Next Generation Cadillac Escalade to Receive Supercharged Camaro V8: Report

Cadillac is hard at work preparing for the next generation of their big bruiser Escalade. Lincoln’s counterpart, the Navigator, makes a healthy 450 horsepower from its Raptor engine. How does Cadillac plan to compete? A new report suggest it’s going to get some help from the Camaro.

According to a posting from Muscle Cars and Trucks, the Escalade is going offer the supercharged V8 that powers the Camaro ZL1 and the Corvette Z06. While details are light on when this engine will go in, or what type of performance to expect, it is apparently going to be a “powerhouse.”

The 650-horsepower and 650 lb-ft that comes from the LT4 would be a great performance boost in a vehicle like the Escalade, but it would be a bit surprising to see General Motors not use the new Blackwing twin-turbo V8 that Cadillac is working on. A flagship engine really should be in a flagship product and, with SUV sales the way they are, the next-generation Escalade will be the flagship.

There is another possibility, though less likely. Cadillac could be reserving the Blackwing name for a series of engines, and those engines might be different depending on the application. It seems ridiculous, though, for Cadillac to not offer that engine eventually in the Escalade, especially since it’s going to appear in other products.

Cadillac does need to do something to stand out, however. While the Escalade is certainly a premium offering, it’s starting to show its age compared to something modern like the German competition and the new Navigator. Lincoln has stepped up its game recently, and the upcoming Aviator will use an advanced hybrid powertrain that makes 600 lb-ft of torque. That hybrid architecture is expected to roll out in varying degrees across both Ford and Lincoln.

Hopefully we’ll know soon enough if this supercharged V8 report is true.

[Image: Cadillac]