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Now RIDES ain’t one to boast, but if you had been pushing a new-look 2007 Cadillac Escalade at the tail end of 2005, you’d be bragging like Superhead, too.
STORY Sean a. malcolm /// PHOTOGRAPHY adrian mueller
NEW YORK CITY—December 8, 2005
Generally any assignment where a wordsmith can get away from a messy desk and avoid the risk of carpal tunnel syndrome is one they sign up for.
A symposium on the damage created by washing ya whip with hard water?—sure, I got a PS2 to keep me entertained. But today, I have been told to pick up an ’07 ‘Slade and parade it around my ‘hood—Brooklyn, NY. Pass the keys!
As the five-foot-nothing parking attendant drove the silver Escalade—which boasts a width of 79 inches—out of the lot, I couldn’t help but think, “Damn, this thing is huge.” Anyway, it’s obvious this road warrior is gonna attract attention. Which it does, from middle-aged “waste-management” types, and prepubescent whipper-snappers and closet groupies, who thought a multi-platinum rapper was driving. Not to mention the crew of seven grown-ass men who turned into excited school girls when I pulled up on the block. But before I can push it along like Tribe in ’91, I soak in the ambiance of the Escalade’s luxury sedan-like interior. It’s complete with comfortable nuance leather seats and woodgrain that trims the steering wheel, and wraps around the voice-activated 8-inch navigation touchscreen. Granted, it’s hard to pay attention to all that is lovely inside when, outside, civilians are breaking necks at an alarming rate as I roll by—I hope we’re insured!
FEATURES
Escalade AWD
Exterior
/// Detailed signature grille, front-fender vent ports and chrome-layered accents all inspired by the Cadillac Sixteen concept whip
/// IntelliBeam headlights that switch from low-beam to high-beam automatically, white LED taillights
/// Power rear liftgate Interior
/// Spacious interior with superior refinement, includes a myriad of luxury features such as climate-controlled front seats, power fold-and-tumble second-row seats, remote start and integrated running boards
/// Standard roof-mounted head curtain side air bags, which deploy all the way to the belt line of the doors (where the glass comes out) and have tethers to hold them down and in place till the crash event is over
/// Front seatbelt pre-tensioners that have 360-degree activation (“The rest of the industry activate their front pre-tensioners for only front and side impacts. GM added
a rear sensor to the system”)
/// Heated and cooled front seats, heated rear seats, heated steering (optional) and heated washer fluid system
Audio/Visual
/// True 5.1 Bose Surround System
/// XM Satellite Radio
/// 8-inch navigation touchscreen (optional), which is voice-activated and comes complete with the Generation 6 OnStar system
/// 8-inch rear seat entertainment screen with MP3 and DVD audio capability
/// Rear view camera
Wheels and Ride
/// Hydra-Matic 6L80 6-speed automatic transmission
/// Powerful 6.2L all-aluminum small-block V-8 with VVT rated at 403hp (301 kw)*
/// Efficient six-speed automatic transmission with Driver Shift Control
/// Factory-installed 22-inch chrome wheels (optional)—the largest stock wheels in the business
/// StabiliTrak stability control system with new rollover mitigation technology
/// Enhanced four-wheel disc brake system /// Stronger frame chassis with responsive coil-over-shock front suspension and
rack-and pinion steering
/// Improved fuel economy |
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