2007 Cadillac Escalade - Technology

LEADING-EDGE SAFETY, CONVENIENCE FEATURES

Cadillac’s heritage of technological innovation expands with the 2007 Escalade. From safety features such as new standard roof-mounted head curtain side air bags to StabiliTrak stability control with new rollover mitigation, Escalade delivers purposeful technologies to ensure exceptional levels of safety, convenience and luxury.

“These vehicles envelop occupants with a comprehensive safety technology system that is built from a foundation of segment leadership in safety technology,” said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager.

Cadillac Escalade has a heritage of safety innovation. Previous-generation vehicles were the first in the industry to offer a passenger sensing system to suppress deployment of the front passenger air bag if a child or person of smaller stature is detected. Cadillac Escalade also was first to offer dual-stage air bags, standard four-wheel antilock brakes and a standard electronic stability control system.

In the new Escalade, comprehensive safety encompasses crash avoidance, occupant protection and post-crash care. The safety portfolio features three linked avenues of protection: vehicle structure and dynamics; occupant safety features and driver control features.

It starts with a stronger frame and body structure. Crash avoidance, for example, is bolstered through enhanced design and driver control dynamics such as wider front and rear tracks, as well as more responsive suspensions – including a new coil-over-shock front suspension design and new rack-and-pinion steering. StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation is standard on all models.

Safety highlights of Cadillac’s 2007 Escalade are:

1. Vehicle structural and safety dynamics :

Body-on-Frame (BOF) structure with comprehensive use of high-strength steel
Stronger, stiffer frame, including all-new front bay design for improved crush dynamics and provisions for improved vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility
Wider front and rear tracks enhance stability, handling and lower the vehicle’s center of gravity
Enhanced body structure for superior occupant protection

2. Occupant safety and security :

Standard dual-stage driver frontal air bag and dual-stage outboard-frontal passenger air bag with passenger sensing system
Standard roof-mounted head curtain side air bags with tethers and rollover protection for all seating rows
Front safety belt pretensioners
A 360-degree sensing system for fast, accurate impact analysis and air bag deployment/front safety belt pretensioner activation
Enhanced head-impact protection
High-retention front seatbacks help restrain front seat passengers during a collision
Three-point safety belts in all seating positions

3. Driver control :

Enhanced driving dynamics, including standard StabiliTrak electronic stability control with rollover mitigation technology
All-wheel drive chassis system
Larger-capacity four-wheel disc brake system
Standard door child security locks
Standard four-channel ABS and traction control
Standard tire pressure monitoring system
Standard Passkey III anti-theft system
OnStar Gen 6 system
Standard Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist
Available rearview camera system
Standard remote start
Standard rain-sensing wiper system

Vehicle structural and safety dynamics

The 2007 Escalade is built on a stronger and stiffer, fully-boxed frame that is designed for improved crash-energy management. The front frame section, for example, has improved crush dynamics that provide the equivalent of 17.7 inches (450 mm) of additional crush space in vehicles that are only approximately 3 inches (76.2 mm) longer than their predecessors. The frame also is designed for improved vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility.

The all-new, fully-boxed frame features hydroformed front and rear sections, as well as strategic placement of high-strength materials. The frame also features more reinforcing cross members than the previous-generation models, as well as stronger mounting brackets in key areas. The hydroformed front section frame rails have a wall thickness of approximately 3.2 mm and are straighter with a more consistent cross-section than the previous-generation frame – a design that delivers improved axial crush performance. Also, the new frame is 49 percent stiffer than the predecessor, which helps resist bending or twisting during a crash.

The front rails of the frame are designed with enhanced vehicle-to-vehicle compatibility with smaller or lower vehicles during a crash. Compatibility brackets located on the forward position of the lower front frame rails are designed to buckle in a frontal or offset collision, reducing the motion of the frame into the smaller vehicle. The location of the brackets meets all car structure heights.

Along with the frame, the upper body structure is designed to manage the energy of a crash, including improved side-impact and rollover performance. Strategic placement of high-strength steel throughout the frame and body structure provides additional support and helps maintain passenger compartment integrity during a crash.

The 2007 Escalade body structure enhancements also include:

A new A-pillar reinforcement made of high-strength steel that resists buckling
High-strength steel roof-rail reinforcements on both sides of the B-pillar where they meet the roof rails contribute to improved rollover performance
A diagonal brace made of high-strength steel located beneath the driver and front passenger “toe” pan provides reinforcing strength for the vehicle and lower torso protection for passengers
An all-new, single-piece rear D-ring offers increased dimensional accuracy and reinforcing structure
An enhanced front door hinge box adds strength to the forward section of the front door D-ring, which helps reduce deformation during a crash
Stronger knee bolster brackets (welded to the instrument panel cross beam) are designed to withstand higher loads during frontal impacts
A new “Z” bracket adds strength to the area where the front-of-dash section of the body structure meets the floor pan, as does structural adhesive applied to the same area

The strength of the frame and body structure, extensive math modeling and internal crash tests contribute to Cadillac’s expectation that the new Escalade will be among the segment’s top performers in frontal barrier and frontal offset crash tests.

Other features that contribute to Escalade’s strong performance during a crash include:

Impact beams – Front and rear impact beams are designed to absorb low-speed crashes and minimize vehicle damage. A more severe crash will cause the energy-absorbing bumper beam to crush. There also are two side-impact beams in each door.
Passenger head protection – Energy-absorbing foam padding and trim on the A-, B- and C-pillars, as well as the roof rail, are designed to spread the energy of a crash by crumpling and crushing on impact. The headliner also contains energy-absorbing material.
Seat safeguards – High-strength front seatbacks provide restraint during a rear-end crash. There also is a crushable pan between the seat frame and seat cushion – the pan will crush to absorb energy in the case of a high load.

Occupant safety and security

Air bags: Dual-stage driver and outboard front passenger air bags are standard on all Escalades. Children and smaller-stature front passengers are protected with GM’s passenger sensing system. Roof-mounted head curtain side air bags are standard on all models. These air bags inflate to restrain outboard passengers in all seating rows and are equipped with special tethers that hold the bags in place for several seconds for increased rollover protection and passenger containment.

The air bag system’s sensors determine the severity of a crash, indicating whether the primary stage of inflation or the primary and secondary stages are required for maximum protection. The sensors are located at the front of the vehicle, on the radiator support beam.

In the event of a side-impact collision, the head curtain side air bags act like a protective curtain, unfolding from the roof rail between the A- and D-pillars in three-seating-row vehicles and A- to C-pillars in two-row configurations. The first- and second-row positions are restrained by a larger side air bag and the third row has a dedicated air bag. Each side air bag has its own dedicated inflator for optimized fill rates into each curtain.

The roof-mounted head curtain side air bag system incorporates one of the segment’s first rollover indication sensors, which is located in the vehicle’s center tunnel. The sensor monitors the vehicle’s angle variance from level. If the angle indicates an impending rollover, the side air bags will deploy to provide an extra measure of occupant protection and containment. In this instance, the side air bags stay inflated longer than during a side-impact collision, because rollover incidents may last longer and the inflated air bags help keep occupants inside the vehicle.

Occupant protection from secondary impacts also is a feature of the roof-mounted head curtain side air bags. Based on the severity of the event, the bags’ “curtains” are deployed whenever the second stage inflation of the frontal air bags is triggered. GM’s safety engineers reasoned that a collision severe enough to trigger both stages of frontal air bag inflation is likely to cause a secondary collision. In this instance, the air bags deploy and remain inflated for several seconds following the initial collision, ready for a possible second impact.

Front safety belt pretensioners and rear safety belt features: Front safety belt pretensioners are standard on all models. In the event of a crash, they take up slack in the safety belt webbing to help secure the passenger in the seat and prevent him or her from “submarining” during the crash. It also helps to hold the passenger in position, so deceleration is at the same, slower rate of the vehicle and not a more abrupt stop.

The pretensioners are activated by a sensor, which triggers a pyrotechnic device that almost instantly reduces slack in the belt webbing. The safety belts are equipped with low-friction D-rings and low-effort retractors, so there is minimum pressure on the occupant, making the belts more comfortable to wear. Also, the pretensioners will activate in a rear-end crash – an industry first in Cadillac Escalade.

Second- and third-row seats have three-point safety belts in all positions. An added feature is an available comfort guide on the outboard seatbelts. This device has an elastic cord that helps to properly position the shoulder belt on smaller-stature occupants. The second- and third-row seats also come equipped with LATCH system child seat anchors, for both top tethers and lower latches, to simplify installation of child seats. These anchors, which are secured to the body structure, are provided in the rear outboard seating positions.

Sophisticated sensors: Escalade is equipped with the segment’s most comprehensive system of crash impact sensors, which work together to provide 360 degrees of sensing tied to the central Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM). This provides faster, more immediate data that is used to activate the vehicle’s numerous air bag safety features. The sensors include:

Two forward sensors located on the frame’s most forward cross member measure deceleration crush, enabling SDM decisions in less than 10 milliseconds
Four side-impact sensors – one on each side-door beam – provide more rearward sensing of side impacts than previous models
A rollover sensor that continually measures the vehicle’s pitch angle and signals the SDM if the angle indicates an imminent rollover
Rear sensors that detect rear-end impacts and trigger the safety belt pretensioners

Driver control: While designed to help protect passengers in the event of a crash, the new Cadillac Escalade also has features designed to avoid or reduce the chance of a crash. This starts with a wider front and rear track, which helps provide a more secure driving feel and a lower center of gravity. Also, the improved responsiveness while driving – delivered by the new coil-over-shock front suspension, enhanced five-link rear suspension and new rack-and-pinion steering system – provides the driver with a heightened feeling of control.

StabiliTrak electronic stability control: GM’s sophisticated StabiliTrak electronic stability control system is standard on all Escalade models. Partnered with the new brake system and four-channel, four-sensor electronic brake controls, the system provides more precise, controlled ABS stops, as well as enhanced traction/yaw stability.

The StabiliTrak system has new rollover mitigation technology. Rollover mitigation adds software algorithms that use StabiliTrak sensors to proactively predict vehicle “tip up” on a flat road surface, and applies brake force to the outside front and rear wheels in order to reduce lateral force in the vehicle. This brake force intervention can help reduce the likelihood of a rollover in certain circumstances – including “fish hook” maneuvers that involve sudden and rapid back-and-forth steering.

StabiliTrak uses brake control to precisely manage the speed of each wheel as well as torque across the front and rear axles. Individual brake sensors at each wheel provide signals to the control module, enabling it to aggressively adjust brake pressure. The vehicle brake system provides torque-biasing to enhance traction and engine management as required to assist in controlling traction and yaw stability. The transfer case’s control algorithm has been integrated with the StabiliTrak and ABS systems to provide enhanced vehicle stability by managing the front-to-rear torque distribution.

StabiliTrak is always on and fully functional. It is automatically enabled, providing full stability, traction and ABS control, whenever the vehicle operates in forward gears. The system intervenes when it senses one or more of the wheels slipping or when the vehicle is not following the driver’s intended path. It detects slippage during braking or acceleration and automatically adjusts individual wheel brake pressure, engine torque and adjusts front to rear drive torque distribution, as required, to achieve optimal control.

New four-wheel disc brake system: A larger-capacity, four-wheel disc brake system with a new, four-channel ABS is designed to provide the new Escalade with superior stopping capability and the segment’s best braking feel. ABS is standard on all models, along with a full-function traction control system. The headlining elements of the new brake system include larger-diameter front and rear disc rotors and new, stiffer brake calipers.

The front rotors measure 13 inches in diameter (330.2 mm), an increase of 1 inch (25.4 mm), or 15 percent larger. The front rotors also are thicker, with large cooling vents, providing enhanced performance and durability. The cast iron, dual-piston front brake calipers are 50 percent stiffer than before, which reduces the tendency for flexing during hard or prolonged braking. The stiffer calipers, along with dual pistons, contribute to a more direct and stronger brake pedal feel.

Rear brakes feature standard vented discs that measure 13.5 inches (342.9 mm), an increase of 0.5 inch (12.7 mm) – approximately 7.5 percent larger. A revised single-piston rear brake caliper design contributes to reduced brake noise and more immediate braking response. Both the front and rear brakes use new, non-asbestos brake pad linings that can deliver up to 40,000 miles of performance during normal use.

The new brakes are complemented by a more robust, twin-piston brake application system, including a larger master cylinder and active brake booster. Engineers tuned the application system to optimize the pedal feel and brake system responsiveness. It requires less pedal pressure to provide a more immediate brake response, delivering a dramatically improved feel.

A next-generation Bosch 8.0 ABS system is standard on all 2007 Escalades. It has more precise valve control that requires less cycling of fluid from the brake master cylinder, resulting in reduced noise and enhanced braking feel when ABS is activated during braking. The new ABS system also is less complex and has reduced mass when compared with the previous system.

Full-function traction control uses the ABS system to regulate brake pressure to help provide enhanced traction for 2WD vehicles.

Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist: The new standard Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist system provides audible warnings of certain stationary objects behind the vehicle. The system operates when the vehicle is in Reverse, using four sensors located at the rear of the vehicle. The new system is available in conjunction with a new, optional rearview camera system, the first offered in Escalade.

Rearview camera system: The available rearview camera system can be ordered with the optional navigation radio system. The camera provides a view of the rear of the vehicle not easily seen, even with the outside or inside rearview mirrors, allowing the driver to view persons or obstacles directly in the path of the vehicle. It also assists with parallel parking or trailer backing. Drivers should still inspect around their vehicles for objects or people in the rearward path of their vehicle.

A large, clear picture of the camera’s field of view is available on the navigation radio screen. The rearview camera also works with the Ultrasonic Rear Parking Assist to provide an audible proximity reference to items in the camera’s view. If a rear parking assist sensor detects a stationary object, it alerts the camera.

The camera functions only when the vehicle is shifted into Reverse. For convenience, it will stay on for a calibrated length of time – determined partly by vehicle speed – after the vehicle is shifted into Drive. The camera is mounted in the license plate surround bracket for an integrated styling appearance. It provides approximately 20 feet (6.1 m) of viewing distance behind the vehicle.

OnStar Generation 6: All Escalades come standard with the OnStar Generation 6 system, including a one-year subscription to the Directions and Connections plan. The OnStar service includes the General Motors Advanced Automatic Crash Notification (AACN) system, making crash data available to emergency services to potentially dispatch the appropriate life-saving personnel and equipment to crash scenes faster. If the vehicle is in a crash that activates an air bag, the OnStar system automatically notifies an OnStar Advisor, who will check on the occupants and summon emergency help if necessary. OnStar also can assist authorities in locating a vehicle if it is reported stolen and provides remote door-unlocking service.

Remote starting system: A factory-installed remote vehicle starting system is standard – a first for Cadillac Escalade – providing customers with the convenience of starting the vehicle during inclement weather or other situations. The system has up to a 200-foot (61 meters) range and offers automatic climate pre-conditioning to warm or cool the vehicle prior to entry. On cold mornings, for example, the heat and defroster will be automatically turned on, even if the operator had last used the controls in a vent position.

Tire pressure monitoring system: A revised and easier-to-use tire pressure monitoring system is standard on all Escalades, providing drivers with peace of mind and contributing to a safer driving experience. The system alerts drivers via a signal on the instrument panel Driver Information Center if a tire’s inflation status requires attention. In fact, the system sends a message to the information center each time the vehicle is started as part of a routine operations check. The driver also can use the information center to check the pressure of each tire. The pressure monitor sensors can detect air pressure differences to within one pound of the other tires.

Rain-sensing wipers: Standard on Escalade is a rain-sensing windshield wiper system that automatically activates the wipers when precipitation is detected. An infrared sensor located on the windshield (behind the inside rearview mirror) is used to detect raindrops. If rain or other precipitation is detected, the system signals the wipers to operate and adjusts wiper speed based on the intensity of the precipitation.