The Cadillac Escalade is known for its luxury, but aftermarket specialist PaxPower has transformed the full-size SUV into a lifted, supercharged machine built to take on rough terrain. The custom Escalade combines a suspension lift, 35-inch tires and a supercharged 6.2-liter V8 producing up to 675 horsepower, giving it the look of an off-road-focused SUV with plenty of muscle under the hood.
Ford offers the Bronco Raptor, Jeep has the Wrangler 392, and Mercedes-Benz sells high-performance versions of its G-Class. General Motors has no equivalent factory-built Escalade in this particular off-road category, but PaxPower has created its own take on the concept by blending Cadillac luxury with upgraded suspension, aggressive styling and significantly more power.
PaxPower Gives the Cadillac Escalade an Off-Road Transformation
The centerpiece of the conversion is a suspension system from Icon Vehicle Dynamics. Its 2.5-inch coilovers feature adjustable spring perches, raising the Escalade by three inches at the front and 1.5 inches at the rear.
Installing the lift also requires replacing the factory magnetic shocks and air springs. PaxPower adds tubular front control arms and new lower control arms at the rear to accommodate the revised suspension setup.
The additional clearance allows the Escalade to run 35-inch tires. PaxPower fits BFGoodrich tires to 20-inch Vossen wheels finished in black, reinforcing the monochromatic appearance requested by the customer.
Despite its substantial size, the lifted Escalade takes on somewhat unusual proportions with its oversized tires. Its short rear overhang and a touch of Carolina Squat give the SUV a slightly stubby, almost cartoonish appearance.
However, the visual changes are only part of the package. PaxPower has also upgraded the Escalade’s powertrain, giving the luxury SUV considerably more output than its standard configuration.
Supercharged 6.2-Liter V8 Produces 675 Horsepower
Under the hood, PaxPower installs its supercharger kit for GM’s 6.2-liter L87 V8. The system uses a 3.0-liter Whipple twin-screw supercharger to deliver 7.5 pounds of boost, along with an air-to-water intercooler and a custom engine control tune.
The upgrade increases output to as much as 675 horsepower and 650 pound-feet of torque. By comparison, the standard engine produces 420 horsepower and 460 pound-feet of torque.
The result is a substantial performance improvement for the lifted Escalade. However, the supercharged SUV still falls slightly short of Cadillac’s own high-performance flagship, the Escalade-V.
How the Lifted Escalade Compares With the Escalade-V
The Cadillac Escalade-V produces 682 horsepower and 653 pound-feet of torque from its LT4 V8 engine. That gives the factory performance model a narrow advantage over PaxPower’s supercharged L87-powered build in both horsepower and torque.
Even so, PaxPower’s conversion combines a significant increase in engine output with an elevated suspension and larger tires, creating a different take on the Escalade formula.
Escalade-V Brakes Add Stopping Power
To help manage the upgraded SUV’s performance, PaxPower has also fitted it with upgraded brakes from the Escalade-V. The system includes six-piston front calipers and 16-inch front rotors.
The brakes are finished in the factory red color, creating a contrast with the otherwise blacked-out exterior. The red calipers are the only prominent pop of color on the customized SUV.
Blackout Styling Completes the Custom Cadillac
The owner requested a fully blacked-out Cadillac, and PaxPower tailored the exterior to match. The modifications include blacked-out headlights, marker lights and grille badging, complementing the black Vossen wheels and the SUV’s overall monochromatic finish.
The interior remains stock. PaxPower has not highlighted any interior modifications for this particular build, keeping the focus on the suspension, powertrain, brakes and exterior styling.
With a three-inch front lift, 35-inch tires, upgraded Escalade-V brakes and up to 675 horsepower, PaxPower’s custom Cadillac Escalade combines luxury-SUV proportions with substantial off-road hardware and supercharged performance. Although it does not quite match the Escalade-V’s engine output, the build offers a distinctive alternative to a factory performance SUV.
