2002 Cadillac Escalade EXT

A Caddy truck? Yup, it's true. We blew the whistle on the cover of our Jan. 2000 issue, and the just-introduced '02 Cadillac Escalade EXT has proven we had it right. The Wreath and Crest crew's first-ever sport/utility truck (SUT) is built on the GMT800 chassis (which also lives under the Escalade's corporate cousin, the upcoming Chevrolet Avalanche) and subscribes to the current four doors/shortbed fad. From its newly traditional grille-which foreshadows the look of Cadillac's future design themes-to its reconfigurable midgate, the EXT is set to go toe to toe with the also-new Lincoln Blackwood.

Cadillac's biggest challenge in developing a product such as the EXT is differentiating it from its Chevy and GMC truck-platformmates. That's accomplished reasonably well in this case, as the interior is packed with GM's best wood and leather, as well as a fresh gauge package. Though the basic shape is shared with the Chevy Avalanche, the front fascias, bumpers, and cladding are all EXT specific-as is the Caddy-model-only 6.0L/345-hp V-8.

The current Escalade sport/utility went on sale in January 2001; for '02, the EXT will be one of four models built: all-wheel-drive and two-wheel-drive versions of the SUV, a Middle East export version (no surprise there), and the object of our attention, the EXT truck variant. Assembled in Silao, Mexico, the EXT seats five in high comfort, while the 5-ft-3-in.-long cargobox will haul a lot of golf clubs. Need more room? Fold the manually operated midgate (a hinged rear bulkhead panel) into the interior, remove the rear window, and pull the hard cargo cover off-opening up the cargobox length to 8 ft 1 in. Toss in another hay bail, er, pallet of Dom.

You'll need a full-size garage, too: This much on-road presence weighs in at 5752 lb, rides atop a 130-in. wheelbase, and stands 6 ft 3 in. tall. Utilizing a fully boxed, ladder-type frame, the EXT incorporates full-time all-wheel drive, with a 38/62-percent front/rear torque split. This system is fully straightforward in operation, with no transfer case or low range capability. Note that the Lincoln Blackwood, the EXT's direct competitor, is only available in two-wheel-drive form.

To justify the "sport" in SUT, the EXT benefits from the same 6.0L iron-block V-8 as does the Escalade. This impressive engine, which shares a considerable amount of its architecture with the LS1 unit found in the Corvette, produces 345 hp at 5200 rpm. Its 380 lb-ft of torque will be useful for sprinting to the mall-or towing up to 8000 lb. With the full slate of General Motors' electronic goodies, such as StabiliTrak, OnStar, Virtual Advisor, and Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist (radar), the EXT even meets ULEV emissions requirements. Four-wheel disc brakes and ABS will be standard.

Inside, the Escalade EXT is pure Cadillac: plush leather seats, power everything (except for the rear window and midgate), and high-watt Bose stereo-features the intended target demographic profile expects from Cadillac. While prices have not yet been announced, expect the EXT to start in the low $50s, albeit just about fully loaded for that. The EXT not only allows you to now use Cadillac and pickup in the same sentence: They can also fill the same spot in the garage.