2009 Cadillac Escalade hybrid

Gone are the days when all that car owners cared to brag about were looks, power, top speed and acceleration. Now a car needs to cater along with all these above mentioned qualities, new found ones like fuel efficiency, crash safety and carbon foot print. This comes as a result of growing concern about the economy and ecology among the car buyers.

The Escalade is one of the hottest SUVs in the market today. The car just looks so good that it has already attained an iconic status of being the coolest set of wheels around. Even though the car is based on the humble GMC Tahoe, the bulk and the looks of the Escalade inside out has helped it make its way into garages of countless celebrities.

The hybrid cars have been exploiting this new found care for the environment to their benefit. It all started with Toyota, when they launched the Lexus hybrid SUV and the Toyota Prius. The hybrids started to do very good sales even wit the premium it demands for providing the feeling that you are doing your bit to save the planet. More and more manufacturers are offering their premium cars as hybrids to get a share of this newly created market.? One such model is the 2009 Cadillac Escalade hybrid.

The Escalade hybrid is powered by a 6.0 liter V8 internal combustion gasoline burner and a pair of electric motors to provide a combined “might” of 332 horses. The 60 Kilowatt electric motors can work either independently or in conjunction with the petrol engine to propel the car at low speeds. The Escalade claims fuel economy of 21 mpg in city and 20 mpg in highway. The higher economy in the city driving is because of the electric motor which aids during the start and stop driving. The car uses regenerative braking which uses the braking force to charge the battery. Another clever feature the engine has to improve economy is cutting the number of cylinders with power stroke according to the load i.e., the engine will be V8 when full power is needed and a V4 when the car is cruising with out much load. The hybrid Escalade emits very low CO2 per kilometer.

The Escalade hybrid comes with all the features that are optional in the regular Escalade, including the chrome 22 inch wheels, heated cooled leather seats and glove box. The escalade has all the luxury features one has come to expect from a car that costs in excess of 50,000 Dollars. The Escalade offers a decent ride handling for a car of this bulk. The car has a suspension which is constantly adjusted electronically depending on the conditions prevailing.

The Escalade hybrid is priced in excess of 70,000 Dollars, which makes it 30,000 Dollars dearer than the Lexus RX400h, which offers five seats and impeccable luxury. Another alternative to the Escalade hybrid is the range of German SUVs, which provides similar economy. However, if you want 7 seats and the cool looks, the Escalade is a good option to be considered.

Source: www.nitrobahn.com