We enhanced the luxurious styling of this Cadillac Escalade with premium chrome delete accessories and a full vehicle wrap! Upgrades like blackout trim, a satin black wrap, powder coated wheels, and a slew of other upgrades built this look.
Satin Black Vinyl Wrap
A lot of our clients love the look of satin black for its unique low sheen. The GMC Yukon Denali is normally our target of choice, but this is our first Cadillac Escalade transformation. In order to get that silky look we used 3M 2080 automotive wrap film in Satin Black (S12).
Vinyl wraps are a good option for specialty finishes or unique colors because they are easier to maintain than paint. Wraps also don’t permanently change the vehicle which helps the value if you want to sell the car later on. Plus, a vinyl wrap protects the vehicle’s paint underneath.
Chrome Delete Trim
Chrome deletes are a mod that work well with every make and model, but they are especially nice on blackout builds. Once this satin wrap went on we knew it would help this chrome delete trim really pop. The gloss black trim kicked this SUV up a notch.
The largest area of our chrome delete is the grille. This large dark mesh part delivers a strong low-profile look to the front end. On each side of the grille are fog light bezels that accent the tall LED lights.
When deciding on the emblems we chose blackout Cadillac Emblems to blend in with trim more. Another option would have been the monochrome styling for a bit more pop. Having only black emblems creates a subtle and shadowy style.
As you move to the side of the build you’ll find roof rails, window trim, and lower bodyside molding. This build eliminated every bit of pesky chrome by the windows including the larger quarter glass pillar.
Even small areas like the door handles also receive chrome delete treatment. One part in particular gets a special treatment, the smoked side indicators. They are darkened using tinted clear coat which doesn’t peel away like a tinted film would over time.
At the tailgate you can find another blackout emblem next to the chrome delete hatch trim. To match the emblems we also have a blackout Escalade nameplate kit.
The last bit of the chrome delete includes rear bumper trim and exhaust tips which are both replaced with blackout parts. All of these parts offer a complete permanent replacement as opposed to a vinyl wrap or painted chrome which can wear away. Each part is made with durable black plastic that’s then painted black which hides damage from road debris over time.
Black Powder Coated Wheels
With all the new gloss black trim the wheels looked wrong. Instead of shelling out on a set of customs we enhanced them with a gloss black powder coat finish to help pull the look together.
Powder coat finishes have a lot of flexibility with color options so you can get whichever shade suits you. Another benefit of a powder coat finish is they have long-lasting durability that guards the wheels. They offer additional protection and style for your ride in one affordable package.
Red Painted Calipers
To give a touch of personality we painted the brake calipers a bright red. Painted brake calipers add to the design of the ride and hint at high performance. You can paint your calipers any color though to make it more personalized! We’ve done orange, yellow, pink, blue, green, and more.
When painting calipers, it is very important to use a durable and heat resistant paint. Calipers take a ton of abuse from the road with gravel, dirt, water, and chemicals so the extra barrier of strong paint adds protection along with style.
Tinted Windows
To wrap up the classic blackout look we added a slight 20% window tint. Applying a tinted film to the window provides privacy as well as protection from harmful UV rays. It keeps the interior cooler and the exterior looking good.
In our shop we use 3M FX Premium or Ceramic IR to darken the windows. Often times its only required on the front two windows. Rear windows are usually darker when the leave factory because they are made with a tint dye. It’s good to learn more about window tint which is why we wrote a whole article on it.
We always recommend a professional install for window tints. Poor tint jobs will bubble and discolor over time. Make sure your window tint installer has a good warranty to protect your investment!
Ceramic Coating
Our last goal was to protect the look of this wrap. We applied a ceramic coating directly to the satin film. It’s the same process as if you were applying it to paint and provides the same benefits. Ceramic coatings bind to the surface and create a protective layer atop the film leaving grime with nowhere to stick.
After a ceramic application your body panels are considered superhydrophobic surfaces. Think Rain-X, but on steroids! Water bounces off and simply refuses to stick. But unlike a DIY solution, our coatings are warrantied for 5 years so you have long-lasting protection.
Another huge benefit of ceramic coating a wrap film is the added surface hardness. This creates more resistance to scratching and scuffing. This is especially important with non-glossy films which are more susceptible to damage.
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!
