is very contemporary and the power goes to just the rear wheels, all was worth it. sleeker sheet metal looks up to date. four wheels or automatically controlled, Zack Spencer Inside all by a switch on the dash. My experiThe Escalade has always made an impact ence driving for the day returned about when it arrives at any destination; the sheer size and 12L/100km in mostly highway driving. Not bad for a attitude it projects says a lot about the person driving big truck. it. It is inside that needed to be refreshed the most, Verdict and the attention to detail Cadillac infused in its new The new Escalade adds about $10,000 worth of new truck should pay dividends. Any luxury buyer expects equipment like standard magnetic ride control for a leather, wood, and smart infotainment and Cadillac more nimble ride. The cabin is much quieter, for doing delivers on all of these. The dash and doors are covbig business deals on the phone, and the ride overall ered with hand cut leather. The open-grain wood and is much more refined than before. Starting at $79,900 contrasting interior materials like faux suede all make the Escalade is for the well healed, but Cadillac it look as rich as the buyer expects. Front and centre is representatives told me that most buyers shoot for the Cadillac’s CUE entertainment system that I find easy moon and buy the top Premium model for $90,500. to operate and interact with. The buttons below it are The new Cadillac is fresh and much more refined, touch sensitive, there are no knobs or switches. The with features like never before. Do young wealthy front passengers just swipe over the surface to change buyers like the Cadillac brand and where it is going? the volume and heat controls. The short answer is yes. GM claims this is the fastest Drive growing luxury brand in Canada and B.C. is a hot spot One reason to buy a big truck-based SUV is to move for the Escalade. It has been seven years since we’ve people in numbers or tow a trailer to a cabin or had an all-new Escalade… the wait was worth it. cottage. That latter experience came with the drive portion of the Escalade launch, driving north of ToronThe Lowdown to to The Briars, a 100-hectare resort on the edge of Power: 6.2L V8 with 420hp Lake Simcoe. This family run complex includes a huge Fill-up: 16.2L/11.4L/100km (city/highway) stretch of lake frontage, golf course, pools, tennis and Sticker price: $79,900-$90,500 activities for all ages and the Escalade fits right in. zack@drivewaybc.ca For moving a large family around in comfort, the
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Driveway Editor Keith Morgan writes today about his first vehicle – a 1960s Mini. What was your first car? Share your memories of that car or truck and a picture if you have one. Go to DrivewayCanada.ca to submit your answer. QUESTION
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Safety Tip: Children are often transported by relatives, friends’ parents, and other caregivers in the summer. Parents know the law requires children be secured in car seats or booster seats until they are 4.9” tall or at least nine years old. Make sure their seat or booster goes with them.
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