For Release: Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, 9 a.m. EST
Electrifying Craftsmanship: A Look at the
2015 Escalade’s LED Exterior Lighting
Designers drew inspiration from Manhattan skyscrapers.
DETROIT – The all-new 2015 Cadillac Escalade’s exterior design uses
architecture-influenced approaches to take its unmistakable appearance to a
new level of sophistication while the brand’s heritage and the powerful
appearance of modern urban buildings inspired a bold new interpretation of
Cadillac’s vertical light signature.
“The 2015 Escalade exterior light signature draws inspiration from a variety
of sources, beginning with Cadillac’s heritage of vertical exterior lamps and
extending into architecture,” said Exterior Lighting Design Manager Martin
Davis. “Iconic buildings, like the Hearst Tower in New York City, were a big
inspiration due to the interplay of glass and metal.”
Vertical lighting, a Cadillac signature since 1948, remains a vital and everevolving theme for designers today. Davis and his team studied Cadillacs
from history, especially the 1967 Eldorado and Deville models.
The strong relationship between glass and metal of Manhattan skyscrapers
especially influenced the Escalade’s designers. The combination of the
materials suggest the lighting elements are floating in space. Each of the five
rectangular parabolas separated by metal accents in the headlamp appear to
float within the lamp. Together, they give the lens the look of fine-cut
crystal.
“Combining metal and glass elements also allows for a uniformity of
appearance,” said Davis. “We wanted something that conveys an artistic
integration of technology for the front daytime running lights and the
taillights.”
In particular, the tail lamps emphasize the technical dimension of using lightemitting diodes, or LEDs. At approximately one meter tall, the tail lamps are
“neo-tailfins,” recreating the drama from the 1960s in a modern
interpretation. Edge-lit blade technology is the only one that would make the
light look like it was floating in space. The Cadillac Crest is also laser etched
into the glass light blade. It catches the light as it passes through the blade.
A total of 142 LEDs make up the front and rear lights of the 2015 Escalade.
Forty-eight LEDs – 17 for each headlamp and seven for each lower fascia
lamp – fully enable the desired appearance and functionality of the front
lamps. The remaining 94 LEDs create the provocative appearance and
technical functionality of the rear lamps. Each taillamp uses 29 LEDs with 36
in the center high-mount stop light.
The 2015 Escalade is an entirely new design yet instantly recognizable. Much
of the story of Cadillac’s redesigned flagship SUV focuses on the artistic
craftsmanship that went into the vehicle’s creation, from the refined and
detailed exterior to the luxurious cut-and-sew interior.
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.
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CONTACT:
Jordana Strosberg
Cadillac Communications
313-268-9656
jordana.strosberg@cadillac.com