General Motors continues to tout the “Mother” of all SUV’s, the 2009 Cadillac Escalade Hybrid. The Big Green Machine will produce a 50% increase in fuel economy in city driving jumping the behemoth from a horrific 12 miles per gallon to a horrendous almost 20 mpg. But in all seriousness at least GM is trying to translate the latest hybrid technology to the much maligned gas guzzling SUV segment.
The V-8 hybrid Escalade is scheduled to go on sale next summer. A 2008 Escalade retails for close to 60 grand. The hybrid version should jack up the sticker by about $10,000.
The Escalade will use the GM 2-Mode Hybrid system with a 6-liter V-8 but can cruise on only electric power at speeds up to about 25 mph.
The hybrid Escalade’s braking system is similar to the braking design in the Prius and will enable the SUV to recharge a 300-volt battery pack when the driver uses the SUV’s brakes.
The Escalade hybrid system is equipped with electric motors located in the transmission to assist the gasoline powered engine while cruising on the highway. The Escalade also uses GM’s Active Fuel Management system which shuts off four cylinders when less power is needed to allow the big guy to cruise the highways in a more efficient style.
Even though the SUV segment is soft, Escalade sales have remained strong throughout the steep uphill climb in gasoline prices. GM sold more the 30,000 of the SUVs through October, according to industry sources.
The hybrid Escalade is scheduled to go on sale next summer.
You can currently see the jumbo hybrid at the South Florida International Auto Show running at the Miami Beach Convention Center through November 18th.