Drew Dowdell

October 9th, 2013

Drew Dowdell

Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com

Toyota announced reduced pricing of the 2014 Prius Plug-In today with a drop of over $2,000 from last year's base price. Coming in at $29,990 before delivery charge, Toyota is not making any reductions in equipment or appointments.

In fact, Toyota has added two features to the Prius Plug-In for 2014, these include:

• Heated cloth front seats standard
  
• Remote climate - the ability to activate their air conditioning remotely - standard on Plug-In
  

The upper trip Prius Plug-In Advanced adds:

• Hard Drive base Navigation with Entune Infotainment and JBL Sound System
  
• Softex-trimmed heated front seats
  
• 8-way power driver seat
  
• Heads Up Display
  

An optional technology package for the Prius Plug-In Advance includes Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System, and LED headlights and fog lights.

The Prius Plug-In qualifies for a federal tax credit of $2,500 and a California rebate of $1,500, making the Prius Plug-In effective base price $27,490* in most states and $25,990* in California. For now, the Prius Plug-In is only available in 15 states (California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Hawaii)

*Prices before destination charge.

Toyota Press Release is on Page 2

Drew Dowdell is Managing Editor of CheersandGears.com and can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter as @cheersngears

2014 Toyota Prius Plug-In to Start Under $30,000

TORRANCE, Calif., Oct. 9, 2013 – It just got a little easier for drivers to maximize their fuel savings and be environmentally responsible.

Toyota’s most advanced technology passenger car, the Prius Plug-in, will be available to customers at a substantially reduced price beginning with the 2014 model year.

Toyota has reduced MSRP on the 2014 Prius Plug-in Hybrid by over $2,000, making the starting MSRP $29,990 (excluding DPH). This price repositioning on the base Prius Plug-in Hybrid is not accompanied by any reduction in vehicle content.

The 2014 Prius Plug-in Hybrid is well-equipped (similar to a Prius Three), but adds these appealing features:

• Heated cloth front seats – a unique standard feature available only on Prius Plug-in
  
• Remote Climate – a feature that allows customers to activate their A/C remotely (standard on Prius Plug-in, available on Prius Three)
  
• Ability to drive extended distances in EV Mode, helping to increase fuel efficiency
  
• Unique 10-spoke alloy wheels
  
• 1 additional year of Roadside Assistance through ToyotaCare, for a total of 3 year
  

Pricing for the 2014 Prius Plug-in Advanced model has also been adjusted to make the model more accessible to consumers with a $4,620 reduction in MSRP to $34,905 (excluding DPH). The Prius Plug-in Advanced will still offer popular features including:

• Premium HDD Navigation with Entune^® App Suite (including Plug-in Hybrid Applications) and JBL
  
• SofTex-trimmed heated front seats
  
• 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support
  
• Head-Up Display
  
• Safety Connect
  

The 2014 Prius Plug-in Advanced will offer DRCC (Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, PCS (Pre-Collision System), LED headlights and fog lights as part of an optional Technology Package for customers seeking the highest level of technology.

Production of the 2014 model year Prius Plug-in begins in October with pricing taking effect when these models arrive in showrooms in November.The Prius Plug-in qualifies for a Federal Tax Credit of up to $2,500 in addition to the State of California’s Clean Vehicle Rebate Program (CVRP) which offers a $1,500 rebate. Information about the Federal Tax credit and vehicle eligibility can be found on: http://www.irs.gov/businesses/article/0,,id=219867,00.html

The 2014 Prius Plug-in is also eligible for the State of California’s HOV lane sticker (www.arb.ca.gov/msprog/carpool/carpool.htm). The Prius Plug-in is available in 15 states (California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and Hawaii). For special deals in your local area, please visit www.buyatoyota.com.

Grade

Engine/ Trans.

Highlight Features

13MY MSRP

14MY MSRP

MSRP $ Change

MSRP % Change

Plug-in Hybrid

1.8-liter HSD/

E-CVT

Display Audio with Navigation, Entune App Suite and backup camera; USB/Aux and Bluetooth; unique 15” alloy wheels, Smart Key System on 3 doors and Push Button Start; heated front seats; Remote Climate; HSD blue accent headlights and exclusive Plug-in Hybrid badging; additional year of Roadside Assistance through ToyotaCare

$32,000

$29,990*

-$2,010

-6.3%

Plug-in

Hybrid Advanced

1.8-liter HSD/

E-CVT

Prius Plug-in Hybrid plus:

Premium HDD Navigation with Entune App Suite (including Plug-in Hybrid Applications) and JBL, SofTex-trimmed heated front seats, 8-way power-adjustable driver’s seat with power lumbar support, Head-Up Display, Safety Connect

$39,525

$34,905*

-$4,620

-11.7%

*Prices in Hawaii will vary.

Name

Description

MSRP

Technology Package (available on Prius Plug-in Advanced)

Dynamic Radar Cruise Control, Pre-Collision System, LED Headlights and Fog Lights

$2,610

Special color

Blizzard Pearl

$395

October 7, 2013

Drew Dowdell

Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade will be revealed today at 7:30pm. The live stream is below and we will update this article with pictures and details as they are released.

2015 Cadillac Escalade Live Reveal

Major Points:

• New 6.2L V-8 engine with 420hp and 460 lb-ft of torque
  
• Engine features Active Fuel Management with direct injection
  
• Automatic Locking Rear Differential Standard
  
• Magnetic Ride Control Standard
  
• 12.3 inch digital gauge cluster
  
• Full LED exterior lighting
  

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade goes into production in Spring of 2014. The full press release is available on page 2.

Press Release on Page 2

Craftsmanship Defines All-New 2015 Cadillac Escalade

• Precisely crafted interior with more technology
  
• Emotional design evolution complemented by quieter cabin, smoother performance and more efficient powertrain
  
• Higher levels of luxury, with sophisticated new technology for safety and connectivity
  

NEW YORK – Cadillac today introduced the all-new 2015 Escalade, a sophisticated luxury SUV designed to establish new benchmarks for hand-tailored craftsmanship and technology.

The fourth-generation Escalade is an entirely new design yet instantly recognizable. Much of the story of Cadillac’s redesigned flagship SUV is on the interior, where new levels of luxury combine with the latest technology.

“Cadillac’s growth provides the ideal stage for the all-new Escalade to take a major leap forward,” said Bob Ferguson, senior vice president, Global Cadillac. “The 2015 Escalade is completely new and elevated in design and technology, inside and out. The clear objective is to once again assume the leadership position among luxury SUVs.”

From its introduction, Escalade quickly became the standard among luxury SUVs with a formula of bold design, powerful capability and luxurious accommodations for up to eight occupants. Three succeeding generations led luxury SUV customers to confer icon status on it. The 2015 Escalade takes design and technical elements from Cadillac’s product expansion to elevate the brand’s signature SUV.

Production of the 2015 Escalade begins next spring in Arlington, Texas. The product line will consist of the standard Escalade model, as well as the extended-length ESV edition, with offers a 14-inch-longer (355 mm) wheelbase and approximately 20 inches (508 mm) more in overall length, maximizing space for third-row passengers and 60 percent more cargo space behind the third-row seat than the Escalade. .

Offered with 2WD and 4WD drivetrains, Escalade features a new 6.2L V-8 engine that is more powerful and more efficient than previous models. Cadillac’s Magnetic Ride Control, the world’s fastest-reacting suspension system, is now standard and delivers precisely controlled driving performance.

The exterior features crisp, new and more sophisticated surfaces, accented by dramatic light-emitting diode, or LED, lighting.

The new interior features cut-and-sewn and wrapped materials, with wood trim options chosen for elegance and authenticity. Seats were engineered to be more comfortable and sculpted in appearance. The new interior is dramatically quieter, too, thanks to a stronger new body structure, new and enhanced acoustic material, and Bose Active Noise Cancellation technology.

CUE, Cadillac’s advanced system for connectivity and control, is standard featuring state-of-the-art voice recognition with touch controls common with the world’s most popular tablets and mobile devices. A standard 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster can be reconfigured with four themes and an available head-up display projects information onto the windshield. An available Blu-Ray DVD rear entertainment system includes a nine-inch, roof-mounted screen on Escalade and two nine-inch screens on Escalade ESV.

The front seating area offers more than 1.5 inches (44 mm) more headroom and more than four inches (101 mm) of additional legroom compared to previous models while the second- and third-row seats fold flat for greater cargo versatility – and a segment-first hands-free liftgate includes programmable height settings.

Escalade’s new technologies include safety features to help protect occupants before, during and after a collision, such as Front and Rear Automatic Braking, which relies on short-range radar technology and ultrasonic sensors to help the driver avoid front and rear low-speed collisions via a progression of alerts that extend to complete braking, if necessary.

Also new is the segment’s only Front Seat Center-Mounted air bag, which is engineered to provide additional protection to drivers and front passengers in far-side impact crashes, where the affected occupant is on the opposite, non-struck side of the vehicle.

A Driver Awareness package includes Forward Collision Alert, Lane Departure Warning System, and the patented Safety Alert Seat, which offers directional vibrations to alert the driver about potential crash threats. A Driver Assist package adds Full Speed Range Adaptive Cruise Control, Front and Rear Automatic Braking, Automatic Collision Preparation and Automatic Safety Belt Tightening.

Additionally, Side Blind Zone Alert, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Lane Change Alert are standard on Luxury and Premium models.

Crafted interior

Craftsmanship defines the 2015 Escalade’s passenger space, designed to be one of the industry’s most authentic and luxurious cabins mixed with seamless technology integration for today’s connected luxury customers.

Real wood combined with premium cut-and-sewn materials and sueded accents, along with ambient lighting, were designed to add elegance to the interior design. Tight tolerances of the instrument panel and door panels, precision controls and triple-sealed doors were engineered and designed to reinforce a feeling of quality.

“An exceptional level of craftsmanship has gone into the redesign of the 2015 Cadillac Escalade, and it all centers on the premium materials and extensive use of cut-and-sew live stitching – the way fine furniture is produced,” said Eric Clough, director of design, Cadillac Interiors. “We designed Escalade with what we call the beauty of contrast. It offers a distinctive combination of bold, truck-like character, but also the refinement of the Cadillac form vocabulary and technology.”

The seats were designed to be more comfortable and sculpted in appearance with a reclining second row. The design incorporates dual-firmness foam that ensures long-trip comfort and helps retain appearance over time.

Heated and cooled seats are standard in front and second-row bucket seats have standard heat. The available second-row bench has heated outboard seats now reclines.

Intuitive technology

Technology is integral to the Escalade’s driving experience. New and enhanced features

help make what already was one of the industry’s most-connected vehicles more intuitive.

For the first time, Escalade will feature CUE standard. The eight-inch center screen uses capacitive touch technology and gesture recognition, enabling tapping and swiping common to smartphones and tablets. CUE uses proximity sensors to activate common options and controls as the user’s hand approaches. An expanded “favorites” section offers quick access to phone contacts, navigation destinations – even digital music – in the same one-touch form as traditional radio presets.

The instrument cluster features a standard, reconfigurable, high-resolution 12.3-inch digital driver information center display paired with Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system. Key data also is displayed on an available, full-color head-up display. Along with vehicle systems information, the color driver information center also provides details on the audio, Bluetooth phone and navigation systems, and they can be easily adjusted via steering wheel controls.

Precise exterior

The new Escalade’s exterior advances a 15-year legacy of design distinction with evolved character cues designed to add sophistication. Full LED lighting creates a bold new interpretation of Cadillac’s vertical light signature.

The headlamps incorporate the industry’s first Total Internal Reflection LED high-beam function, which consists of four vertically stacked crystal lenses and LEDs. The low beam consists of five crystal lenses and LEDs that create the light pattern. The Cadillac script is branded in the headlamp bezel. Tall, thin vertical LED taillamps reach to the top of the Escalade and feature the brand’s wreath-and-crest insignia, which illuminates in the dark. Escalade also features LED-illuminated door handles on the Premium Collection.

“The new Escalade’s surfacing is sophisticated, and the sectioning of the body exudes more emotion to forge a new presence for Cadillac’s iconic SUV,” said Bob Boniface, design director, Cadillac Exteriors. “Our designers worked with the studio sculptors closer than ever to translate a two-dimensional vision into a three-dimensional representation that captures your attention from afar, and then pulls you in with beautiful details in the lamps, door handles and wheels.”

New inlaid doors fit into the body side openings instead of over the top of the body, significantly reducing wind noise and contributing to improved aerodynamics that help the vehicles slip through the air on the highway with less wind drag. Active air shutters close in front of the condenser/radiator assembly at certain highway speeds to improve aerodynamics for greater efficiency. A lightweight aluminum hood and liftgate panels reduce overall mass.

Body panel gaps are tighter throughout. The new liftgate is designed to be sleeker in appearance integrates the rear window wiper into the spoiler.

“Moving the rear wiper to the top of the glass and packaging it within the contours of the spoiler resulted in a clean appearance and improved visibility,” said Boniface. “It is an example of the attention to detail in the new Escalade.”

Performance and driving experience

The performance threshold for the 2015 Escalade lineup rises with an all-new, more efficient 6.2L V-8 engine rated at an SAE-certified 420 horsepower (313 kW) and 460 lb-ft of torque (623 Nm) – a nearly 5-percent increase in horsepower and 10 percent more torque. The greater torque delivers an enhanced feeling of power on demand, particularly from a standstill and at low speeds.

The new 6.2L features state-of-the-art technologies, including direct injection, Active Fuel Management, or cylinder deactivation, continuously variable valve timing and an advanced combustion system, designed to make the most of power, torque and efficiency across a broad range of operating conditions. More precisely controlled combustion enables Escalade to run with a higher compression ratio, which delivers greater power and greater expected efficiency.

The engine is matched with the Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission with enhanced TapShift control.

Escalade’s performance is channeled to a more sophisticated chassis and suspension system, engineered for a greater feeling of solidity and a quieter, smoother ride. A fully boxed frame – composed of more than 75 percent high-strength steel – is the foundation for its ride quality. New shear-style body mounts help reduce vibrations transmitted into the vehicle.

Additional chassis and suspension highlights include:

• Coil-over-shock front suspension and five-link/coil-spring rear suspension
  
• Wider rear track that contributes to a more planted stance
  
• Standard 20-inch wheels and available 22-inch wheels
  
• New, electric variable-assist power steering system that enhances fuel economy and tailors steering assist to vehicle speed
  
• New 9.5-inch rear axle and standard automatic locking rear differential
  
• StabiliTrak electronic stability control, incorporating tow/haul mode, auto grade braking and hill start assist
  
• New four-wheel-disc brake system with Duralife™ brake rotors that offer up to double the service life, along with brake pedal revisions engineered to improve pedal feel for more confident braking performance
  
• Third-generation magnetic ride control is standard with Tour and Sport modes.
  

Magnetic Ride Control is a real-time damping system that delivers more precise body motion control by “reading” the road every millisecond. Damping can go from full force to lowest force in a few milliseconds, or within three inches of road travel. It replaces conventional mechanical-valve shocks with electronically controlled shocks filled with a magneto-rheological fluid containing minute iron particles. Under the presence of a magnetic field, the iron particles align to provide damping resistance almost instantly.

Security measures

The new Escalade has been designed with greater security features to thwart theft attempts, including an intrusion sensor, inclination sensor and glass breakage sensors. Along with triggering the vehicle’s alarm systems, some of the features shut down key control systems to make it almost impossible to start or move the vehicle. The security features are supported by OnStar Stolen Vehicle Assistance, which can help police locate the vehicle.

Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring dramatic design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac's media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com.

# # #

PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

Overview

Models:

2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV

Construction:

body on frame

Manufacturing location:

Arlington, Texas

Powertrain

EcoTec3 6.2L V-8 FlexFuel (L86)

Fuel delivery:

direct fuel injection with Active Fuel Management

Horsepower (hp / kW @ rpm):

420 / 313 @ 5600 (SAE certified)

Torque (lb-ft / Nm @ rpm):

460 / 623 @ 4100 (SAE certified)

Estimated fuel economy:

TBD

Transmission:

Hydra-Matic 6L80 6-speed auto.

Final drive ratio:

3.42 Chassis / Suspension & Brakes

Front:

SLA independent suspension with Magnetic Ride Control

Rear:

5-link, solid axle with Magnetic Ride Control

Steering type:

electric power-assisted rack-and-pinion

Brakes:

power-assisted, four-wheel disc, four-wheel ABS, with Duralife™ rotors; vented front and rear rotors

Wheel size & type / tire size:

20 x 9.0-in. aluminum / P275/55R20

22 x 9.5-in. aluminum / P285/45R22

Exterior

Escalade

Escalade ESV

Wheelbase (in / mm):

116 / 2946

130 / 3302

Overall length (in / mm):

203.9 / 5180

224.3 / 5698

Overall width (in / mm):

80.5 / 2044

80.5 / 2044

Overall height (in / mm)

74.4 / 1889

74.0 / 1880

Front track (in / mm):

68.7 / 1744

68.7 / 1744

Rear track (in / mm):

68.7 / 1744

68.7 / 1744 Interior

First Row

Second Row

Third Row

Headroom (in / mm):

Escalade: 42.8 / 1087

Escalade ESV: 42.8 / 1087

Escalade: 38.7 / 983

Escalade ESV: 39.1 / 993

Escalade: 38.1 / 967

Escalade ESV: 38.5 / 978

Legroom (in / mm):

Escalade: 45.3 / 1150

Escalade ESV: 45.3 / 1150

Escalade: 39.0 / 990

Escalade ESV: 39.7 / 1008

Escalade: 24.8 / 630

Escalade ESV: 34.5 / 876

Max cargo room – seats folded (cu ft / L):

Escalade: 94.2 / 2667

Escalade ESV: 120.5 / 3412

Escalade: 51.6 / 1461

Escalade ESV: 76.5 / 2166

Escalade: 15.3 / 433

Escalade ESV: 38.7 / 1096

Capacities

Escalade

Escalade ESV

Curb weight (lb / kg):

5603 / 2541 (2WD w/ 20-in. wheels)

5845 / 2651 (4WD w/ 20-in. wheels)

5827 / 2643 (2WD w/ 20-in. wheels)

6086 / 2760 (4WD w/ 20-in. wheels)

Max trailer towing (lb / kg):

8200 / 3719 (2WD)

8000 / 3628 (4WD)

8000 / 3628 (2WD)

7700 / 3492 (4WD)

Note: Information shown is current at the time of publication. See media.gm.com for updates.