The Cadillac Escalade has never been accused of being subtle, and that’s exactly why it continues to thrive in a market filled with increasingly subdued SUV designs. It remains one of the most audacious, head-turning vehicles on American roads, favored by those who want to be noticed from several lanes away. That kind of flash inevitably draws aftermarket attention, and now, one company is taking on the challenge with a new spin on the all-electric Escalade IQ.

That company is Waido, a name already familiar to fans of widebody kits and over-the-top custom builds. The latest project is previewed through a series of detailed renderings, showing off am extreme visual makeover for Cadillac’s electric flagship.

Read: Cadillac’s Wildest New Luxury Isn’t A Feature It’s Dinner Reservation In The Backseat

Waido kicks things off with a new front fascia featuring distinctive aero accents and an extended chin spoiler. The changes give the Escalade IQ a sharper, more aggressive look, well beyond what you’ll find in the showroom. Complementing the new front-end are flared wheel arches, adding some extra width to the SUV (not that it actually needs it). Waido has flared the rear arches, too, and showcased the Caddy on a set of aftermarket wheels.

Illustrations Waido

At the rear, the transformation includes a redesigned bumper, a new lip spoiler, and a small diffuser. Of course, no one is expecting a full-size electric SUV to suddenly benefit from track-ready downforce, but the visual drama adds to the overall package. And really, with a curb weight north of 9,000 pounds (4,082 kg), the Escalade IQ already puts more than enough pressure through its tires without any help from airflow trickery.

Waido was one of the first brands to unveil a widebody kit for the Tesla Cybertruck, priced from $9,990. here’s no word yet on what the Escalade IQ setup will cost, but given the extensive use of forged carbon fiber in these renderings, don’t expect it to land in budget territory.

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Luxury carmakers have long tried to turn their vehicles into lifestyle statements, and Cadillac is leaning all the way in with a dining experience that’s more indulgence than transportation. The all-electric Escalade IQ is already one of the most luxurious SUVs on the market, and now Cadillac wants to show just how plush it really is.

Read: Cadillac Projects EVs Will Make Up 35% Of Its Sales This Year

To do that, the brand is expanding its “Cadillac of Reservations” experience, an upscale backseat dinner where guests are served a high-end meal inside the IQ.

Most of us have probably only ever eaten fast food in our cars, but Cadillac doesn’t expect its customers to chow down on a Big Mac. Instead, it’s partnered with high-end restaurants in Beverly Hills, Miami, and San Francisco, to serve up five-course dinners using the IQ’s stowable tray tables.

It sounds like an odd idea, but there’s something appealing about eating a fancy meal in the back of a Cadillac SUV, with the seats reclined, the massage and heated functions turned out, and the AKG 40-speaker sound system pumping a special song for each dish. It’s certainly much more private than eating at a packed-out restaurant.

The Cadillac of Reservations experience was first launched in New York City with COQODAQ where the restaurant’s famed fried signature was served up. On April 24, April 25, and April 26, the experience moves to Beverly Hills, thanks to La Dolce Vita, an Italian-American restaurant frequented by Hollywood A-listers. There will be just three seatings per night for parties of two, with reservations open through Resy.com later this month.

Next Stops: Miami and San Francisco

Following the Beverly Hills stop, the rolling restaurant heads to Miami in early summer. There, Cadillac teams up with COTE, a restaurant that blends Korean barbecue with American steakhouse style. In late summer, the tour wraps up in San Francisco, where State Bird Provisions will take over the backseat kitchen duties. The restaurant describes itself as adventurous and modern American.

For as perfect as the Cadillac Escalade IQ is to host a premium dining experience, the new Escalade IQL would perhaps be even better as it’s 4.2 inches (107 mm) longer than the standard model.

If you’re still intrigued—and honestly, who wouldn’t be at least a little curious about a five-course meal served in an electric SUV—here’s when you’ll be able to make a reservation:

• For April 24: April 21 HERE
• For April 25: April 22 HERE
• For April 26: April 23 HERE

EV sales are on the up across several key markets, with China leading the charge with a 76 jump in February 2025, followed by Europe with a 29 percent rise. Even with a potential shift in US policy under the leadership of President Donald Trump, North America too has recorded significant growth – 20 percent up year-to-date.

While the rate of adoption may not have quite hit the lofty targets some manufacturers had, Cadillac is ready for a drastic shift towards electric cars. By the end of 2025, Cadillac will offer at least five EVs, including the Lyriq, the Escalade IQ and IQL, and the Optiq crossover. Soon, the three-row Vistiq will join the party, along with the ultra-luxury $300,000+ Celestiq.

Read: 2026 Cadillac Escalade IQL Is Long, Really Long

The new models are the backbone of Cadillac’s predictions that EVs will account for 30–35 percent of U.S. sales in 2025, a significant jump from the 18 percent they represented last year. “The momentum is really there,” said Brad Franz, Cadillac’s director of marketing, in an interview with CNBC. “We’re going to ride that momentum and we’re not launching the vehicles to redistribute the business among [internal combustion engines] and EV portfolio. It’s to grow the business.”

Scaling Back The EV Dream

Of course, Cadillac’s latest strategy is vastly different from what it had proposed a few years ago. Despite EV sales growing year by year, the rate by which they increase hasn’t quite met expectations. In response, Cadillac has walked back its initial plans to become an all-electric car manufacturer by 2030.

The party line is that the brand will let consumer demand dictate when combustion cars disappear from its lineup. Reading between the lines, parent company General Motors is also looking to hedge its bets with a new administration that campaigned heavily against federal support for EVs.

Crucially though, it isn’t stopping Cadillac from offering a full range of EVs. Its overall US sales grew by 8.8% in 2024, with Lyriq sales more than tripling since its late 2022 debut, so it seems there’s potential there. As the brand balances EV expansion with continued gas-powered offerings, its commitment remains clear: providing customers with choice in the evolving luxury vehicle landscape.