Pebble Beach: Cadillac unveils hatchback limo

General Motors premium brand Cadillac has unveiled an extravagant new liftback limousine concept that previews both its future design direction and a new-generation downsized GM V8.

No performance details of the new 4.2-litre twin-turbo V8 have been announced, but GM has confirmed the advanced prototype engine is "in development for future Cadillac models" and employs Active Fuel Management, allowing it to run on four cylinders.

Revealed at California's exclusive Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance overnight in the US, the Cadillac Escala concept features an unusual – for an American car -- liftback rear opening and could even reach production.

“Escala is a concept car, but one based upon the unrelenting rise of our product substance,” said Cadillac president Johan de Nysschen.

“Depending on the development of market segment for large luxury sedans, Escala is a potential addition to our existing product plan.”

GM describes the four-door flagship show car, which follows the opulent Ciel and Elmiraj concepts that also appeared at Pebble Beach in recent years, as "a concept for a more expressive, expansive companion to the recently launched CT6".

Cadillac, which is unlikely to release any model in Australia this decade, confirmed the car's key technical systems are in development – including "Curved OLED displays, next-gen connectivity designs, ingenious details" -- but did not say when they would reach production.

"Escala is a concept with two clear objectives,” said de Nysschen. “First, Escala is a statement of intent for the next iteration of the Cadillac design language, and also technical concepts in development for future Cadillac models.

"Secondly, Escala builds Cadillac’s aspirational character, signaling the brand’s return to the pinnacle of premium.”

Measuring 5347mm long, 1948mm wide, 1455mm high and riding on a 3228mm wheelbase, the lengthy Escala (which is Spanish for “scale”) is about 150mm longer than the CT6 large sedan, with which it shares its rear-wheel drive platform.

Its "new and evolved face" – featuring a revised take on Cadillac's trademark vertical lighting design and a three-dimensional grille pattern – "will begin appearing on production models soon", said GM.

The new signature lights incorporate organic light emitting diode (OLED) lighting elements that are thinner and set deep within the fascia, "creating a sinister look, day and night", according to Cadillac.

Of course, the Escala also rides on massive (22-inch) alloy wheels with two layers of spokes.

“This concept shares how Cadillac will bring forward a new experience that is uniquely American, and unmistakably Cadillac,” said the executive director of Cadillac Global Design, for Holden designer Andrew Smith.

“Escala is an expressive symbol of reward and an exhilarating driving experience. On the interior, we pushed further. It’s about precision and ingenuity in craftsmanship, and the artistic integration of technology.”

Inside, there's a “dual personality” interior offering distinctly different zones, with the front part featuring "intensely focused modern technology" and the rear all about relaxation.

“My brief to the designers was to create a car you desperately want to drive, and also one in which you want to be driven,” said Smith.

“So rather than a single design, this interior consists of two themes. It was an opportunity for our designers to break the rules a little bit, exactly what Cadillac should do from time to time.”

New tech includes an array of three super-thin, curved OLED screens that are layered in front of the driver (and wrapped on the back in hand-stitched leather embossed with the Cadillac script), integrating the traditional instrument cluster and centre stack into one unit.

Cadillac says the striking concept's new connectivity and control system also serves as "a prototype for the user experience in development for future production models".

"The system features a central control module that enables the driver to execute tactile commands across the spectrum of connectivity functions, in addition to voice and gesture control technology," it said.