 2012 Cadillac Escalade SLP Supercharged Sport Edition. Click image to enlarge |
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Review and photos by James Bergeron
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2012 Cadillac Escalade SLP Supercharged Sport Edition
What has four 22-inch wheels, seven seats, 525 horsepower and a rear entertainment system for the kiddies? None other than the SLP tuned Cadillac Escalade SuperCharged Sport Edition, of course!
When explaining to people I was driving the 2012 Cadillac Escalade SuperCharged Sports Edition by SLP, many looked at me with a blank stare, some crooked their neck in a confused sort of way and a few quipped, “That’s gotta be great on gas, eh?” But SLP has created this Escalade to cater to a different crowd. Ottawa is known as the “sleepy” city, with government jobs and low-key automotive tastes. Sure, there are a few modified cars and a few lifted trucks, but the conservative nature of our automotive landscape is obvious.
But that did not stop the stares (disapproving or approving — I can never be sure) as I cruised around in this as-tested $109,778 CAD super machine. The heart of the beast is the SLP TVS 2300 Supercharged 6.2-litre V8 engine, boosting output from a stock Cadillac Escalade’s 6.2-litre V8’s 403 horsepower to 525 and from a measly 365 lb-ft of torque to a push-you-back-in-your-seat 517, all this while maintaining the full powertrain warranty. Consider this the Escalade ‘V’ we’ve been waiting for.
  2012 Cadillac Escalade SLP Supercharged Sport Edition. Click image to enlarge |
A true performance version of “pimp my ride,” the SLP packages are focused on performance first and appearance second. Despite this, SLP still offers a great balance between the two, with optional appearance and performance packages on top of its basic upgrade. The 525-horsepower Escalade base package is $18,995 USD — with you supplying the Escalade. This package includes the aforementioned SLP TVS 2300 supercharger, Blackwing cold air induction system, SLP Powerflo axle-back exhaust system with dual/dual stainless tips, SLP custom tune, SLP RTM hood, badges, dash plaque, floor mats and embroidered head rests.
SLP customers can individualize their baby with a slew of other performance and visual packages, including Brembo brakes and more chrome. My tester came packed with extras: an SLP RTM hood with polycarbonate insert and two chrome-finish grilles, Cadillac Platinum Edition upper and lower front grille with fascia assembly, body coloured side skirts, SLP 22-inch wheels with Michelin Latitude Tour 295/20/22 tires and an alignment package with front lowering springs and front and rear sway bars. All of these goodies come in at an additional $12,523 USD — a little dear for me, but I suspect I’m not the target buyer here.
As one would expect, with the combination of shoving more air inside an engine, a heavy foot and a short time frame to enjoy a vehicle — fuel savings were not so high on the priority list. Somehow I still managed to achieve a respectable 16.3L/100km over a week of driving. Considering Natural Resources Canada rates the basic Escalade at 15.3/10.0 L/100 km (city/highway), and that I have achieved worse in lesser vehicles, I’d say well done!
The target buyer for this truck is a through-and-through truck guy or gal who wants something different — something modified and something with a full manufacturer’s warranty. This ideal shopper may even decide they’d rather have SLP’s available 700-horsepower monster. Or they may take SLP up on the offer to have these same packages mated to the Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon, extended/crew cab Silverado and Sierra.
   2012 Cadillac Escalade SLP Supercharged Sport Edition. Click image to enlarge |
But let’s focus on my tester: the interior is, for the most, part all Cadillac. Very spacious, vault-like quiet on the road with zero wind and very little road noise, and luxurious trim throughout. SLP touches include the embroidered headrests and dash plaque with Sport Edition Supercharged displayed prominently for your passengers to ogle. But it isn’t so much what’s inside of the cabin that matters, as much as what is under the hood and how that makes this machine get up and go.
And get up and go it does! As tested recently by Edmunds Inside Line, this Escalade can do a zero to 100 km/h run in about 5.5 seconds. My unscientific test showed an even more important 80 – 120 km/h sprint that passes by in around four seconds. Keep your right foot tamed and not much changes from the base Escalade, but if you happen to flinch your big-toe, the whine of the supercharger comes alive and the speedometer seemingly flashes forward faster than the tachometer.
The sheer size of this vehicle isolates you somewhat from the adrenaline rush typically reserved for vehicles with this much performance; lose concentration by changing the radio station, and 100 km/h becomes 140 in a hurry if you are not careful. It is fast, but oddly enough, you don’t feel out of control even though you are piloting a vehicle that weighs over 2,500 kilograms (5,500 lbs). The 22-inch tires with sticky Michelin rubber help keep you planted and the positive feedback from the firm yet controllable brake pedal ensures that despite the massive speed potential, you can always slow down even more quickly — if you so desire.
One would expect that driving the vehicle around corners would be an exercise in futility — but one would, surprisingly, be incorrect. Sure, it’s no Lotus Elise, and steering feel is basically non-existent, but this Escalade grips like no vehicle of this size should. I will not lie — it took me three days before I felt comfortable driving it like I would a sports car, but after watching the Inside Line slalom test I braved a few corners, at some ridiculous speeds, and realized this is one Escalade worthy of a performance badge.
Thanks Automobiles Paille Inc. in Berthierville, Quebec for allowing me to hoon in this vehicle for the week!
