Big pimpin’ in Caddy’s new cruiser  by Thom Blackett

SAN DIEGO – Big pimpin’. After a day of driving the 2007 Cadillac Escalade in and around San Diego, a GM public relations executive handed me the keys to a black-on-black model for a round-trip home, about 200 miles, with the Caddy due back early the next morning. While cruising along I-5 through Camp Pendleton, the ‘Slade hanging out in the passing lane with the blue-lit speedometer needle registering about 80 mph, those two words were pounding clearly out of the Bose surround sound system. Big pimpin’ indeed.

Let’s set things straight – I’m a short, balding white guy in my early 30s from the sticks of the Northeast – not exactly Jay Z’s targeted demographic, to the degree that I had to google Big Pimpin’ to determine the lyrics. But behind the wheel of that Cadillac, I was the man…or da bomb…or something. More than 400 horsepower, 22-inch chrome rims, and the knowledge that everyone from the established CEO to the affluent NBA star chooses this ride, well, it all adds a certain something to the driving experience.

Maybe it’s the style that accounts for impressive sales, maybe it’s the snowball effect after a Hollywood superstar was first spotted in one, or maybe, just maybe, buyers are interested in Cadillacs again. Whatever the reason, the Escalade is a rarity, a GM success story, and the updated 2007 model will surely keep the momentum going, especially since it stickers for the same price as the 2006 truck. Those responsible for the Escalade’s popularity, the shoppers who fork over more than $50,000, are as diverse as they come. You’re just as likely to see a black-and-chrome Escalade driven around your cul-de-sac by a 60-year-old executive as rolling along Sunset Boulevard with someone famous behind those deeply-tinted windows. Or maybe it’s a regular guy who’s just borrowing it for the night. Regardless, everyone feels like they’re big pimpin’ in the 2007 Cadillac Escalade, a ride that offers a surprising level of refinement, a potent powertrain, a long list of features, and a proud background for the Cadillac crest.

Few $50,000 purchases can be considered bargains, except maybe a house, a check to attorney Thomas Mesereau for your freedom, or the 2007 Cadillac Escalade. On sale now, the all-wheel-drive model starts at $57,280, while the rear-wheel-drive version will be available in August with a base sticker price of $54,725. Both prices include an $875 destination charge, and notably, mirror those of the outgoing 2006 Escalade despite all that’s new.

Besides the revised body work, updated platform, and 403-horsepower V8, Cadillac’s version of the Chevrolet Tahoe/GMC Yukon twins comes with dual-zone climate control; heated front and second-row bucket seats with two-position driver’s side memory; leather upholstery; a ten-speaker Bose 5.1 surround sound system with a six-disc CD changer, MP3 player, DVD audio player, and XM satellite radio; power heated and signaling mirrors; heated windshield washers; and high-intensity discharge headlights. But, that’s just a start, since the base sticker price also buys a wood-and-leather steering wheel, rain-sensing wipers, a rear parking aid system, tilt steering, a 50/50 folding third-row bench that provides for standard seven-passenger seating, and a power tailgate operated via the key fob, buttons on the door, or a control on the overhead console. And don’t forget about the side-curtain airbags which are deployed in frontal, side, or rear impacts, and the four-year/50,000-mile basic and powertrain warranties. That last one offers a bit of added security for shoppers concerned about GM durability, and 12 months of complimentary OnStar service will track the thugs who borrowed your new Escalade for a joy ride.

Of course, some buyers may still consider that laundry list of features to be a bit lean. For those folks, there’s the optional Climate Package with a heated steering wheel, and heated and cooled front seats; and the Information Package that includes a navigation system with an eight-inch touch screen, a camera for the rear parking aid system, and adaptive headlights. Other options include a heated second-row 60/40 bench seat that bumps capacity to eight passengers; power fold-and-tumble second-row buckets; a huge power sunroof; and chrome 22-inch alloy wheels rolling on Bridgestone Dueler 285/65R22 tires. Because these double-dubs are direct from the factory, buyers can be assured that their 2007 Cadillac Escalade has been engineered to ride and handle just as well on these 22s as the standard 18-inchers.

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