I really wonder how that idiom “The Cadillac of…” came from. I understand the popularity of the Cadillac over the past century. But since I’m more into being the automotive engineering nut, I really can’t see why any brave Adonis type of guy would be referred to as the Cadillac of Men. Guy’s probably got fins.

Anyway, 2008 and Detroit and we get to see this new Cadillac - the Cadillac Provoq. Still in the lines of being a luxury vehicle but you can forget about muscle, power, and gas-guzzling elegance because this one is a one of GM’s attempts in the fuel cell technology.

This vehicle can be driven 280 miles on hydrogen and 20 miles on pure electricity. That’s a total of 300 miles on 13.2 pounds of hydrogen. We know that GM has really put in a lot of work in the fuel-cell race with the Volt for the Chevrolet badge also doing what the Provoq is to the Caddy.

Take that Toyota? It is with this move that directly places Lexus in GM’s crosshairs especially with the news that the Provoq might not be a concept for long and will make it to production.

Source: Cadillac

So the Porsche got into the hybrid SUV game with the Cayenne. Cadillac wouldn’t be too far behind with its Escalade Hybrid which will also be featured in the Los Sangeles Auto show. Still, it boggles the mind in what exactly the point is in this. SUVs for me are beer-guzzling lumberjacks. Making hybrids out of them is like giving them kegs of beer to swig through a baby bottle. Now that just gives you a mental image of grizzled men in diapers - nasty.

So what does the hybrid technology give the Escalade - an extra 6 mpg of fuel economy. Hey, that’s a lot given the swigging nature of this thing. Yeah, like lumberjacks will ever join the green brigade.

The Escalade hybrid’s powered by a 6.0 liter V8 engine to be combined with a two-mode-hybrid system that sports an electrically variable tranny and a 300-volt nickel-metal hydride Energy Storage System. It will have 2WD and 4WD options with 6,000 and 5,700 pounds of pull respectively.

Source: eGMCarTech

No doubt about it, the SEMA show will be ridden with SUVs galore. I’m not a big fan of hulking machines and their gas-guzzling nature. In any case, that shouldn’t stop me from featuring the ones to be featured in this year’s SEMA show.

Cadillac will be featuring this SUV concept that is the Cadillac Escalade Sport. So the Escalade is actually one in the forefront of the SUV market and this sport concept is sure to increase its appeal to people who find the Incredible Hulk charismatic. This version features a small-block V8 that is capable of producing 550 hp mated to a heavy-duty six-speed tranny.

I really don’t get the point in letting this brute sit on 24-inch rims and then lower the ride height. For me, that defeats the purpose of having an SUV. SUVs for city driving? That’s like sticking the Hulk to nanny duty.

Other enhancements strapped to this sport concept are new upper and lower grilles, Recaro sport bucket seats, unique trims, and modified consoles.