As Motorsport.com reports, Cadillac has dropped a wild machine right in time for the Mexico City Grand Prix, unveiling an exclusive Sergio Perez edition of its 682hp Escalade-V. Only 11 of these beasts will ever be built, perfectly matching the race number of the driver. If you want to put one in your garage, it is now on sale across dealers in Mexico with a purchase price of 4,099,000 pesos, which works out to around $222,500. That puts it roughly 250,000 pesos above the standard version currently available in the country.
So what do you get for the extra cash? The updates are mostly cosmetic, headlined by Escalade and V-Series badges finished in black alongside a monochrome Cadillac logo that mirrors the colors of the MAC-26 F1 car. You also get illuminated door handles and a grille, while lifting the bonnet uncovers a carbon fibre engine cover. Down below, the SUV rolls on 24-inch Satin Graphite wheels.
I want to finish my time in Formula 1 on a high note, and all I can say is that we will know when [I retire] soon.
The cabin receives a matching makeover with sports pedals and trim rendered in the same monochrome team theme. Two numbered plaques—sitting on the B-pillar and the centre console—let you know exactly which of the 11 units you managed to secure, while Perez's signature sits right next to the number.
Underneath the special touches, the mechanical heart remains completely untouched. The 6.2-litre supercharged V8 still pumps out 682hp and 653lb-ft of torque, feeding all four wheels through a 10-speed automatic gearbox. That is enough to shove this heavy machine from zero to 60mph in 4.4 seconds. No, it is not quite as fast as an F1 car, but it is plenty for the street.
This whole launch lands right ahead of his home race, the Mexico City Grand Prix, which follows this weekend’s round in Austin and marks his 300th grand prix start. But the 36-year-old has dropped heavy hints that his time in the sport is winding down. Speaking to Mexican broadcaster Televisa this week, he admitted that the Cadillac project requires more time than he initially thought.
"I think giving a specific number [of years] is difficult, but it won’t be much longer," Perez said. "What really holds me back [from continuing] is my kids." He added: "I want to finish my time in Formula 1 on a high note, and all I can say is that we will know when [I retire] soon."
