Cadillac Escalade Gets Carbon-Fiber Body Kit, 26-Inch Wheels, And More Power

Jun. 07, 2023 5:04 PM ET by Jarryd Neves Tuning / 14 Comments

The 6.2-liter V8 now produces 455 horsepower and is one of Mansory's more subtle creations.

Few cars possess as much presence as the Cadillac Escalade. Big, brash, and bold, it's considered the ultimate status symbol by those who drive them. But Mansory, a tuner known for its polarizing builds, has decided the American luxury SUV needs even more attitude.

Surprisingly, the Cadillac Escalade by Mansory is relatively subtle (by Mansory's admittedly very low standards, at least). Carbon fiber add-ons can be seen on the front fascia, side skirts, and rear bumper, including the world's most useless diffuser. Aside from that unnecessary addition, the boxy backend benefits from prominent quad exhaust tips, which look rather excellent.

The decklid spoiler is understated enough to work. Carbon fiber trimmings can also be found on the hood and the winged side mirror caps; something we're not particularly fond of.

Mansory has fitted the big Caddy with its own FD.15 alloy wheels. The black-painted wheels suit the intimidating, squared-off looks of the Escalade, but at 26 inches, we have to wonder about their impact on ride comfort. The large-diameter wheels are wrapped in 295/30R26 rubber.

Under the hood, the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter V8 has been fettled to produce 455 horsepower and 479 lb-ft of torque. That represents an improvement of 35 hp and 19 lb-ft, respectively, over the standard figures. Mansory doesn't go into detail about the performance upgrades but notes a high-performance exhaust system has been fitted.

The company claims it is already working on enhancements for the Escalade-V. As standard, this high-performance version produces a staggering 682 horsepower, so we're looking forward to seeing what Mansory can do with the supercharged V8 brute.

Interior upgrades have been kept to a minimum, and that's no bad thing. The Escalade is blessed with a plush and well-crafted cabin. Mansory has, however, fitted the full-size SUV with branded treadplates and mats. The binding on the mats has been matched to the Caramel-colored leather upholstery. The other changes are limited to Mansory badging on the steering wheel and sportier pedal covers.

Overall, Mansory's latest project is rather appealing, and that's not something we can say every day. The Escalade isn't the only full-size luxury SUV that Mansory has plans for. Earlier this year, the tuning house shared renderings of an enhancement package for the BMW X7. Like the Escalade, it's also subdued and tasteful.

Perhaps Mansory will start offering more sophisticated designs like this to balance out some of the genuinely wacky vehicles it builds.