Cadillac has launched Curated by Cadillac, a new program that expands Cadillac Escalade IQ customization far beyond the standard factory options.
Customers can choose from more than 160 exterior colors and 44 interior colors, with several paint finishes available. Interior choices also extend to the carpeting and floor mats.
Cadillac assigns a personal concierge to each order, helping the customer work through the available combinations. The company says customized Escalade IQs will be hand-painted and hand-built by artisans, with each vehicle receiving a unique VIN and serialized builder’s plate.
The program costs $54,995 in addition to the price of the Escalade IQ.
More Than 160 Exterior Colors
The biggest difference between regular Escalade IQ ordering and Cadillac Escalade IQ customization is the exterior color selection.
Cadillac offers more than 160 exterior colors through Curated by Cadillac. Customers can also choose from different finishes, including gloss, metallic, matte and tri-coat.
That gives the customer control over both the color and finish instead of limiting the build to the standard paint choices offered with the regular Escalade IQ.
A matte finish, for example, gives the same color a completely different appearance from a gloss finish. Metallic and tri-coat options add further variation to the final specification.
Cadillac has not provided a complete public list of all 160-plus colors, but the program is clearly designed to offer combinations that are difficult to find on a standard Escalade IQ.
44 Interior Colors Extend to the Floor
The customization continues inside the SUV.
Curated by Cadillac offers 44 interior colors, and Cadillac allows those choices to extend to the floor mats and carpeting.
That gives customers more control over the entire cabin rather than limiting customization to the seats or dashboard.
The exterior and interior selections can be combined according to the customer’s preferred specification. Cadillac’s concierge remains involved during this process and can provide recommendations when particular combinations do not work well together.
The company says the concierge may even try to steer a customer away from a combination that does not meet its design standards.
A Cadillac Concierge Guides Each Build
The Cadillac Escalade IQ customization process includes a dedicated Cadillac concierge.
The concierge works with the customer from the start of the build through the final specification. Instead of choosing from a conventional online list of factory options, the customer gets direct assistance with the larger range of colors and finishes.
This also gives Cadillac an opportunity to review unusual combinations before production.
The concierge is not simply there to process an order. Cadillac describes the service as part of the overall customization experience, with the company’s representative helping the customer create a finished vehicle that meets Cadillac’s standards.
Customized Escalade IQs Are Hand-Painted
Cadillac is using a specialized production process for Curated by Cadillac vehicles.
The company says each customized Escalade IQ is hand-painted to Cadillac’s appearance and quality standards.
The vehicles are also hand-built by artisans.
Cadillac plans to keep production at ultra-low volume, so the program will not produce large numbers of identical custom configurations.
This production approach is one of the main differences between Curated by Cadillac and a regular Escalade IQ order. The program is built around individual specifications rather than simply adding a few extra options to a vehicle already configured for standard production.
Every Vehicle Gets a Unique VIN and Builder’s Plate
Cadillac is giving each Curated by Cadillac vehicle its own identification details.
Every customized Escalade IQ receives a unique VIN and an exclusive serialized builder’s plate.
The plate identifies the individual build and adds a permanent detail specific to that vehicle.
The combination of the unique VIN, serialized plate, hand-painted finish and hand-built production gives each Curated by Cadillac Escalade IQ a distinct identity within the broader Escalade IQ lineup.
The Program Brings Celestiq-Style Personalization to the Escalade IQ
Cadillac’s approach is similar to the personalization available with the Celestiq, the brand’s ultra-exclusive electric vehicle.
The Celestiq was designed around highly personalized customer specifications. Curated by Cadillac brings some of that approach to the Escalade IQ without requiring customers to move into Cadillac’s most exclusive vehicle.
The Escalade IQ remains the same electric SUV underneath. The difference is the way Cadillac handles the appearance and ordering process.
More exterior colors, more interior combinations, multiple finishes and individual production allow customers to create specifications that are not part of the standard Escalade IQ catalog.
Cadillac Escalade IQ Customization Costs $54,995
The program has a substantial additional charge.
Cadillac Escalade IQ customization costs $54,995, before the price of the Escalade IQ itself.
That is considerably more than a normal exterior paint or interior option. The price reflects the additional design choices, concierge service and specialized production involved in each Curated by Cadillac build.
A customer ordering a standard Escalade IQ can continue to use the regular factory options without paying the Curated by Cadillac charge.
The $54,995 program is aimed at people who specifically want a highly individualized vehicle and are willing to pay for the additional work.
The Escalade IQ Is the Only Model in the Program
Cadillac currently offers Curated by Cadillac only on the Escalade IQ.
The company has not confirmed whether the program will expand to other Cadillac models.
That leaves the Escalade IQ as Cadillac’s only vehicle with access to this particular customization process.
The choice fits the vehicle’s position in Cadillac’s lineup. The Escalade name already occupies the top end of the company’s SUV range, while the IQ version adds Cadillac’s electric powertrain to that family.
What Curated by Cadillac Includes
The Cadillac Escalade IQ customization program includes several parts that are not available through the standard ordering process.
- More than 160 exterior colors
- 44 interior colors
- Gloss, metallic, matte and tri-coat exterior finishes
- Interior color choices for carpeting and floor mats
- Dedicated Cadillac concierge
- Hand-painted exterior finish
- Hand-built production
- Unique VIN
- Serialized builder’s plate
- Ultra-low-volume production
The program changes the vehicle’s appearance and production process rather than its mechanical specification.
Cadillac has not announced a special powertrain or performance upgrade as part of Curated by Cadillac. The purpose of the program is personalization.
Cadillac Has Not Confirmed an Expansion to Other Models
The Cadillac Escalade IQ customization program is currently limited to one vehicle.
Cadillac has not said whether customers will eventually be able to order other models through Curated by Cadillac.
The Escalade IQ program gives Cadillac a way to offer a factory-backed bespoke experience without relying on outside customization companies. Customers can work directly with Cadillac, choose from a much larger color palette and receive a vehicle that is hand-painted and hand-built in very small numbers.
The $54,995 charge makes the program expensive, but the offering goes well beyond a conventional paint-and-trim package. Each build receives concierge assistance, expanded exterior and interior choices, specialized finishing, a unique VIN and a serialized builder’s plate.
That is the core of Cadillac Escalade IQ customization: a standard Escalade IQ can be ordered through Cadillac’s normal process, while Curated by Cadillac gives customers the ability to create a much more individual specification and have it built in limited numbers.
FAQs
What is Cadillac Escalade IQ customization?
Cadillac Escalade IQ customization is part of Cadillac’s Curated by Cadillac program, which lets customers specify custom exterior and interior colors, finishes and other design details for the electric SUV.
How many exterior colors are available for the Escalade IQ?
The Curated by Cadillac program offers more than 160 exterior colors, with finishes including gloss, metallic, matte and tri-coat.
How many interior colors can Escalade IQ customers choose from?
Customers can choose from 44 interior colors, with customization extending to the carpeting and floor mats.
How much does Cadillac Escalade IQ customization cost?
The Curated by Cadillac program costs $54,995 in addition to the price of the Escalade IQ.
Are customized Escalade IQ models hand-built?
Yes. Cadillac says Curated by Cadillac vehicles are hand-painted and hand-built by artisans and receive a unique VIN and serialized builder’s plate.
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