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Originally set to hit sales lots for the 2008 model year, the Cadillac Escalade
Hybrid had a few last tweaks to make and will not be available until the fall of
2008 for the 2009 model year. Though many hybrid SUV models on the market only
boast a slight increase in fuel economy, the Escalade Hybrid is said to have a
25% overall improvement in its fuel efficiency. Also, the two-mode hybrid system
emits significantly fewer pollutants into the environment.
It was an uphill battle for Cadillac to create the first ever full-size luxury
hybrid model for the American market. Concerns regarding the rapid advancement
of hybrid technology and widespread appeal caused the maker to put a hold on the
model's release. Nevertheless, the development team for the Escalade Hybrid
weathered the storm and ended up with an environmentally friendly model that is
sure to please both the common consumer and eco-conscious buyer.
Equipped with the most advanced in hybrid machinery, the Cadillac Escalade
surpasses the existing alternative fuel models. The two-mode hybrid transmission
can run on either electricity or gasoline. Not only that, when necessary, it
will power itself by using both. With regenerative braking the Escalade Hybrid
virtually powers itself. This system creates energy and stores it in the battery
every time the brake pedal is pressed.
However, the Cadillac Escalade Hybrid does not sacrifice power for environmental
friendliness. A 332 horsepower V8 engine provides ample power for this full-size
SUV. Nevertheless, there are some critics that say that a V8 engine is not truly
hybrid. Also, some reviewers claim that Cadillac is being self-aggrandizing by
placing large HYBRID badging on either side of the model.
The Cadillac Escalade Hybrid has made the celebrity circuit by showing at the
world-renowned Tribeca Film Festival. Several clever short films starring the
Escalade Hybrid have been released on YouTube.com, giving the Escalade Hybrid an
already solid younger fan base. Overall, the general take on the new Cadillac
Escalade Hybrid has been hesitant. Some are concerned that branding a full-size
SUV that gets 20 city MPG and 21 highway MPG as "hybrid" is misleading, and
others are worried that potential buyers will think they are making a smaller
imprint on the environment by purchasing this model. Though, in reality, the
amount of metal that is used to make the model and the cost to repair this
particular hybrid system far exceeds that of the modern compact car.
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