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Why an independent rear suspension for GM's new, full-sized SUVs wasn't easy

A Motor Trend report last month laid out how Cadillac's 4.2-lier twin-turbo Blackwing V8 could be an orphan due to cost concerns in the GM empire. Last-minute chassis changes to Cadillac's new sedans and XT6 crossover led to engine bays that couldn't fit the Blackwing. On the SUV side, according to the report, the new independent rear suspension for big people haulers cost so much to implement that GM ruled out reworking the Escalade to accept the Blackwing. At least one commenter rightly asked how could a suspension swallow that much money. A new piece in Motor Trend has the answer. The excellent Alissa Priddle spoke to Tim Herrick, GM's executive chief engineer for full-size trucks, about why the clean-sheet IRS cost "multimillions of dollars."  First, GM would need to build a new body shop at the Arlington, Texas plant that assembles the automaker's big SUVs to stamp the numerous wholly new parts and panels accommodating an IRS. Then GM would need to design and pay for a new assembly process. On top of those up-front costs, there was the incremental cost of the four-link IRS components being more expensive than those in the trucks' former leaf-sprung solid axles. Herrick endured so many rejections for so long that he remembers the date and time when he got approval for the new unit. He said it came down to a meeting where he told a higher-up, "I'll make you a deal: If we get to the reveal, or if we launch this and you think this was a dumb idea, I'll hand you my badge and let you walk me out." Head to Motor Trend to read the full story. Based on Herrick being on stage to help present the new SUVs to the press, and on our First Ride in the new Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban at GM's Milford Proving Grounds, it appears this will have a happy ending for all involved. Furthermore, since Herrick worked on the T1 platform that supports the big SUVs as well as the light- and heavy-duty pickups, he understood the demands on the commercial side, too. That could be why when Roadshow asked Tim Asoklis, chief engineer of the Tahoe and Suburban, if the new IRS could endure life in the Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra, Asoklis answered, "Oh, absolutely." Related Video:    

2021 Cadillac Escalade teases us with sliver of a design preview

We know the 2021 Cadillac Escalade will be breaking cover on February 4 to join its full-size GM truck compatriots. And now we know Spike Lee will have the honors of introducing the Cadillac at the Oscars through a short film he directed called “Anthem.” Cadillac also took the opportunity to tease the new Escalade's front end with this nugget of a preview. We get to see the grille, headlight and DRL design of the 2021 Escalade, staring daggers through Spike LeeÂ’s back in a studio. The grille is a traditional Escalade look, eschewing the grille design seen on more recent Cadillac SUVs like the XT6 and XT4. It uses larger silver bars that scythe across the front end as opposed to the mesh and speckled black/chrome seen on the Cadillac crossovers. Similar to the XT6, however, it does go with a horizontal main headlight and a vertical DRL. This marks a departure from the vertically-oriented headlights weÂ’re used to seeing on the biggest Cadillac. WeÂ’ll note that the bumper-width lower grille appears to be done in black, but thereÂ’s no shortage of chrome on this EscaladeÂ’s front end. Our best look at the interior is through a grainy video Cadillac teased to us about a month ago. ItÂ’s going to have 38 inches of curved screen, using OLED technology. ThatÂ’s going to be lovely to look at. The front end teased in this photo is plenty fine, too, but weÂ’re not seeing anything thatÂ’ll upset the apple cart from an exterior design perspective yet.

8 fastest depreciating cars in America

Getting a new car is an amazing experience. The fresh new scent, the barely touched interior, the double digit miles on your odometer, and... the depreciation once it leaves the car dealers lot? Maybe not that last one. To save you from the hurt of a quickly depreciating new car, we collected 8 of the fastest depreciating cars in America. And here's a surprise, one of them is a Toyota. Learn more at Autoblog.com Cadillac Infiniti Jeep Kia Lincoln Toyota Autoblog Minute Videos Original Video jeep compass cadillac xts infiniti q50 camry q50