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Cadillac Super Cruise priced from $2,500 on the 2021 Escalade

Super Cruise will find its next home in the 2021 Cadillac Escalade. The brand had rolled out Super Cruise three years ago on the CT6 as a $5,000 option for the top two trims, then switched up pricing for 2020 when MSRP increases on the top two trims made the more full-featured Super Cruise standard. Cadillac Society reports that the brand will make the hands-free driving technology an option on all but the base 2021 Escalade. On the Premium Luxury and Sport, the feature will cost $2,500, but requires the $3,650 Driver Assist and Technology Package that bundles adaptive cruise control, air ride adaptive suspension, automatic seat belt tightening and soft-close/cinching doors, enhanced automatic emergency braking and reverse automatic braking, and illuminated front sill plates. This brings the total to $6,150 for the middle two trims. The top Premium Luxury Platinum and Sport Platinum trims include the Driver Assist Package, making Super Cruise a no-fuss $2,500 option. The pricing is the same on the standard model and long-wheelbase ESV trims. Earlier this year, Cadillac announced the improvements its made to the SAE Level 2 autonomous driving system, prime among them being the automatic lane change feature. After the driver flicks the turn stalk to indicate the desired lane, the system will automatically locate an opening in traffic where it can safely change lanes. Numerous small improvements will make life easier for drivers, too, like 70,000 more miles of compatible highways, easier Super Cruise engagement, finer steering and speed control, smoother turns, better control through highway interchanges, and much richer map information. After the Escalade, the CT4 and CT5 sedans, and the XT6 are in line to receive Super Cruise blessings. A couple of years ago there were rumors that the XT4 and XT5 would get Super Cruise, but that's likely a ways off, if it happens. Related Video:

GM, Pilot will build EVgo fast chargers at 500 truck stops across U.S.

All of our maps showing electric vehicle charging stations across the U.S. are going to need an update. Today, General Motors, Pilot and EVgo announced plans to work together on a nationwide DC fast charging network. The plan calls for 2,000 charging stalls that can deliver up to 350 kW to be installed at up to 500 Pilot and Flying J travel centers in the U.S. The goal is to have DC fast chargers available in 50-mile intervals across the country. The new charging stations will feature GM's "Ultium Charge 360" branding and "Pilot Flying J" logos but will not be limited to drivers of GM EVs. The plugs will use CCS connectors and be available to anyone. GM EV owners can take advantage of benefits, including the ability to make exclusive reservations, get discounts on charging costs and streamline the charging process with Plug and Charge and in-vehicle apps that can provide real-time charger availability. The first installation phase will take place in 2023, and "the bulk of the installations" should be completed by 2025, EVgo CEO Kathy Zoi said during a conference call with reporters announcing the plan. "We're gonna get going immediately and commence all of that engineering and planning stuff," she said. "We've got a pretty orderly plan." Pilot CEO Shameek Konar said the company expects the new EV charging stations to coexist with the current fuel infrastructure. "An average Pilot Flying J location is about 10 acres," Konar said. "This will be in addition to all of our gas pumps. The way I think about it is, this is a new source of energy that is going to coexist with gas for quite some time. We can debate how long, but we need to serve both groups of customers." Installing DC fast chargers at hundreds of Pilot's travel centers — aka truck stops — means there should be food, drinks, restrooms, WiFi and even showers available while you wait for an EV to charge. Pilot recently announced its “New Horizons” plan that will invest $1 billion in upgrading Pilot travel centers with more premium amenities, including expanded seating and lounge areas. While the exact amount of time it will take to charge an EV using these new stations will vary on the EV and its current state of charge, most EVs can refill from a low state of charge to around 80 percent in 20-30 minutes on a fast charger. The new stations are future-proofed to deliver up to 350 kW, a charge rate that few EVs today can handle.

2019 Cadillac Escalade Sport Edition goes dark for the L.A. Auto Show

Cadillac is taking a shallow swing at the L.A. Auto Show, which might have something to do with the churn and burn happening at the brand and at parent General Motors. The Escalade Sport Edition brings its dark hue to the West Coast shindig, a touch of anti-flash that's actually a pinstripe job. For $2,700, it installs Gloss Black Ice chrome on the grille, rear fascia, window surrounds, and body side moldings, and the otherwise optional 22-inch Midnight Silver wheels. That's the whole show. Available on three of the Escalade's four trims — Luxury, Premium Luxury, and Platinum — brand president Steve Carlisle said the Sport Edition comes "in response to customer and dealer demand for a dark and aggressive look." The least expensive 2WD Luxury model starts at $84,790, including destination, with orders commencing at the beginning of next year. For all that the package isn't, it is still a better deal than buyers got ten years ago, when the 2007 Escalade offered a similarly thin Sport Edition for $4,890. There are a few small changes for the Escalade line overall for 2019. The exterior colors Midnight Sky Metallic and Dark Granite Metallic leave the palette list, making room for Manhattan Noir Metallic and Shadow Metallic to join the list. In back, there's a hands-free tailgate with a logo light, standard on all trims. The Escalade Sport Edition represents both a beginning and an end for the model. The fourth-generation Escalade went on sale in 2014 as a 2015 model, and this is the first special edition it gets. This could be the last, too, since the fourth-gen money machine we called "Old, but not antiquated" in our Driver's Notes last month is expected to give way to a fifth-generation for the 2020 model year. Related Video: