You are providing something no one on here has come close to doing, I'm addicted to all these discussions with designers. All my life I have been very curious about what they were thinking on this design or that. I also love how you as an enthusiast don't get carried away and interrupt them and bombard them with too many questions, you just let them do the talking. 👍
Thank you very much Dennis and Adam for taking the time to share this with the small minority of people out there that are interested in it, this is what the Internet is for
The more I watch and listen to Mr. Burke, the more respect I have for him. Mr. Burke has all the qualities of a great leader, his opening credits to the "team" is just one example of this. Mr. Burke is just the type of leader/boss/mgr that we all would like to work for. Mr. Burke's leadership/management style brought out the best in the team, this Escalade is a great example/credit.
Sort of analogous to the Cimarron except in this case the “source” vehicle was already quite good. And the designers had, I believe, more of the vehicle available to modify. What do you think?
Exactly--- thank Chevy for a good design---Cadillac only made it better, plus they had time to put a whole new front end on, and somehow pulled an ace with the body cladding!
The 2nd gen Escalade is still a handsome SUV 20yrs later. It seemed like around 2005 model year GM started offering a factory 20" wheel option which really fit the character better like Dennis was talking about.
I'm probably in the minority that I prefer the smaller wheels, even if only because they convey a certain ruggedness of the product. This generation Escalade looks good with just about any wheels though, as far as I'm concerned.
It's the PROCESS of designing a vehicle for production that always has fascinated me. One thing that emerges from these sit-downs with retired automotive execs is how everything always comes down to time and money, and how there is seldom if ever enough of either or both. And yet the final product must endure in the marketplace for four years or longer. Gone are the days of my youth, when vehicles received an annual "facelift," if for no other reason than "model year identification." Design alterations were often more than incremental, sometimes involving major retooling of sheet metal. And Cadillac invariably offered buyers an unparalleled choice of interior appointments, including a dizzying pallet of fabric and leather options. I think it would be instructive to do a segment on the design process during the days when GM's "Styling Section" and the oft-maligned design philosophies of "incremental improvement" and "dynamic obsolescence" ruled the roost.
Yes, that is amazing--- it's almost like GM was competing against itself-- within divisions, and then from year to year, rather than simply offering minor color and cladding changes. I think today cars are way too complex and the tooling is way too expensive to even consider changing every year--- just look what they did to the 2014 F-150 last year--- simply re-skinned the existing model!
All those exterior changes would have to be tested for crash safety, for one, and that's really expensive. We really need to get away from the 'yearly fashion fad' idea of car design, which is just marketing to get us to buy the newest clothes with the same old engineering underneath.
Thanks for doing this, Adam. You can really tell how much Dennis enjoyed speaking about his experience at GM. Like many of your subscribers, I'm waiting with anticipation for your upcoming Bob Lutz interview.
It was nice of Dennis to acknowledge the contribution of all involved in the design rather than taking the credit as project leader. I'm sure his counterparts at Lincoln/Mercury and Ford were equally skeptical that their buyers would purchase a truck, but they did. Escalade lovers can therefore thank Lincoln/Mercury and Ford for their Navigator, proving the concept for GM to follow. Another great video, thanks, Dennis and Adam.
They could probably also thank the Yukon Denali design team as well as the Oldsmobile Bravada team and probably whoever was responsible for adding leather to the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and probably some chaps over at Range Rover as well....
Nice video describing the Origins of the Escalade. It explains why I saw so many Chevy pickups with Escalade front grills (and fenders /hoods to match)driving around about 10 years after the launch of the Escalade. Someone in the area must have been converting them.
These discussions are really great dives into the history of these vehicles, and are very fascinating. I would love to see a discussion on the Chevy Avalanche, seeing it mentioned in this episode.
Dennis is truly a treat to listen to and watch. You can definitely tell he was super proud of what his team did on this car, and that this isn’t his first presentation.
Always a pleasure to get the behind-the-scenes story from the original designer and see the development of the Escalade. Thanks to Mr. Burke for taking time for this interview and to Adam for bringing this to the viewers.
Thank you Adam for bringing in Mr. Dennis Burke. They really had a hit on their hands clearly. The vehicle is still thriving today this and influenced by the original vehicle. Today the exterior and interior are unique to Cadillac. Cadillac needed this vehicle. They basically repeated the success of the 1976 Cadillac Seville again. The Seville started the same way, but the made changes to pull it away from its Chevrolet roots. I like the fact he said it was a "team effort" and he was the coach. The designers sketches he shared worked at Oldsmobile just like Mr. Burke. That designer did the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme sedan. He said his name was Pete Lawlis. I liked seeing the sketches and the changes they made and the inner workings of the GM design studios. I liked also how given the restrictions, they were able to do so much. The Presidential limo has Escalade parts on it. Thank you so much again Adam.
So true, and I love the way he stuck with his big Emblem set. A lesser man would have backed down or been intimidated. Looking back now, it's clear that small emblems would not have aged as well or distinguished as definitively.
Another terrific discussion Adam. After the first gen Escalade (aka Yukon Denali with a Cadillac crest), this gen 2 design really took the nameplate to something of an iconic status. Side note, will the next Bob Lutz discussion be dropping soon?
These are absolutely tremendous. I love the behind-the-scenes stories and pictures of the design process, especially about such a loved and cherished American icon as the GMT800-generation Escalade.
I used to notice the prominent notches in the trim and cladding on Pontiacs back in the 90's. I think that's the kind of thing that designers and those who appreciate good design notice, but for most people it wouldn't really register, except maybe occasionally.
What a great conversation about the design of the first Escalade, Adam! It was great to hear the details of design constraints that Dennis and his team were under, and to see some design photos. Please keep these conversations coming!
These videos are epic Adam. Documanting automotive history once again...bravo!
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These interviews with the designers are like Al Kaline of the Tigers, hitting a home run at the bottom of the 9th inning! Listening to Ernie Harwell anouncing the game on WJR! The best!! Adam, simply, so good these interviews! Thank you!!
Timestamp 31:15 you hit the nail on the head. This truck was a "disguised" Chevy/GMC, nothing more. Dennis Burke said at the beginning of the video that this was a profit car for GM. Of course, it was. They could sell a disguised Chevy/GMC as a Cadillac for $15-30k more just by adding some cladding and a front fiberglass cap and oh, I almost forgot a 10-dollar clock. I have to tip my hat to the advertising team. How GM got away with it is beyond me. Clearly, they did not learn a thing from the 1983 article they just became much better at disguising their models. How sad is it that the brand Cadillac has been reduced to a disguised Chevy/GMC? What I found incredibly funny if you pull back the plastic disguise on the rear bumper you will find a Chevy/GMC bumper. I remember these vehicles back in the day and they did not fool me one bit. Great interview, Thanks, Adam!
Adam, please tell Mr. Burke for me that as an owner of a low mileage 03 Escalade, it is one of the best vehicles I've ever owned in 35 years of driving. His team hit a grand slam and yes, he was right on the Bulgari clock as to this day it's a conversation piece when someone gets into mine for the first time. Also, I noticed in one of his pictures the Escalade had 07-14 wheels on it, either 18 or 22 inches, which look fantastic. Might have to look into a set of them. Thank you
I am the owner of a low mileage 04 myself. I bought in 2017 just to have a third row seat for my young kids who had to have bulky car seats, so a 5 passenger car was not enough. I wanted to find a low mileage gmt 800 Tahoe. But all I found were 250k examples of higher. One day I found this one owner Escalade being sold by an older man’s estate sale only with 60k on it and I decided - what the hell. I’ll get the upscale Escalade then. And now 6 years later I love it and can’t ever image selling it. What a perfect mix of rugged no-nonsense reliable truck in the Chevy “bones” underneath, and just the right amount of luxury comfort added. So comfortable on the highway and even surprisingly easy around town.
Thanks for a fascinating peek into a very challenging design process. I particularly enjoyed learning about the half-model on a mirror trick. Although I'm not the market that Cadillac designs SUV's for, these were and are very popular products. As the designer noted, this success was a team effort, and wouldn't have sold as well if the Chevy and GMC bones weren't already Cadillac quality machines. Great job, thanks again
I much enjoyed this discussion with Dennis. He gives us an inside look at the design process. I never was a fan of the body cladding but it did very well in disguising it from the Chevy and GMC. I hope Dennis is able to share more of his automotive design contributions on this channel in the future.
The fact that GM designers over the decades have been able to accomplish so many amazing vehicles and bring them to market is remarkable with GM's reputation for strict financial controls. When the Escalade was a new vehicle I really didn't care for them, not because of the styling but because of the social status they seemed to convey. Now that it's been twenty years, I just see these as extremely handsome "trucks". The team did a great job transforming the platform into something so distinct.
my grandpa had an 02 escalade, such a great truck and we still have it today he sold his 93 fleetwood a few years after he bought the escalade but man when he had both of those cadillacs in his driveway he looked like a king
This was a great interview, with an insight to how a behemoth like GM reacts to trends in the automotive market. Dennis Burke was great at speaking to the design process that produced a new nameplate for Cadillac that is still around 20 plus years later.
Great watch, what a team. I always wondered why the Cadillac XLR always had a lesser engine compared to the Corvette, being a Cadillac, one would think its power would always be a bit more than the Vette.
Would be interesteing to talk sales and profit figures as part of this design conversation. How successful were these designs. I understand your time is limited in these interviews. I'm not complaining by any means. You do such a great job documenting all sorts of good stuff. Convo to mechanicals.
Thank you, Dennis, for sharing the story of this vehicle. And thanks, Adam, for continuing to put out great content on this channel. "Badge engineering" is a subjective thing, and automakers have done it for decades. Spinning several vehicles off a single platform is just a logical choice from a business perspective. But while the infamous Cimarron is a testimonial to a badge- engineering FAIL, the 2002-2006 gen Escalade is a great example of how to do it right. My 2003 Escalade is still a favorite of the 30+ vehicles I've owned. It was much more distinctive and less of a "Tahoe-clone" than the 2007- gen III Escalade that followed.
Very interesting. When looking at just the yellow sections that could change though, you really have to shade half the doors due to the cladding overlay. If that wasn’t there it would have looked more generic.
Great car & spectacular design achieved by only changing few panels on Tahoe. I love the fact they implemented initial design elements on 3rd Gen. Greetings from far Europe - Poland ;) There are fans of these cars here as well
I think there were likely lots of buyers who still recognized the Escalade as a Chevrolet derivative, but just didn't mind. It's a big, brawny, and flashy vehicle and therefore a contemporary interpretation of an American luxury car.
Great stories. So interesting. Thanks to you and Dennis for your time and efforts. I ordered an '01 Suburban and drove it 215k before giving it to my daughter and her husband in 2016. They finally traded it at 315k in 2021. That was best car ever for me. More recently I have owned three Escalades. Two 3rd gen and a 4th gen. All great cars. I actually liked the 3rd gen, especially the 2014, the best. The 6.2 was always evident and eager without being overly intrusive. In the 4th gen it was quieter and more subdued. Still nice, just not as sporty. Now I am back in a new Silverado LTZ. Just feels right to me. Great truck. I sometimes miss that 2014, though. Mine had the dual exhausts and the burble around town in the evening with sunroof open was very satisfying.
Very curious as to how it goes down that designers, interior or exterior, will be "restricted" to certain areas. Who makes those decisions, and how are they presented. I guess this explains how the doors and interior doors skins on say, the 1985 Olds 98 and Buick Electra were mostly identical -- etc. But those have got to be some "exciting" meetings, lol. Great episode, thx.
The “badge engineering” phase of GM had reached a ridiculous stage in the ‘80s, but you can go back several decades and find shared door skins, roof panels, and chassis at least as early as the ‘50s. But those designers had much more freedom with fenders, hoods, grills, etc.
I believe basically it was time constrants--- --- GM had already designed the Chevy and GMC, so only whatever could done quickly, especially with the vendors in mind...
What was not yellow in that illustration was the structural core of the vehicle, and would require scrapping to redesign. All the yellow can be bolted on.
@@jamesengland7461 I'd still like to know who calls the shot, and who feels they know how much of the vehicle can be shared without compromising the brand. It's obviously an area of expertise that GM hasn't always mastered.
I really did like the GMT400 Escalades. Maybe I am in the minority on that opinion. But I am also the biggest GMT800 homer, and I really loved that series of Escalade. The interior, although familiar to me with my Silverado, had some nice luxury touches over the trucks it was based on. A lot of those luxury features swap easily into a truck interior, too! I especially like the Esky gages in my son's 2000 Silverado LS. I guess I have the bean counters to thank for that parts commonality!
The Monte Carlo pic with the ridiculous wheels reminded me of something. About ten years ago, I was looking for a mid 80's or later Caprice. I saw an ad for one with 20 inch bright chrome wheels, with tires that had an almost non existent sidewall. It looked utterly absurd. I ended up buying another Caprice elsewhere. But if I had gone to look at the first one, I would have asked if he still had the stock wheels, and offered to let him keep the abominations.
Wheels have gotten too big. My 1996 Buick Roadmaster sedan has 15" wheels. It would be nice to have 17" wheels. Maybe 18".But putting anything bigger than that on it is too much. You need to have a decent amount of tire sidewall to keep the ride comfortable. Giant wheels with rubber bands for tires may look good in a parking lot. But they're horrible to drive and potholes become instant destruction. I'd love to have the Monte Carlo shown in the picture. But the first thing I would do is get rid of those wheels
My 98 Crown Vic came with 16" steelies with hubcaps. I replaced those with 18" 2014 Mustang GT take offs and it actually improved the ride, or it improved the handling so much it seemed like it improved everything else too. And it looked fantastic with my car painted black. But I agree, anymore than that and it would have started becoming overkill.
With regard to cost savings, did the Escalade need to be crash tested due to the new front end sheet metal or was it similar enough to the GMC/Chevrolet?
Having driven many of these I remember them first having a Silverado steering wheel with the cady logo pressed in the center hub. Then a gmc steering wheel with a plastic Cadillac logo. Along with them first having chronograph style cts gauges/Lexus is300 then after going with more conventional looking numbers on the gauges
Kool interview! Dennis and his team did a remarkable job on the transformation of what they started with. I drove a wagon at about the same time… I got a ‘68 Plymouth Satellite wagon for $425. I ran it from ‘01-‘14. The SUV’s to me just looked like big Station Wagons. 😀
It's funny that they bring it up, because the Escalade is to this day quite literally a case study in "badge engineering". From it's inception to the current model year. Not to throw shade on this gentleman, because he seems perfectly nice, but an Escalade is essentially a grandiose facia, body cladding, fancy interiors on a Tahoe/Suburban (I like how they literally show the picture of a Tahoe) along with "the big motor" from the HD pickup truck line. Always have been and always will be. But who cares when the profit margin is so incredibly enormous. The public is effectively fooled into thinking they're buying something "special" or "premium", and the majority of Escalade buyers have so much money they don't really care anyway. They just need that badging in their driveway to show the Joneses whats up and when the lease is up - they go get the newest cartoon from Cadillac.
I would absolutely never buy one new, but I think it's not the worst car to buy used. I got an absolute steal on a Gen 3 from an older gentleman that had a full dealer service history, with fairly low miles. And, while I do believe it's an objectively gaudy vehicle, that's what I love about it.
Those were some great vehicles and decently priced. I think everyone was very thankful the Escalade was on the GMC/Chevy truck frame as a Northstar drivetrain would have been troubling in comparison.
Shame on GM, you should have given them a bigger budget. The entire body including glass is the minimum. At this price point, no cladding, but stamped sheetmetal.
What a great interview with a really neat guy. Wonderful information. Close as you can get to making a silk purse out of a sow's ear and in only six months!
The infamous Fortune cover comparing GM cars... I have to say once again, and I have yet to have anyone address it, that the car in front is the discount Chevrolet Celebrity being compared to other larger, much more expensive GM cars in the same colour, not just the midsize and larger cars. I've heard many times this being described as "the infamous cover that showed Buicks Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs that were indistinguishable" without recognising that a mid-compact Chevy, at half the cost, is front and center, and I guess that just proves the point of how similar in design these cars are. But the Chevy Celebrity platform is distinct along with the Pontiac 6000, Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera and Buick Century, which all had a 6 window greenhouse design (initially) but still the same vertical rear window, but was at least a little different from their larger siblings. This design was never used on the larger GM sedans like the Delta Regency LeSabre Electra DeVille or Fleetwoods of this era.
He’s right, I do see right through it and but it’s the ultimate GM Truck SUV! I see the best engineered, best looking, best spect vehicle that Cadillac makes.
Great interview. Even back then a time-consuming issue with the larger wheels would have been crash management, as the structure needs to be able to handle these relatively rigid objects in a frontal collision to prevent passenger compartment deformation and intrusion. There are very few non-aesthetic advantages to large wheels, and a number of dynamic disadvantages. I have purchased lower-trim vehicles on occasion specifically to avoid them.
Discussions with the designers is definitely one of the best parts of this channel. Thanks Adam!
I agree
Fascinating
It’s unique and outstanding to get this level of insight
As soon as he said that he didn't design it and that it was a team effort he got my respect. That's a leader.
It's refreshing to hear him thank his team... many take full credit. Thank you!
You are providing something no one on here has come close to doing, I'm addicted to all these discussions with designers. All my life I have been very curious about what they were thinking on this design or that.
I also love how you as an enthusiast don't get carried away and interrupt them and bombard them with too many questions, you just let them do the talking. 👍
Yeah. Adam is to the cars what Ian McCollum is to firearms. Adams don't the work of a saint in my opinion. I'm so glad he's documenting all of this.
Thank you very much Dennis and Adam for taking the time to share this with the small minority of people out there that are interested in it, this is what the Internet is for
I love these interviews, they're so informative, and the Escalade specifically for me is nostalgic because I literally grew up with it.
The gen 2 Escalade and the CTS saved Cadillac. No question.
😭jazzed up chevy tahoe
The more I watch and listen to Mr. Burke, the more respect I have for him. Mr. Burke has all the qualities of a great leader, his opening credits to the "team" is just one example of this. Mr. Burke is just the type of leader/boss/mgr that we all would like to work for. Mr. Burke's leadership/management style brought out the best in the team, this Escalade is a great example/credit.
Mr. Burke is a good man, and a great leader/manager, GM was lucky to have him for sure
Thanks Adam. This is gold.
Thank you, Dennis Burke and Adam for this awesome interview.
Another home run boys.
Excellent interview! Someday to be a historic reference.
I drive the 2004 ESV. Love it! 👍✨
Sort of analogous to the Cimarron except in this case the “source” vehicle was already quite good. And the designers had, I believe, more of the vehicle available to modify. What do you think?
Exactly--- thank Chevy for a good design---Cadillac only made it better, plus they had time to put a whole new front end on, and somehow pulled an ace with the body cladding!
Love this talks with designers
It’s so cool to get the inside story from the people who were there.
This was a wonderful interview.
The 2nd gen Escalade is still a handsome SUV 20yrs later. It seemed like around 2005 model year GM started offering a factory 20" wheel option which really fit the character better like Dennis was talking about.
I'm probably in the minority that I prefer the smaller wheels, even if only because they convey a certain ruggedness of the product. This generation Escalade looks good with just about any wheels though, as far as I'm concerned.
It's the PROCESS of designing a vehicle for production that always has fascinated me. One thing that emerges from these sit-downs with retired automotive execs is how everything always comes down to time and money, and how there is seldom if ever enough of either or both. And yet the final product must endure in the marketplace for four years or longer.
Gone are the days of my youth, when vehicles received an annual "facelift," if for no other reason than "model year identification." Design alterations were often more than incremental, sometimes involving major retooling of sheet metal. And Cadillac invariably offered buyers an unparalleled choice of interior appointments, including a dizzying pallet of fabric and leather options.
I think it would be instructive to do a segment on the design process during the days when GM's "Styling Section" and the oft-maligned design philosophies of "incremental improvement" and "dynamic obsolescence" ruled the roost.
Yes, that is amazing--- it's almost like GM was competing against itself-- within divisions, and then from year to year, rather than simply offering minor color and cladding changes. I think today cars are way too complex and the tooling is way too expensive to even consider changing every year--- just look what they did to the 2014 F-150 last year--- simply re-skinned the existing model!
All those exterior changes would have to be tested for crash safety, for one, and that's really expensive. We really need to get away from the 'yearly fashion fad' idea of car design, which is just marketing to get us to buy the newest clothes with the same old engineering underneath.
Excellent! Your designer interviews will go down in history. Keep them coming.
Thanks for doing this, Adam. You can really tell how much Dennis enjoyed speaking about his experience at GM. Like many of your subscribers, I'm waiting with anticipation for your upcoming Bob Lutz interview.
I absolutely look forward to all your interviews and the in-depth look at cars ….. please keep going. Thank you Adam
It was nice of Dennis to acknowledge the contribution of all involved in the design rather than taking the credit as project leader. I'm sure his counterparts at Lincoln/Mercury and Ford were equally skeptical that their buyers would purchase a truck, but they did. Escalade lovers can therefore thank Lincoln/Mercury and Ford for their Navigator, proving the concept for GM to follow. Another great video, thanks, Dennis and Adam.
They could probably also thank the Yukon Denali design team as well as the Oldsmobile Bravada team and probably whoever was responsible for adding leather to the Jeep Grand Wagoneer and probably some chaps over at Range Rover as well....
Nice video describing the Origins of the Escalade. It explains why I saw so many Chevy pickups with Escalade front grills (and fenders /hoods to match)driving around about 10 years after the launch of the Escalade. Someone in the area must have been converting them.
I want your videos to get more views. These interviews, especially, bring me so much joy
These discussions are really great dives into the history of these vehicles, and are very fascinating. I would love to see a discussion on the Chevy Avalanche, seeing it mentioned in this episode.
Fantastic job. Bring back Dennis Burke.
Dennis is truly a treat to listen to and watch. You can definitely tell he was super proud of what his team did on this car, and that this isn’t his first presentation.
Fantastic interview! Mr. Burke is a true leader rather than simply a manager. Great conversation over an iconic vehicle. Thank you , Adam.
I love listening to these older designers. Such a great thing to record their thoughts and memories like this.
Always a pleasure to get the behind-the-scenes story from the original designer and see the development of the Escalade. Thanks to Mr. Burke for taking time for this interview and to Adam for bringing this to the viewers.
Thank you Adam for bringing in Mr. Dennis Burke. They really had a hit on their hands clearly. The vehicle is still thriving today this and influenced by the original vehicle. Today the exterior and interior are unique to Cadillac. Cadillac needed this vehicle. They basically repeated the success of the 1976 Cadillac Seville again. The Seville started the same way, but the made changes to pull it away from its Chevrolet roots. I like the fact he said it was a "team effort" and he was the coach. The designers sketches he shared worked at Oldsmobile just like Mr. Burke. That designer did the 1990 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme sedan. He said his name was Pete Lawlis. I liked seeing the sketches and the changes they made and the inner workings of the GM design studios. I liked also how given the restrictions, they were able to do so much. The Presidential limo has Escalade parts on it. Thank you so much again Adam.
So true, and I love the way he stuck with his big Emblem set.
A lesser man would have backed down or been intimidated. Looking back now, it's clear that small emblems would not have aged as well or distinguished as definitively.
Adam thank you for finally posting this interview with Dennis Burke. Good interview.
I have owned two escalades. My favorite was a 2008 EXT, what an awesome machine. Another historically relevant and excellent video!
Love these stories 😊
Great talk, thank you! The Escalade was (and is) a truly amazing vehicle.
Another terrific discussion Adam. After the first gen Escalade (aka Yukon Denali with a Cadillac crest), this gen 2 design really took the nameplate to something of an iconic status.
Side note, will the next Bob Lutz discussion be dropping soon?
These are absolutely tremendous. I love the behind-the-scenes stories and pictures of the design process, especially about such a loved and cherished American icon as the GMT800-generation Escalade.
I used to notice the prominent notches in the trim and cladding on Pontiacs back in the 90's. I think that's the kind of thing that designers and those who appreciate good design notice, but for most people it wouldn't really register, except maybe occasionally.
Another fascinating conversation! Thanks gents!!
What a great conversation about the design of the first Escalade, Adam! It was great to hear the details of design constraints that Dennis and his team were under, and to see some design photos. Please keep these conversations coming!
A true Leader. Great to here from these people.
Love the interaction between engineering and finance perspective - just priceless !
Thank you dennis
Wonderful, historically significant information about the development of a Cadillac super hit literally brought to life! Great job, Adam!
Brilliant, I love these talks with the designers.
These videos are epic Adam. Documanting automotive history once again...bravo!
These interviews with the designers are like Al Kaline of the Tigers, hitting a home run at the bottom of the 9th inning! Listening to Ernie Harwell anouncing the game on WJR! The best!! Adam, simply, so good these interviews! Thank you!!
Thank you Adam for getting these interviews made, and thank to Dennis and all of the other guests!
Timestamp 31:15 you hit the nail on the head. This truck was a "disguised" Chevy/GMC, nothing more. Dennis Burke said at the beginning of the video that this was a profit car for GM. Of course, it was. They could sell a disguised Chevy/GMC as a Cadillac for $15-30k more just by adding some cladding and a front fiberglass cap and oh, I almost forgot a 10-dollar clock. I have to tip my hat to the advertising team. How GM got away with it is beyond me. Clearly, they did not learn a thing from the 1983 article they just became much better at disguising their models. How sad is it that the brand Cadillac has been reduced to a disguised Chevy/GMC? What I found incredibly funny if you pull back the plastic disguise on the rear bumper you will find a Chevy/GMC bumper. I remember these vehicles back in the day and they did not fool me one bit. Great interview, Thanks, Adam!
Adam, please tell Mr. Burke for me that as an owner of a low mileage 03 Escalade, it is one of the best vehicles I've ever owned in 35 years of driving. His team hit a grand slam and yes, he was right on the Bulgari clock as to this day it's a conversation piece when someone gets into mine for the first time. Also, I noticed in one of his pictures the Escalade had 07-14 wheels on it, either 18 or 22 inches, which look fantastic. Might have to look into a set of them. Thank you
I am the owner of a low mileage 04 myself. I bought in 2017 just to have a third row seat for my young kids who had to have bulky car seats, so a 5 passenger car was not enough. I wanted to find a low mileage gmt 800 Tahoe. But all I found were 250k examples of higher. One day I found this one owner Escalade being sold by an older man’s estate sale only with 60k on it and I decided - what the hell. I’ll get the upscale Escalade then. And now 6 years later I love it and can’t ever image selling it. What a perfect mix of rugged no-nonsense reliable truck in the Chevy “bones” underneath, and just the right amount of luxury comfort added. So comfortable on the highway and even surprisingly easy around town.
Love these interviews! Keep them coming!
Thanks for a fascinating peek into a very challenging design process. I particularly enjoyed learning about the half-model on a mirror trick. Although I'm not the market that Cadillac designs SUV's for, these were and are very popular products. As the designer noted, this success was a team effort, and wouldn't have sold as well if the Chevy and GMC bones weren't already Cadillac quality machines. Great job, thanks again
I much enjoyed this discussion with Dennis. He gives us an inside look at the design process. I never was a fan of the body cladding but it did very well in disguising it from the Chevy and GMC. I hope Dennis is able to share more of his automotive design contributions on this channel in the future.
Totally dig this type of explanation! Thanks guys.
The fact that GM designers over the decades have been able to accomplish so many amazing vehicles and bring them to market is remarkable with GM's reputation for strict financial controls.
When the Escalade was a new vehicle I really didn't care for them, not because of the styling but because of the social status they seemed to convey. Now that it's been twenty years, I just see these as extremely handsome "trucks". The team did a great job transforming the platform into something so distinct.
my grandpa had an 02 escalade, such a great truck and we still have it today
he sold his 93 fleetwood a few years after he bought the escalade but man when he had both of those cadillacs in his driveway he looked like a king
I also enjoy seeing the sketches of other versions to see what could have been.
Thanks for an interesting and entertaining interview.
This was a great interview, with an insight to how a behemoth like GM reacts to trends in the automotive market. Dennis Burke was great at speaking to the design process that produced a new nameplate for Cadillac that is still around 20 plus years later.
Great watch, what a team. I always wondered why the Cadillac XLR always had a lesser engine compared to the Corvette, being a Cadillac, one would think its power would always be a bit more than the Vette.
They wanted it "all Cadillac" hence the Northstar. It's mission was different than the Corvette even though they shared the same platform.
@@rafaelfiallo4123 The XLR still looks good today, wish I had a XLR-V.......
Would be interesteing to talk sales and profit figures as part of this design conversation. How successful were these designs. I understand your time is limited in these interviews. I'm not complaining by any means. You do such a great job documenting all sorts of good stuff. Convo to mechanicals.
Great video gentleman 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Thank you, Dennis, for sharing the story of this vehicle. And thanks, Adam, for continuing to put out great content on this channel. "Badge engineering" is a subjective thing, and automakers have done it for decades. Spinning several vehicles off a single platform is just a logical choice from a business perspective. But while the infamous Cimarron is a testimonial to a badge- engineering FAIL, the 2002-2006 gen Escalade is a great example of how to do it right. My 2003 Escalade is still a favorite of the 30+ vehicles I've owned. It was much more distinctive and less of a "Tahoe-clone" than the 2007- gen III Escalade that followed.
Very interesting. When looking at just the yellow sections that could change though, you really have to shade half the doors due to the cladding overlay. If that wasn’t there it would have looked more generic.
I love these interviews! I just watched the interview with the Aurora, my favorite car I’ve ever owned. I’m very excited to watch this episode.
Great car & spectacular design achieved by only changing few panels on Tahoe. I love the fact they implemented initial design elements on 3rd Gen. Greetings from far Europe - Poland ;) There are fans of these cars here as well
Nothing turns heads like a shiny Caddy...
Great interview Adam!!
I think there were likely lots of buyers who still recognized the Escalade as a Chevrolet derivative, but just didn't mind. It's a big, brawny, and flashy vehicle and therefore a contemporary interpretation of an American luxury car.
Great stories. So interesting. Thanks to you and Dennis for your time and efforts. I ordered an '01 Suburban and drove it 215k before giving it to my daughter and her husband in 2016. They finally traded it at 315k in 2021. That was best car ever for me. More recently I have owned three Escalades. Two 3rd gen and a 4th gen. All great cars. I actually liked the 3rd gen, especially the 2014, the best. The 6.2 was always evident and eager without being overly intrusive. In the 4th gen it was quieter and more subdued. Still nice, just not as sporty. Now I am back in a new Silverado LTZ. Just feels right to me. Great truck. I sometimes miss that 2014, though. Mine had the dual exhausts and the burble around town in the evening with sunroof open was very satisfying.
Welcome back Dennis.
It was a good looking vehicle
It was a great looking vehicle!
Have one all original white pearl 2002 6.0 suv the short body AWD. Only the best, 20 years later and 200,000 miles and still running like new.
The creation of the legendary Escalade!
The 17 " wheel was the better wheel for ride quality !
Very curious as to how it goes down that designers, interior or exterior, will be "restricted" to certain areas. Who makes those decisions, and how are they presented. I guess this explains how the doors and interior doors skins on say, the 1985 Olds 98 and Buick Electra were mostly identical -- etc. But those have got to be some "exciting" meetings, lol. Great episode, thx.
The “badge engineering” phase of GM had reached a ridiculous stage in the ‘80s, but you can go back several decades and find shared door skins, roof panels, and chassis at least as early as the ‘50s. But those designers had much more freedom with fenders, hoods, grills, etc.
I believe basically it was time constrants--- --- GM had already designed the Chevy and GMC, so only whatever could done quickly, especially with the vendors in mind...
What was not yellow in that illustration was the structural core of the vehicle, and would require scrapping to redesign. All the yellow can be bolted on.
@@jamesengland7461 I'd still like to know who calls the shot, and who feels they know how much of the vehicle can be shared without compromising the brand. It's obviously an area of expertise that GM hasn't always mastered.
I really did like the GMT400 Escalades. Maybe I am in the minority on that opinion.
But I am also the biggest GMT800 homer, and I really loved that series of Escalade. The interior, although familiar to me with my Silverado, had some nice luxury touches over the trucks it was based on.
A lot of those luxury features swap easily into a truck interior, too!
I especially like the Esky gages in my son's 2000 Silverado LS.
I guess I have the bean counters to thank for that parts commonality!
2:40 I remember feeling the exact same way as a car enthusiast.
The Monte Carlo pic with the ridiculous wheels reminded me of something. About ten years ago, I was looking for a mid 80's or later Caprice. I saw an ad for one with 20 inch bright chrome wheels, with tires that had an almost non existent sidewall. It looked utterly absurd. I ended up buying another Caprice elsewhere. But if I had gone to look at the first one, I would have asked if he still had the stock wheels, and offered to let him keep the abominations.
Wheels have gotten too big. My 1996 Buick Roadmaster sedan has 15" wheels. It would be nice to have 17" wheels. Maybe 18".But putting anything bigger than that on it is too much. You need to have a decent amount of tire sidewall to keep the ride comfortable. Giant wheels with rubber bands for tires may look good in a parking lot. But they're horrible to drive and potholes become instant destruction. I'd love to have the Monte Carlo shown in the picture. But the first thing I would do is get rid of those wheels
Couldn't agree more. 15-17 is plenty for me.
My 98 Crown Vic came with 16" steelies with hubcaps. I replaced those with 18" 2014 Mustang GT take offs and it actually improved the ride, or it improved the handling so much it seemed like it improved everything else too. And it looked fantastic with my car painted black.
But I agree, anymore than that and it would have started becoming overkill.
That’s your opinion
Maybe your an L7
With regard to cost savings, did the Escalade need to be crash tested due to the new front end sheet metal or was it similar enough to the GMC/Chevrolet?
I suspect no because they used the old bumper system.
Having driven many of these I remember them first having a Silverado steering wheel with the cady logo pressed in the center hub. Then a gmc steering wheel with a plastic Cadillac logo. Along with them first having chronograph style cts gauges/Lexus is300 then after going with more conventional looking numbers on the gauges
Kool interview! Dennis and his team did a remarkable job on the transformation of what they started with. I drove a wagon at about the same time… I got a ‘68 Plymouth Satellite wagon for $425. I ran it from ‘01-‘14. The SUV’s to me just looked like big Station Wagons. 😀
I always liked the analog clock on our '12 Passat. It would get its time from the IP, so you only had to set the time in one place.
It's funny that they bring it up, because the Escalade is to this day quite literally a case study in "badge engineering". From it's inception to the current model year. Not to throw shade on this gentleman, because he seems perfectly nice, but an Escalade is essentially a grandiose facia, body cladding, fancy interiors on a Tahoe/Suburban (I like how they literally show the picture of a Tahoe) along with "the big motor" from the HD pickup truck line. Always have been and always will be. But who cares when the profit margin is so incredibly enormous. The public is effectively fooled into thinking they're buying something "special" or "premium", and the majority of Escalade buyers have so much money they don't really care anyway. They just need that badging in their driveway to show the Joneses whats up and when the lease is up - they go get the newest cartoon from Cadillac.
I would absolutely never buy one new, but I think it's not the worst car to buy used. I got an absolute steal on a Gen 3 from an older gentleman that had a full dealer service history, with fairly low miles. And, while I do believe it's an objectively gaudy vehicle, that's what I love about it.
Those were some great vehicles and decently priced. I think everyone was very thankful the Escalade was on the GMC/Chevy truck frame as a Northstar drivetrain would have been troubling in comparison.
The LQ9 was a great engine that really woke the Escalade up over the other SUV with 345hp and 380tq.
The front headlights and grille did put this on the map, the Navigator became obsolete over night haha I like the original 17" wheels personally.
He said Di Noc! Interesting history on 3M's Di Noc and GM going back to 1930s.
Shame on GM, you should have given them a bigger budget. The entire body including glass is the minimum. At this price point, no cladding, but stamped sheetmetal.
It was too late in the game-- they had to do it quickly--- that was the main constraint!
What a great interview with a really neat guy. Wonderful information. Close as you can get to making a silk purse out of a sow's ear and in only six months!
Great interview . Did he also design the 78 Monte Carlo ? obviously without the gigantic wheels
81
10:29 - The sketches look more like a mid-sized crossover than a full-sized truck-based SUV.
These poor designers were forced by the budget to resort to the school of "design by bling"
The infamous Fortune cover comparing GM cars... I have to say once again, and I have yet to have anyone address it, that the car in front is the discount Chevrolet Celebrity being compared to other larger, much more expensive GM cars in the same colour, not just the midsize and larger cars.
I've heard many times this being described as "the infamous cover that showed Buicks Oldsmobiles and Cadillacs that were indistinguishable" without recognising that a mid-compact Chevy, at half the cost, is front and center, and I guess that just proves the point of how similar in design these cars are.
But the Chevy Celebrity platform is distinct along with the Pontiac 6000, Oldsmobile Cutlass Ciera and Buick Century, which all had a 6 window greenhouse design (initially) but still the same vertical rear window, but was at least a little different from their larger siblings.
This design was never used on the larger GM sedans like the Delta Regency LeSabre Electra DeVille or Fleetwoods of this era.
Those are all A bodies on the cover. All the same wheelbase.
He’s right, I do see right through it and but it’s the ultimate GM Truck SUV! I see the best engineered, best looking, best spect vehicle that Cadillac makes.
Great interview. Even back then a time-consuming issue with the larger wheels would have been crash management, as the structure needs to be able to handle these relatively rigid objects in a frontal collision to prevent passenger compartment deformation and intrusion. There are very few non-aesthetic advantages to large wheels, and a number of dynamic disadvantages. I have purchased lower-trim vehicles on occasion specifically to avoid them.
I did the first potential buyer test drive, on the first Escalade EXT in the Pittsburgh area! I didn't like it. So I got that going for me!
What does Mr. Burke think of the design of the current Cadillac Escalade?