Automotive Engineering - September 2024 - 20

ROAD READY
Refreshed 2025 Cadillac Escalade
features 55-inch dash display
A cutaway
view of
the Lucid
Air sedan's front
powertrain section.
redwoods outside San Francisco, the extra oomph was an unquestionable
high. No EV - or any new vehicle of any type - has
impressed me quite as much as the Sapphire did. That's what a
0-60 mph (97 km/h) time of just 1.89 seconds is meant to do.
But all of that extra power comes at a price. The Pure starts at
$69,900, compared to the $249,000 for the Sapphire. As
breathtaking as they are, the extra thrills that come with each
accelerator push are not worth the extra $180,000. As the rare
car reviewer who believes a 4.5 second 0-60 time is more than
enough, I found the Pure to be simply delightful and for sure the
one I would choose.
Compared to the popular (in the right zip codes) MercedesBenz
EQS and the now-plentiful Tesla Model S, the Air brings
with it a whiff of exclusivity. But Lucid stands out as an engineering
marvel, as well, and offers a worthwhile driving experience.
The adaptive damping suspension has less to balance
in the 4,564-lb (2,070-kg) Pure than in the 5,336-lb (2,420kg)
Sapphire, but all trims felt entirely planted and connected
to the roads zipping by underneath. Advanced torque vectoring
gives all Air variants impressive wheel grip, and steering
feel is appropriately tight and responsive across the board.
Design meets engineering
Engineers for Lucid work just steps away from where the
company's designers create. Lucid's Silicon Valley headquarters
features a two-story lab that can hold up to four full-size
clay models on the design shop floor, where the CAD team
also works. Other engineers work upstairs, in an open loft
overlooking the models, and the layout is meant to stimulate
organic interactions that should end up creating a better EV.
" People don't realize this, but engineers design the car as well, "
Rawlinson. " Often, you see a concept car and it never reaches the
light of day because the engineers 'ruin it.' Well, maybe it was
never designed to be feasible in the first place. We've got advanced
engineering upstairs and design downstairs. And we're
truly designing cars, engineering and design together. "
Rawlinson said Lucid engineers have " explored pretty close
to the limit " what they can do for now to improve the efficiency
and miniaturization of components in the Air and
Lucid's upcoming Gravity SUV.
Sebastian Blanco
20 September 2024
The 2025 Cadillac Escalade in Sport Platinum trim. The horizontal signal
lamps and available lighted crest and lighted grille surround are new.
AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING
Amid its constant rollout of new battery electric vehicles,
Cadillac announced a refreshed and tech-laden 2025 version
of its flagship internal-combustion SUV, the Escalade.
In a few months Cadillac will launch the all-electric
Escalade IQ. The showstopper of an array of design and interior
improvements is a 55-inch (140-cm) diagonal display
that runs the width of the dashboard. Part of that display, a
25-inch (64-cm)diagonal area, is reserved for items the passenger
can access and control.
Asserting that the Escalade has always been known for
craftsmanship, technology and performance, John Roth, vice
president of Global Cadillac, said it is the standard-bearer for
full-size luxury SUVs. " Escalade ... has continuously raised the
standard of full-size SUV luxury since it was introduced 25
years ago, " he said, adding that it is " the best-selling luxury
full-size SUV in North America since 2014 and has sold more
than 1 million units globally. "
On the outside, the 2025 Escalade inherits lighting technology
from the coming Escalade IQ, while other details come
from the design language common to Celestiq and Lyriq EVs.
Thin and bright horizontal signal lamps are more cohesive with
the iconic vertical LED daytime running lights and headlights. A
larger grille is available in three patterns depending on trim
level. Adding more visual effects after dark are an available
lighted brand crest and LED lighting around the grille.
At the rear, the crest has been repositioned slightly and
trim below the window has been simplified. Revised taillights
include a second vertical LED element. Cadillac rounds out
the exterior changes with available 24-inch (61-cm) wheels,
the largest ever offered on the Escalade, and power openand-close
doors.
On the inside, the seating surfaces still feature the quilted and
perforated surfaces that Cadillac is known for. An available
FROM TOP: SEBASTIAN BLANCO; CADILLAC
Automotive Engineering - September 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Automotive Engineering - September 2024
