cadillac unveils escala concept showcasing future design direction

the ‘escala concept’ debuts in california tonight, introducing the next evolution of cadillac design and previewing the craftsmanship and technology being developed for many future models. following a series of private previews, ‘escala’ will be displayed this weekend at the annual pebble beach concours d’elegance.

‘escala is a concept with two clear objectives,’ said johan de nysschen, president of global cadillac. ‘first, escala is a statement of intent for the next iteration of the cadillac design language, and also technical concepts in development for future cadillac models. secondly, escala builds cadillac’s aspirational character, signaling the brand’s return to the pinnacle of premium.’

‘escala is a concept car, but one based upon the unrelenting rise of our product substance,’ he said. ‘depending on the development of market segment for large luxury sedans, escala is a potential addition to our existing product plan.’

escala — spanish for ‘scale’ — is designed to be both a driver’s car and a flagship sedan. the large 4-door sedan features an expansive liftback design emphasizing the car’s scale and versatility. it features a new and evolved face of cadillac design that will begin appearing on production models soon. this includes a new expression of cadillac’s vertical lighting, a brand signature since 1948. organic light emitting diode (OLED) lighting elements are thinner and set deep within the fascia, creating a sinister look, day and night. the concept’s details invite closer inspection, including a three-dimensional precision pattern in the grille design and 22-inch wheels with two layers of spokes.

‘this concept shares how cadillac will bring forward a new experience that is uniquely american, and unmistakably cadillac,’ says andrew smith, executive director of cadillac global design. ‘escala is an expressive symbol of reward and an exhilarating driving experience. on the interior, we pushed further. it’s about precision and ingenuity in craftsmanship, and the artistic integration of technology.’

escala features a ‘dual personality’ interior crafted with distinctly different zones: the front is about intensely focused modern technology, while the rear delivers relaxation.

‘my brief to the designers was to create a car you desperately want to drive, and also one in which you want to be driven,’ smith said. ‘so rather than a single design, this interior consists of two themes. it was an opportunity for our designers to break the rules a little bit, exactly what cadillac should do from time to time.’

an array of three curved OLED screens is a prominent feature in the front of the cabin. the very thin, curved displays are layered in front of the driver, with the back sides wrapped in hand-stitched leather embossed with the cadillac script. the array of screens consolidate the traditional ‘cluster’ of driving gauges with the ‘center stack’ into one integrated unit. 

the concept includes new designs for connectivity and control, providing a prototype for the user experience in development for future production models. the system features a central control module that enables the driver to execute tactile commands across the spectrum of connectivity functions, in addition to voice and gesture control technology. inside the controller sits a new edition of cadillac’s ‘flying goddess’ icon, a nod to the brand’s illustrious heritage.

the ‘escala concept’ utilizes cadillac’s new RWD-centric large luxury car architecture, featuring the same advanced body structure which debuted on the ‘CT6’. the mixed-material construction enables unprecedented agility and efficiency. it boasts a new 4.2-liter twin-turbo v8 engine, a prototype of a new system in development for future models. the advanced engine utilizes active fuel management technology, enabling fuel-saving 4-cylinder operation.