Lee Min-hyung joined The Korea Times in 2014 and has worked as a journalist mainly in Korea’s finance, tech and automotive industry. He specializes in content creation, breaking news and in-depth analysis currently on transportation and mobility. You can reach him via mhlee@koreatimes.co.kr.
Cadillac Korea launches all-electric Escalade IQ SUV
Cadillac Korea's all-electric Escalade IQ SUV is displayed at an event hall in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
By Lee Min-hyung
Luxury carmaker touts electric SUV as ‘longest-range’ EV here
Cadillac Korea has launched the all-electric version of its top-of-the-line luxury SUV — the Escalade IQ — featuring the longest driving range among electric vehicles (EVs) available for sale here, the carmaker said Wednesday.
The vehicle is capable of driving up to 739 kilometers on a single charge, powered by a large 205 kilowatt-hour (kWh) battery, but the range will rise to around 900 kilometers in actual road conditions, according to the carmaker.
The vehicle’s battery is manufactured at Ultium Cells in the United States, a joint venture between General Motors (GM) and LG Energy Solution.
The Escalade IQ is the first vehicle with GM Korea’s much-hyped Super Cruise hands-free driving assistance system. Korea is the third country where GM has introduced its patented advanced driver assistance technology, following North America and China.
John Roth, global vice president at Cadillac, expressed hopes for the luxury carmaker to launch the new SUV in Korea.
John Roth, left, global vice president at Cadillac, speaks during a launch event of its Escalade IQ electric SUV in Seoul, Wednesday. At right is GM Korea CEO Hector Villarreal. Yonhap
“The Korean customers are very sophisticated and very deserving, so I cannot think of a better market,” the Cadillac executive told reporters during the launch event of the vehicle in Seoul. “Our plan is to be closer to our customers and continue to grow in this great market.”
Last year, Cadillac launched its first pure electric SUV — the Lyriq — for customers here, but its sales fell short of expectations. According to data from the Korea Automobile Importers & Distributors Association (KAIDA), the number of the vehicle’s sales came in at only 91 between January and September. The figure remains much weaker than rival models from BMW Korea’s iX.
The American luxury carmaker under GM, however, expects the Escalade IQ to set a new standard in Korea’s full-size electric SUV market with the vehicle’s differentiated commercial value.
“The Escalade IQ is the flagship model for Cadillac, and the vehicle will present a new standard in the market of the full-size electric SUV,” Yoom Myong-ok, chief marketing officer at GM Korea, said. “The vehicle has expanded the heritage of our Escalade SUV in line with the era of electrification. The Escalade IQ — equipped with Cadillac’s state-of-the-art technologies — will provide a whole new driving experience to customers.”
The Escalade IQ generates up to 750 horsepower, and comes with a series of cutting-edge safety features. The vehicle’s magnetic ride control system enables it to read road conditions 1,000 times per second, so its drivers can enjoy a smoother and safer driving experience.
The vehicle’s premium sport trim is available for sale at 277.57 million won ($189,300) here, much higher than the price tag in the U.S. due to a high level of the won-dollar exchange rate.
The Escalade is Cadillac Korea’s flagship model that accounts for some 60 percent of its total vehicle sales here.