Enlarge / GM President Mark Reuss introduced the new Cadillac Escalade IQ on Wednesday morning in Manhattan. (credit: Jonathan Gitlin)

Cadillac provided a train ticket from Washington, DC, to New York City and back so we could see the new Escalade IQ. Ars does not accept paid editorial content.

NEW YORK—If you’re not a fan of the embiggification of American cars, perhaps look away now. Today in New York, Cadillac took the wraps off its next electric vehicle, and it’s a large one—a fully electric version of the Escalade. Called the Escalade IQ, Cadillac has gone all-out, fitting this one with a monster battery that stores enough energy to propel this behemoth 450 miles (724 km) before it needs plugging in.

The Escalade IQ isn’t just a big battery and some electric motors shoehorned into the internal combustion version that we tested in 2020. It’s a clean-sheet design that uses GM’s new Ultium battery platform and, in this case, the company’s  architecture shared by the forthcoming Chevrolet Silverado EV, among others.

LEDs replace a physical front grille. (credit: Jonathan Gitlin)

It’s an imposing thing, with a high bluff nose, which is so unfortunately on-trend right now, and frankly enormous 24-inch wheels. It’s actually even bigger than the gas-powered Escalade, at 224.3 inches (5,697 mm) long, 85.3 inches (2,167 mm) wide, and 76.1 inches (1,934 mm) tall, with a 136.2-inch (3,460 mm) wheelbase.

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