This bold and flashy SUV is notorious for having an abundance of chrome accents. Removing all that chrome creates an eye-catching new style that draws out some extra attention. Over the years the Cadillac Escalade has grown associated with blackout styling which has slowly turned this traditional luxury SUV on its head.
For this custom Cadillac Escalade we gave it a chrome delete to blackout all of its chrome including custom emblems. To further the blackout styling we applied a powder coat finish to the wheels and created a two-tone look by adding a roof wrap. If you want to see a full blackout Cadillac Escalade we made one in a previous build.
Chrome Delete
Chrome deletes have become popular modifications for all kinds of vehicles, but especially luxury SUVs. So much so in fact, that many dealers even offer all black trim options for an additional charge. Starting with the grille each piece of chrome on this chrome delete Cadillac was removed and painted gloss black. The all-black accents provide strong lines that detail each body section. Of course, the grille wasn’t the only piece of this blackout.
Parts like the roof rails were removed from the top of the SUV, painted black, and re-attached. Followed by the fine pieces of window trim, although these pieces were wrapped with gloss black vinyl instead. Working with fine trim sometimes calls for the use of vinyl wrap since it’s more time efficient and cost effective.
On the lower half of the vehicle there were a few other areas that needed the chrome delete treatment. These pieces included the front and rear bumper trim along with the Escalade lettering. Each of which got coated gloss black to bring every last bit of the accent pieces together.
Custom Emblems
We went back and forth on whether or not to fully blackout the Cadillac Emblems but decide to leave them colorful since it wasn’t a full blackout. Having the pop of color amongst the black trim gives the Escalade a bit of modern nostalgic character. The blackout emblem style on this build really helped to drive those Cadillac brand colors forward.
Once the new chrome delete Cadillac emblems were installed, they complemented the other black trim pieces and provided a strong color contrast against the silver. This color pairing draws people’s attention toward the SUV and helps easily distinguish the make.
Vinyl Roof Wrap
To blend in the blackout window trim and roof rails we wrapped the roof as well as the pillars with a gloss black vinyl. This style of vinyl wrap creates the look of a two-tone paint job which was popularized for SUVs by Land Rover. Custom wraps with this two-tone effect make the car feel more compressed and streamlined while adding some extra character. This vehicle upgrade helped add a darker demeanor to this chrome delete Escalade, but we knew we still wanted more.
Window Tint
Once the roof, pillars, and window trim were consumed in black we decided we had to do a window tint. Not only would adding a window tint create a sleek and serious look to this custom Cadillac, it would also provide some practical benefits. Applying a tinted film to the windows protects your interior, your valuables, and most importantly you from the sun’s rays, with the added benefit of privacy.
Using some high quality 3M Premium FX tint film, we applied a 35% tint on the front windows and 20% to the back to adhere to state laws. Rear windows are usually darker when the leave factory because they are made with a tint dye, and don’t always require a tint film. Most often we use 35% tint films on 1st row windows in accordance with Missouri laws. It’s important to learn more about window tint which is why we wrote a whole article on it.
Tints are offered from 5% to 70% with the lower numbers being darker. The percentage measures VLT (Visual Light Transference) which quantifies how much light comes through the film. When you go to select your tint, you need to keep in mind your local laws, so that you don’t get ticketed. We always recommend a professional install for this modification. Poor tint jobs will bubble and discolor over time. Make sure your window tint installer has a good warranty to protect your investment!
Powder Coated Wheels
With all of the body chrome accents deleted the original wheels felt plain and out of place. We addressed this by adding a black powder coat finish to the wheels that would go along with the other black features we added.
Powder coat finishes create two important benefits. The first being their flexibility of design which allows for the wheels to be customized in almost any color. Which is quite beneficial because you can match the right color scheme for your vehicle. The second upside of a powder coat finish is their long-lasting durability. Wheels take a lot of damage from debris and chemicals along the road. These powder coat finishes help provide another layer of protection for your ride’s wheels.
Painted Calipers
The final touch of this build created more depth to the styling of this build’s exterior by focusing on the smaller details. Behind the freshly black powder coat wheels is a set of painted calipers. We opted to paint the caliper a bright gloss red to match the Cadillac logos bold colors and make the wheels stand out more.
Red calipers are a quick mod that can hint at the performance and luxury aspects of the vehicle. We also recommend applying a ceramic coating to the caliper because it makes break dust, mud, and debris easier to clean while adding another barrier of protection.
Looking to customize your Cadillac Escalade with some blackout parts? Check out our CATALOG
We offer aftermarket accessories internationally and services across the contiguous U.S. to help you get your car exactly how you want it. Reach out if you’d like a quote for your vehicle!
