Cadillac’s Escalade luxury SUV has been a perennial top-tenner on the “Most stolen vehicles in America” list virtually since its introduction. General Motors is hoping to change that.
For 2012 Cadillac has upped its anti-theft game in the Escalade, adding a slew of new technology that it says will help to deter theft without adding inconvenience to the vehicle owners.
First up on the list of changes is an upgrade to a new passive security system known as PASS Key 3+, which uses an encryption system for the key, key cylinder and ignition system. In other words, if it works as intended the car will not start even if someone makes a perfect physical copy of your key or finds a way to physically manipulate the ignition without also having the proper key present to electronically allow the vehicle to start.
Also changed is the steering column-lock system, which is intended to make it more difficult to turn the steering wheel without the vehicle on so thieves can maneuver the SUV onto a flatbed. If a driver parallel parks and turns their wheel, for example, this would be very effective at stopping a flatbed theft.
Although that is all that you will get “for free” on the ’12 Escalade in terms of new security features, there are also optional add-ons such as an inclination sensors that would activate the alarm if the vehicle were tipped or put on a slant, such as a ramp to a flatbed or hooked up to a tow truck. There is also an available shock sensor, not unlike those found on most aftermarket alarms that sound if the vehicle is hit, bumped or has a window broken.
Rounding out the available security features are special new wheel locks to help keep those snazzy deuce-deuces where you left ‘em.
