2023–2026 Cadillac Escalade-V: 682 HP from a Hand-Built LT4 V8

For the 2023 through 2026 model years, Cadillac combined the fifth-generation Escalade platform with a supercharged 6.2-liter LT4 V8 rated at 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque. Both the standard-wheelbase Escalade-V and longer Escalade-V ESV used a 10-speed automatic transmission, active four-wheel drive, an electronic limited-slip rear differential, Magnetic Ride Control, and adaptive air suspension.

Best known for being Cadillac's first V-Series SUV, the Escalade-V applied an engine related to the CT5-V Blackwing's LT4 to a three-row, body-on-frame vehicle weighing more than three tons. Cadillac quoted 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds under its prescribed launch conditions, a figure that made the combination of scale, output, and acceleration difficult to dismiss as a cosmetic trim exercise.

The V arrived after the fifth-generation Escalade had already introduced an independent rear suspension, a curved OLED instrument and infotainment display, and substantially improved third-row packaging. Its appeal to collectors rests less on traditional rarity than on specification: a hand-built supercharged V8, a dedicated chassis calibration, Brembo front brakes, quad exhaust outlets, and two distinct body lengths. The 2025 redesign altered the front treatment and cabin electronics, creating a clear early-versus-refreshed distinction within the same T1-platform generation.

Quick Facts

This table establishes the mechanical identity of the Escalade-V family. Cadillac has not published a complete production total separating V models by body length and model year, so unsupported rarity claims should be treated cautiously.

The T1XX label describes the broader GM truck and full-size SUV architecture rather than a trim-specific Cadillac chassis code. Standard Escalade and ESV bodies have different wheelbases and associated GM platform derivatives, but the shared T1 construction, LT4 powertrain, and V-specific hardware define the model more reliably than an isolated platform-code reference.

Why the Escalade-V Matters

The Escalade-V mattered because Cadillac did not stop at an appearance package or a modest calibration of the regular 6.2-liter L87 V8. The company installed an LT4 with a large supercharger, reinforced the driveline around 653 lb-ft of torque, added Brembo six-piston front calipers, recalibrated the air springs and magnetorheological dampers, and developed an active exhaust system whose character changes with the selected drive mode.

It also expanded the meaning of Cadillac's V badge. V-Series had begun with the 2004 CTS-V sedan and subsequently encompassed sedans, coupes, wagons, and racing programs. The Escalade-V had no homologation role and was never intended as a circuit-specialized SUV, but its engine assembly, braking hardware, launch-control programming, and chassis electronics gave it a substantive connection to Cadillac's high-output road cars.

In market terms, the relevant contemporaries included the Mercedes-AMG GLS 63, BMW Alpina XB7, and high-output versions of the Range Rover. The Cadillac differed through body-on-frame construction, an available extended ESV body, and the compact dimensions of an overhead-valve V8 that delivered 682 hp without resorting to a smaller-displacement, twin-turbocharged architecture.

Historical Context and Development

From Fifth-Generation Escalade to V-Series SUV

The fifth-generation Escalade entered production for the 2021 model year on GM's T1 architecture. Its most consequential chassis change was the adoption of independent rear suspension, replacing the live rear axle used by earlier Escalades. That allowed a lower rear floor, increased third-row room, and made the ESV less dependent on its extra wheelbase for usable passenger space.

Cadillac revealed the Escalade-V in 2022 for the 2023 model year. By then, the regular Escalade offered the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter L87 V8 and, in applicable configurations, a 3.0-liter Duramax inline-six diesel. The V substituted the LT4, a supercharged small-block assembled at General Motors' Performance Build Center in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and identified by an engine-builder plaque.

The engineering brief required acceleration and sound without removing the qualities expected of an Escalade. Cadillac retained three rows of seating, four-wheel drive, air suspension, Magnetic Ride Control, towing capability, and extensive cabin equipment. The result was not a lowered track SUV. Its ride height, all-season tires, mass, and long suspension travel remained central to its identity.

Design and the 2025 Refresh

The 2023 and 2024 models are recognizable by the original fifth-generation front fascia, vertical lighting signatures, mesh V grille, lower intake treatment, and quad exhaust outlets. Dark exterior detailing, V-Series badges, and model-specific 22-inch wheels distinguish them from a Sport Platinum, although badges and wheels alone are easily copied.

For 2025, Cadillac revised the front end with a broader grille treatment and lighting influenced by the Celestiq and Lyriq. The cabin moved from the earlier curved OLED arrangement to a pillar-to-pillar display installation totaling 55 diagonal inches across the dashboard. Available 24-inch wheels and an available Executive Second Row package pushed the refreshed Escalade further toward chauffeur-oriented equipment, while the V retained its 682-hp LT4.

The visual tension is deliberate. A tall, formal greenhouse and nearly vertical tail preserve the cargo volume and third-row packaging, while the V's deeper front fascia, large wheels, red front calipers, and four exhaust outlets expose the hardware beneath the formal body. The ESV adds 13.2 inches of wheelbase and roughly 15 inches of overall length, changing the side profile more dramatically than the frontal view suggests.

Engine and Drivetrain

LT4 Architecture and Supercharging

The Escalade-V's 6,162 cc LT4 belongs to GM's Gen V small-block family. It uses an aluminum block and cylinder heads, a single camshaft within the block, two valves per cylinder operated by pushrods and rocker arms, direct fuel injection, variable camshaft timing, and individual coil-near-plug ignition. Its compact valvetrain allows a relatively low engine height compared with many overhead-cam V8s.

The Escalade application uses a 2.65-liter positive-displacement supercharger with four-lobe rotors and integrated charge cooling. That blower is larger than the 1.7-liter unit associated with earlier LT4 installations such as the C7 Corvette Z06, one reason an Escalade-V should not be assessed solely by reading a generic LT4 parts list. Calibration, induction plumbing, cooling hardware, accessory drives, oil system packaging, and exhaust routing are installation-specific.

Power reaches a 10-speed automatic calibrated for the V's torque curve and mass. Active four-wheel drive apportions torque according to conditions, while the electronic limited-slip differential controls rear-axle torque distribution. Launch control coordinates engine output, transmission behavior, wheel slip, and the suspension's launch calibration rather than relying on the driver simply to brake-torque the powertrain.

The documented figures below apply to the production Escalade-V specification. Fuel-system pressure, supercharger speed, detailed cooling capacity, and internal transmission data are service-information subjects and are better verified against model-year GM documentation than generalized internet specification sheets.

The output peaks reveal how the V behaves. Maximum torque arrives well below the horsepower peak, so the transmission does not need to hold the engine near redline for meaningful acceleration. Under a full-throttle upshift, however, the ten-speed keeps the LT4 within its boosted power band and masks the gaps that would be obvious in a vehicle of this weight with fewer ratios.

Lubrication, Cooling, and Exhaust

The Escalade-V's lubrication and cooling systems must manage high load in a vehicle capable of carrying passengers and cargo or towing. Buyers should distinguish the SUV installation from dry-sump Corvette applications when ordering LT4 service parts. Cadillac specifies model-year-appropriate lubricants and monitors oil life electronically, but the oil-life display is not evidence that the correct oil was used.

Charge-air cooling is particularly important because supercharger heat affects both output consistency and detonation control. The cooling circuit, heat exchangers, pumps, hoses, and coolant condition deserve inspection after modifications or front-end damage. An active exhaust supplies quieter and louder settings through the drive-mode system, and cold starts can be conspicuously vocal when the more aggressive calibration is selected.

Chassis, Suspension, and Braking

The following table separates V-specific hardware from the basic body-on-frame formula shared with other fifth-generation Escalades. Wheel availability and cosmetic designs changed with the 2025 refresh, so a build sheet remains the best authority for any individual vehicle.

Magnetic Ride Control varies damper force rapidly in response to wheel and body movement, while the air suspension controls ride height and spring behavior. Cadillac recalibrated both systems for the V, but retained enough travel and compliance for broken pavement. This division of labor matters: the dampers resist abrupt body motion, while the air springs maintain height and load-carrying ability.

The six-piston front brakes provide the thermal capacity required by the SUV's speed and mass. They also make wheel fitment more restrictive than on an ordinary Escalade. Aftermarket wheels must clear the caliper body, carry an appropriate load rating, preserve sensible offset, and accommodate the tire diameter expected by the stability-control and driveline systems.

Driving Experience and Handling Dynamics

The defining sensation is not merely acceleration, but the absence of delay. The large-displacement V8 and positive-displacement supercharger generate torque immediately, without the staged swell associated with many turbocharged competitors. Initial throttle movement is easy to meter in the calmer drive modes, while a committed application brings a hard, sustained surge and rapid automatic shifts.

The ten-speed is busiest when the driver requests small changes in speed, yet its wide ratio spread allows relaxed cruising and keeps the LT4 near peak output during a launch. Manual selection is useful on a descent or when setting up a corner, but the transmission's size and programming do not reproduce the short, mechanical response of a dual-clutch gearbox. Its job is to manage 653 lb-ft in a heavy, four-wheel-drive SUV, not imitate a sports-car transaxle.

Steering response is accurate for the wheelbase and tire profile, although road texture is filtered through electric assistance, a tall seating position, and substantial unsprung mass. The magnetorheological dampers arrest pitch and secondary body movement more effectively than the Escalade's dimensions suggest. Physics remains plainly present in a fast transition, particularly in the ESV, where the longer wheelbase adds stability but asks more of the chassis when direction changes.

Brake response is firm by full-size luxury-SUV standards, and the large front rotors cope with repeated road-speed stops better than the standard hardware. Tire condition is critical. A mismatched set, hardened all-season compound, or incorrect pressure can compromise launch traction, stopping distance, and the behavior of the active four-wheel-drive system long before a warning appears.

The active exhaust supplies much of the theater. At light load, the LT4 can settle into a restrained V8 note, but aggressive settings expose supercharger whine, combustion pulses, and sharp reports during high-load shifts. The effect is unusually mechanical for an Escalade cabin otherwise isolated by laminated glass, extensive insulation, and electronic noise management.

Identification and Originality

Confirming a Genuine Escalade-V

A genuine Escalade-V should be authenticated through its VIN, factory build data, powertrain records, and installed equipment, not through exterior emblems. GM VIN conventions and database access can vary by model year and market, so a single online decoder should not be treated as conclusive. A Cadillac dealer or recognized GM build-record service can confirm the original model configuration and RPO content from the full VIN.

The engine should be an LT4 with its Performance Build Center plaque, correct supercharger installation, Escalade-specific intake and accessory arrangement, and factory emissions labeling appropriate to the model year. The plaque identifies the engine builder, but it is not a substitute for checking powertrain provenance. If an engine has been replaced under warranty or after failure, the invoice and dealer documentation matter more than an unsupported claim of matching numbers.

Traditional matching-numbers language requires care on a modern Cadillac. Collectors should instead document the original VIN-assigned specification, engine history, transmission history, control-module calibration, warranty replacements, and dates on major components. A replacement LT4 can be mechanically correct without being the engine installed when the SUV left Arlington, and the market may distinguish between those two conditions.

Body, Interior, and Equipment Clues

Factory V equipment includes the specific front and rear fascias, quad exhaust outlets, V-Series badging, large Brembo front brakes with red calipers, model-specific wheels, performance displays, and V-oriented drive-mode controls. The 2023–2024 dashboard uses Cadillac's curved OLED display arrangement. The 2025–2026 interior uses the later 55-inch pillar-to-pillar display, making a supposed cross-year conversion relatively easy to expose.

Paint codes, upholstery codes, wheel design, and option content should be checked against the certification label, build record, original window sticker, and dealer invoice. Cadillac offered several interior combinations, and trim pieces can be expensive enough to encourage substitution after theft or accident repair. Look for consistency among seat leather, piping or perforation patterns, headliner, wood or carbon-look trim, carpets, seat belts, and door panels.

Commonly swapped pieces include wheels, exhaust components, intake systems, pulleys, badges, grilles, steering wheels, and brake caliper covers or refinished calipers. Reproduction V badges have no evidentiary value. Original take-off wheels and exhaust parts are worth retaining even when an owner prefers aftermarket hardware, because returning a modified vehicle to factory form can become disproportionately expensive.

Paintwork and Documentation

Large, flat body panels expose poor refinishing, and the contrast between painted panels, gloss-black trim, brightwork, and lamps makes mismatched replacement parts visible under neutral lighting. Inspect panel edges, door jambs, roof rails, quarter panels, liftgate seams, and the inner faces of the front fenders for masking lines or displaced fasteners. Paint-meter readings should be interpreted with awareness that substrate and factory finish thickness differ by panel.

The strongest history file includes the original window sticker, purchase invoice, build record, service invoices, tire replacements, alignment sheets, recall records, warranty work, and documentation for every modification. Software updates are also significant. Modern powertrain, suspension, driver-assistance, display, and body-control modules make a complete dealer service history more useful than a stamped maintenance booklet alone.

Variant and Trim Breakdown

Cadillac offered two body lengths and then refreshed both for 2025. There was no separate factory homologation version or competition derivative, and Cadillac has not consistently published production totals for each Escalade-V configuration.

The standard body is the lighter and more maneuverable of the two, while the ESV provides the cargo volume and rear-cabin space many Escalade buyers expect. Neither is a lesser mechanical specification. Engine output and the central V hardware remain common to both, although dimensions, mass, towing ratings, and dynamic responses differ.

Performance and Dimensional Specifications

Cadillac's launch performance figures were published for a prescribed surface and launch procedure, and independent road tests can differ with temperature, fuel, tire condition, passenger load, and whether rollout is applied. The dimensional data below uses Cadillac's launch-era specifications, where body measurements were clearly published.

The quarter-mile estimate is the more revealing performance number. Maintaining acceleration through 110 mph requires not only a strong launch but enough horsepower to overcome a large frontal area and more than 6,000 pounds of curb weight. The 125-mph limiter reflects tire, heat, and vehicle-use considerations rather than a shortage of engine output.

Compared With Related Cadillac Models

Escalade-V Versus Escalade Sport Platinum

The Sport Platinum can resemble a V at a distance because both may use dark trim, large wheels, premium interiors, air suspension, and Magnetic Ride Control. Mechanically, the naturally aspirated 6.2-liter L87 in a gasoline Sport Platinum is the decisive difference. The V's 682-hp LT4, active exhaust, electronic limited-slip differential, V calibration, Brembo six-piston front brakes, and supporting cooling and driveline equipment cannot be recreated by adding badges and a grille.

A Sport Platinum may suit an owner who values the appearance and equipment without the V's fuel consumption, tire cost, brake cost, or supercharger-related service exposure. For identification and resale, however, a converted Sport remains a modified Sport regardless of how complete the cosmetic work appears.

Escalade-V Versus CT5-V Blackwing

Both use hand-built LT4 engines, but they are not interchangeable expressions of the same chassis idea. The CT5-V Blackwing is a rear-wheel-drive sports sedan offered with a manual transmission or automatic, while the Escalade-V is a body-on-frame, four-wheel-drive, three-row SUV using only a 10-speed automatic. Their supercharger installations and rated outputs also differ.

The sedan delivers greater steering detail, lower mass, stronger track endurance, and a much lower center of gravity. The Escalade counters with immediate all-wheel-drive traction, passenger capacity, cargo room, and a 2.65-liter supercharger installation developed for its duty cycle. Collectors should not assume that a part listed broadly for an LT4 Cadillac fits both vehicles.

Early Versus Refreshed Escalade-V

The 2023–2024 version has the original fifth-generation fascia and curved OLED dashboard. The 2025–2026 version carries the redesigned front end, pillar-to-pillar display, updated electronics, and revised wheel choices while retaining 682 hp. Buyers choosing between them are therefore comparing design, interface, option content, and build history more than engine output.

Ownership and Restoration Notes

The Escalade-V is too new for traditional restoration in the sense applied to a carbureted or early fuel-injected Cadillac. Its equivalent is a forensic recommissioning involving mechanical systems, software, networked control modules, display hardware, advanced driver-assistance sensors, air suspension, and model-specific trim. Accident damage can become expensive even when the frame remains straight because cameras, radar units, lighting modules, and active grille or fascia components require correct installation and calibration.

Powertrain Service

A cold start should be evaluated for abnormal knock, belt noise, fluid leakage, warning messages, and an uneven idle after the initial catalyst-heating phase. Inspect the supercharger drive, pulleys, charge-cooling circuit, hoses, heat exchangers, coolant reservoirs, engine mounts, and exhaust valves. Any smaller aftermarket pulley, nonfactory calibration, open-element intake, altered catalyst, or auxiliary fuel hardware should prompt a detailed discussion with the installer.

Use of the specified premium fuel and correct engine oil is important under boost and high oil temperature. Service invoices should identify lubricant grade and specification rather than merely state that an oil change was completed. Frequent towing, repeated launch-control use, short-trip operation, and long idle periods justify closer fluid and cooling-system attention than mileage alone might suggest.

The ten-speed should engage Drive and Reverse without a prolonged delay and shift consistently at light and heavy throttle. Harsh behavior can arise from calibration, adaptation, fluid condition, driveline mounts, tire mismatch, or internal wear, so diagnosis should precede parts replacement. A road test should include steady-speed operation, low-speed parking maneuvers, moderate kickdowns, and a fully warmed restart.

Air Suspension, Electronics, and Structure

Leave the vehicle parked long enough to check whether one corner settles. Inspect air struts, lines, height sensors, compressor operation, Magnetic Ride Control dampers, and wiring near the suspension. A leaking air spring can force the compressor to run excessively, converting one failed component into a larger repair.

The dashboard, cameras, head-up display, seat functions, rear entertainment equipment where fitted, power steps, liftgate, adaptive cruise functions, and every drive mode should be tested. Low battery voltage can produce misleading faults, but repeatedly dismissing warning messages as battery-related is poor diagnosis. A full module scan with model-appropriate equipment is essential before purchase.

Body-on-frame construction is durable but not immune to damage. Check frame rails, suspension mounting points, recovery points, underbody shields, running-board mounts, and lower cooling hardware for evidence of off-road contact, towing mishaps, or careless lifting. In road-salt regions, inspect frame coatings, brake and fuel lines, fasteners, exhaust joints, and the hidden areas behind liners and underbody panels.

Parts and Specialist Support

Routine service parts benefit from GM's broad supply network, but V-specific brakes, wheels, exhaust pieces, fascia parts, cooling components, electronic modules, and interior trim can be costly. Used components may require programming or security authorization. Salvage parts also demand careful provenance because flood-damaged and heavily crashed luxury SUVs are frequent sources of apparently inexpensive electronics.

Engine and transmission rebuilds should go to shops familiar with current GM performance powertrains and module programming. The LT4 itself is well understood by specialist builders, but an Escalade-V repair must account for its unique supercharger, accessories, cooling package, emissions equipment, four-wheel-drive system, and vehicle software.

Buyer and Inspection Points

A proper pre-purchase inspection should combine a physical examination, a long road test, a scan of all control modules, and verification of the factory build record. The table concentrates on failures and alterations capable of changing both repair cost and collector quality.

A low odometer reading should not override poor storage, prolonged idling, repeated short trips, accident history, or extensive modification. Conversely, a carefully serviced higher-mileage Escalade-V may be the better mechanical prospect if its tires, brakes, suspension, fluids, software, and cooling systems have received timely attention.

Collector and Market Relevance

The Escalade-V's collector case rests on first-of-kind status and an unusually specific powertrain. It was the first SUV admitted to Cadillac's V-Series, and its 682-hp LT4 preserved a supercharged pushrod V8 formula while much of the high-performance luxury market moved toward smaller turbocharged engines and electrification. The availability of an ESV adds another layer because few factory performance SUVs combine this output with extended-wheelbase passenger and cargo space.

Exact production totals are not consistently documented, so scarcity should be established with evidence rather than dealer language. Collectors typically favor factory paint and trim, an unmodified calibration, the original engine or fully documented replacement, undamaged V-specific wheels and brakes, complete records, low corrosion exposure, and retained take-off parts. Unusual factory color combinations and desirable equipment can matter, but condition and provenance remain more defensible than an undocumented claim of rarity.

The early 2023 model has appeal as the introductory year, while the 2025 redesign creates a separate visual and technological phase. Whether collectors ultimately prefer the curved OLED dashboard and original fascia or the 55-inch display and later front end will depend on durability, design taste, and production distribution. Neither version gains mechanical superiority through horsepower, since Cadillac retained the 682-hp rating.

Modified examples occupy a different part of the market. The LT4 responds readily to pulley, intake, exhaust, calibration, and cooling changes, but added output can erase the value of a factory powertrain warranty and complicate emissions compliance. For long-term preservation, reversible modifications accompanied by original parts and calibration records are preferable to undocumented engine, wiring, or exhaust work.

Cultural Relevance

The Escalade had already spent two decades as a fixture of American celebrity, music, professional-sports, and custom-SUV culture before the V appeared. The factory model absorbed themes that the aftermarket had pursued for years, including oversized wheels, louder exhausts, substantial power increases, and dark exterior trim, but integrated them with stability control, cooling development, warranty support, and GM's electronic architecture.

Its connection to racing is indirect. Cadillac's V identity was strengthened by competition programs and V-Series road cars, yet the Escalade-V was not a homologation special and did not produce a factory racing derivative. Its historical value lies instead in the expansion of V-Series engineering into a full-size, three-row SUV without abandoning the model's body-on-frame construction or luxury equipment.

The model also became a prominent platform for tuners because the LT4 responds to established GM small-block practices. That aftermarket attention increases the importance of authentication. An apparently standard vehicle may retain a hidden calibration, changed pulley ratio, altered exhaust, or previously removed power hardware that a visual showroom inspection will miss.

Frequently Asked Questions

What engine is in the 2023–2026 Cadillac Escalade-V?

The Escalade-V uses Cadillac's LT4, a hand-built 6.2-liter supercharged gasoline V8 with an aluminum block and heads, direct injection, an overhead-valve layout, and a 2.65-liter positive-displacement supercharger. Cadillac rates it at 682 hp and 653 lb-ft of torque.

How fast is the Cadillac Escalade-V?

Cadillac estimated 0 to 60 mph in 4.4 seconds and a quarter-mile in 12.74 seconds at 110 mph for the standard-wheelbase launch specification. Top speed is electronically limited to 125 mph. Independent results depend on test procedure, surface, weather, fuel, tires, and vehicle load.

What is the difference between the Escalade-V and Escalade-V ESV?

The ESV uses a 134.1-inch wheelbase instead of the standard model's 120.9-inch wheelbase and has a longer body with more cargo room. Both receive the 682-hp LT4, 10-speed automatic, active four-wheel drive, electronic limited-slip differential, V-calibrated air suspension, Magnetic Ride Control, and Brembo front brakes.

How can I tell whether an Escalade-V is genuine?

Verify the complete VIN through reliable GM build records and compare the result with the installed LT4, engine-builder plaque, Brembo six-piston front brakes, quad exhaust, V-specific chassis equipment, interior controls, body configuration, and original option data. Badges and wheels are not sufficient because both are readily fitted to a standard Escalade.

What changed on the 2025 Cadillac Escalade-V?

The 2025 model received a redesigned front treatment, revised lighting, updated wheel availability, and a 55-inch pillar-to-pillar dashboard display replacing the earlier curved OLED arrangement. The LT4 retained its 682-hp and 653-lb-ft ratings.

What problems should buyers check on an Escalade-V?

Inspection priorities include supercharger drive and charge cooling, transmission behavior, air-suspension leakage, Magnetic Ride Control dampers, active driveline faults, tire matching, brake wear, electronic-module history, accident repairs, and aftermarket calibration. A complete diagnostic scan is as important as a conventional mechanical inspection.

Is the Cadillac Escalade-V collectible?

Its strongest collector credentials are its status as the first V-Series SUV, its hand-built LT4, and the survival of a factory supercharged V8 in both standard and ESV bodies. The most defensible examples are unmodified, fully documented, correctly equipped, free of structural damage, and accompanied by their original wheels, exhaust hardware, and records.

Collector Takeaway

The Escalade-V deserves preservation because Cadillac did the expensive work that separates a factory performance model from an aftermarket conversion. The company integrated a 682-hp LT4, ten-speed transmission, active four-wheel drive, electronic limited-slip differential, air suspension, magnetorheological dampers, Brembo brakes, and calibrated drive modes into a three-row SUV assembled on a truck-derived frame. Its 4.4-second factory acceleration estimate is remarkable, but the deeper achievement is that the powertrain operates alongside the Escalade's passenger space, towing function, ride-height control, and extensive electronics.

The examples that will explain this model best in the future are unlikely to be the ones with the largest dyno sheets. They will be the standard-wheelbase and ESV vehicles that retain their factory calibration, builder-documented LT4, correct V hardware, original colors, complete software and service history, and undamaged body and frame. In that form, the 2023–2026 Escalade-V records the moment Cadillac placed its most recognized luxury SUV under the V-Series banner and backed the badge with 653 lb-ft of supercharged torque.