2024 Cadillac Escalade Sport Will Have High-Performance V

Apr. 22, 2022 5:01 PM ET by Jarryd Neves Luxury / 11 Comments

The Escalade Sport trim will reportedly inherit some of the V's styling details.

America's upper class can't get enough of the Cadillac Escalade. Despite a hefty price increase, the full-size SUV is a firm favorite and outsold all of its rivals, including the new Jeep Grand Wagoneer and Lincoln Navigator. Hoping to capitalize on this frenzy, the all-American luxury brand is set to introduce a high-performance variant known as the Escalade-V.

The range-topper will be revealed in May as a 2023 model and is promising great things. But the arrival of the newcomer won't just bolster the range; other models will benefit from its arrival, too. News has now come out that the 2024 model year will receive a facelift in order to keep the big Caddy looking fresh. Sources have said that Sport trim levels will gain new aesthetic elements borrowed from the Escalade-V, which includes a more menacing front facia and a new rear diffuser.

Sadly, Sport models won't inherit any of the Escalade-V's other styling features. As such, it will retain the conventional exhaust, standard wheels, and regular brakes. While this may be disappointing to fans of the Sport trim level, Cadillac would be wise to differentiate the halo model from lesser models.

There's no word yet as to whether the Escalade engine options will receive any upgrades, but the current V8 and turbodiesel offerings are punchy enough and, in the case of the diesel, relatively economical. Cadillac is rather late to the performance SUV party, but it's a growing segment and if it wants to retain its lead, the Escalade-V is necessary.

The luxury carmaker is yet to announce any details regarding the powertrain, but we're pretty sure it will be powered by the 6.2-liter supercharged LT4 V8 found in the CT5-V Blackwing. In the sports sedan, it produces a heady 668-horsepower and 659 lb-ft of torque. While these figures would be more than adequate for the Escalade-V, there's speculation that Cadillac may detune the powertrain for use in its biggest SUV.

For superior traction, the automaker will likely offer a 4WD-only drivetrain, with power sent to the wheels via GM's 10-speed gearbox. Expect pricing to mirror the cost of other full-size performance variants, such as the Alpina XB7, which carries an MSRP of more than $140,000. Will this prompt more full-size performance SUVs? Only time will tell, but a Hellcat-powered Grand Wagoneer could be crazy enough to appeal to some gearheads.