Cadillac and PLC aim to make design a more accessible and inclusive field, build pipeline of talent

DETROIT — The first retail production 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V’s sale at the Barrett-Jackson Las Vegas Auction raised $500,000 for the Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design, Michigan’s only historically Black college and university and the nation’s first HBCU to reopen. An additional $25,000 was donated by a patron for a grand total of $525,000.

Pensole Lewis College of Business & Design representatives, Cadillac and GM Design representatives and the 2023 Escalade-V. Pre-production model shown. Actual production model may vary. Available Summer 2022.

Reestablished in 2021 under the leadership of its founder and prominent footwear industry designer, Dr. D’Wayne Edwards, Pensole Lewis College is the pipeline HBCU for career education and professional development in the design industry. PLC offers programs in design, sustainability, business, STEM and more to serve young Black creatives across industries.

“Cadillac champions big dreams and bold ambitions, and we are thrilled with this auction result,” said Global Cadillac Vice President Rory Harvey. “We are grateful to Barrett-Jackson for providing a platform that will help make a difference for the next generation of creatives in Cadillac’s hometown of Detroit.”

Driver’s side view of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V under the arch at Arcosanti in Arizona.

PLC offers students the opportunity to grow their knowledge and skills through intensive curriculums aimed at providing real-life experiences relevant to their disciplines. PLC’s financial approach lowers the barrier to entry for all students interested in receiving an education, as corporate collaborators, like Cadillac, fund masterclasses, tuition and housing for students.

“We are both grateful to Cadillac for its contribution toward diversifying the design industry and for providing support to the next generation of creative talent,” said Dr. Edwards. “In a city well known for both design and automotive manufacturing, we are proud to have Cadillac as a supporter in this incredibly important effort that will literally change the face of the entire design industry.”

The 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V cruising down the highway in Phoenix, Arizona.

“Raising awareness for creative careers, from early education, to trades, to colleges and universities, is a key focus for General Motors’ Design team,” said Crystal Windham, GM executive director, Industrial Design. “In particular, initiatives like today’s sale will strengthen our pipeline of diverse talent, whose unique perspectives will help drive the future of Cadillac and GM design. Personally, I know the importance of HBCUs and their powerful impact, making our work with institutions like PLC, and individuals like D’Wayne Edwards, especially meaningful as we build a more accessible path for more students to creative careers in the automotive industry.

The full hammer price for the 682-horsepower Escalade-V VIN 001 — the industry’s most powerful full-size SUV — goes to PLC as Barrett-Jackson waived all fees and commissions as they historically have done with all charity cars at their auctions.

Semi-aniline leather, and heated/ventilated and massaging front seats of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V.

The winning bidder will have the opportunity to design a pair of custom sneakers with Dr. Edwards that will be manufactured as a one-of-one run and will also receive an exclusive signed and framed 12 x 18-inch design-studio theme sketch of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V by Robert Hunwick, the lead exterior designer for the Escalade-V.

The 2023 Escalade-V is the third Cadillac V-Series auction at Barrett-Jackson since 2021. Previous auctions include the first production Cadillac V-Series Blackwing sedans and the CT5-V Blackwing 120th Anniversary edition.

About the Escalade-V

The 2023 Escalade-V is the first-ever Cadillac SUV to wear the V-Series badge — an elevation of design, performance and technology and the purest expression of the passion that exists at the core of Cadillac. At the heart of the Escalade-V is a hand-built supercharged 6.2-liter V-8 engine rated at 682 horsepower (508 kilowatts) and 653 lb-ft of torque (885 Nm). Standard performance elements include a 10-speed automatic transmission calibrated for Escalade-V, full-time active all-wheel-drive system and exclusive suspension hardware and software calibrations. With the full-time active all-wheel drive system to enhance traction, along with the supercharged engine, Cadillac expects the Escalade-V to be capable of 0-60 mph sprints in under 4.4 seconds and a quarter-mile time of 12.74 seconds at 110 mph based on initial GM testing. An Escalade-V ESV version is also available.

Semi-aniline leather, and heated/ventilated and massaging front seats of the 2023 Cadillac Escalade-V.