Big trucks need big power, a point capably addressed by the redesigned 2007 Cadillac Escalade’s 16-valve, 6.2-liter, aluminum V8 pushing 403 horsepower at 5,700 rpm and 417 lb.-ft. of torque at 4,400 rpm. That’s a lot of muscle, but consider that it’s charged with moving the ‘Slade’s 5,800-lb. curb weight and towing up to 7,400 pounds. A six-speed automatic transmission is mated to the big Vortec engine, and features a tow/haul mode as well as a button for manual shifts. Inside, buyers plunking down $57,280 for the all-wheel-drive seven-passenger Escalade (includes a $875 destination charge; rear-wheel-drive models will be available later for $54,725) get heated front and second-row seats, a Bose surround sound system, leather upholstery, side-curtain airbags, a power tailgate, a rear park-assist system, and more. Options include 22-inch wheels, an expansive power sunroof, a heated steering wheel, and a navigation system with a built-in camera.

Accompanying the 2007 Escalade are updated versions of the extended-length Escalade ESV and the Escalade EXT luxury pickup.