By Robert R Guio

Cadillac has decided that buying an electric Escalade isn’t quite exclusive enough. Its new Curated by Cadillac ESCALADE IQ program gives a small number of buyers access to a concierge-led customization process inspired by the hand-built CELESTIQ.

The program is aimed at customers who want more control over color, materials and finishes than a normal configurator provides. Cadillac says buyers can choose from more than 160 premium exterior colors and finishes, plus up to 44 interior colors across all three seating rows, the center console and floor mats.

That personalization comes at a high price. The Curated by Cadillac package costs $54,995, and that figure does not include the Escalade IQ itself, taxes, title, license, or dealer fees. The dealer also sets the final transaction price.

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Cadillac Turns the Escalade IQ Into a Commissioned Car

At its core, Curated by Cadillac shifts the Escalade IQ from a highly equipped production SUV toward something closer to a commissioned vehicle. Buyers work with a dedicated design concierge, their Cadillac dealer, and brand designers through consultation and guided configuration sessions.

Cadillac says every Curated Escalade IQ will be hand-painted and hand-built by artisans. Each receives a unique VIN and serialized builder’s badge, details intended to make the finished SUV feel less like a trim level and more like an individual object.

That matters because modern luxury increasingly depends on access and individuality. A huge screen or horsepower figure can be duplicated by competitors. A particular combination of exterior finish, cabin colors and handcrafted details is harder to copy.

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Performance Stays the Same Under the Custom Finish

The customization doesn’t change the Escalade IQ’s performance story. Cadillac estimates up to 465 miles of range, though an EPA estimate is not yet available and the final number could change before production.

With Velocity Max engaged, Cadillac lists up to 750 horsepower and 785 lb-ft of torque, with a claimed 0–60 mph time of 4.7 seconds on a closed course. That is serious performance for a three-row luxury SUV this large, especially one using quiet electric propulsion.

Technology remains prominent. The Escalade IQ includes the 55-inch Horizon display and Super Cruise driver-assistance technology with a three-year OnStar Super Cruise plan. Cadillac also says compatible GM Energy equipment can enable vehicle-to-home bidirectional charging, allowing the SUV to participate in a broader home-energy setup.

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The $54,995 Question Is About Exclusivity

The obvious question is whether customization is worth nearly $55,000 before the vehicle. For most Escalade IQ buyers, probably not. The standard vehicle already sits at the upper end of the luxury SUV market and offers extensive technology, design, and performance.

But Curated isn’t aimed at most buyers. It is for customers who view personalization itself as part of the luxury purchase. The appeal is not simply choosing a favorite paint color. It is working with designers and ending up with something intentionally difficult to duplicate.

That brings Cadillac closer to ultra-luxury brands, where commissioning can be as important as the vehicle specification itself.

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When and Where the Curated Escalade IQ Arrives

Every Curated by Cadillac Escalade IQ will be built for the 2027 model year at Cadillac’s Artisan Center in Warren, Michigan, using U.S. and globally sourced parts. Sales are planned for the United States and Canada, with deliveries expected in the second half of 2027.

Before then, Cadillac will display a Curated Escalade IQ concept at The Quail in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, on August 14, 2026.

The program won’t make the Escalade IQ more practical, faster, or longer-ranged. That isn’t the point. Cadillac is betting that a small group of customers wants something increasingly rare in a standardized industry: the feeling that their vehicle was built specifically for them.