Like its defunct Chevrolet Avalanche sibling, the EXT is distinguished by a versatile midgate system that replaces the traditional wall between the interior and the pickup bed. Folding down the midgate and the second-row seats expands the tonneau-covered cargo area from five to eight feet, while removing the tonneau and rear window makes room for extra-tall items.
Despite its practicality, the EXT has long been the weakest-selling member of Cadillac’s Escalade lineup. Through June, just 1,159 EXTs found new homes, while 5,677 examples of the standard Escalade and 3,827 extended-wheelbase Escalade ESV models were sold during the same period.
Though the Avalanche was sent off with a special Black Diamond variant, the EXT won’t get a commemorative model before it leaves dealer showrooms forever at the end of the summer.
The EXT isn’t the only Escalade that won’t return for another model year – GM previously announced that the Escalade Hybrid, along with the Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid and GMC Yukon Hybrid, will also get the axe.
Aside from a new Midnight Plum Metallic exterior color, the standard Escalade and Escalade ESV will carry over unchanged for 2014. A redesigned version of Cadillac’s full-size SUV is expected to debut next spring as a 2015 model.