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Cadillac’s hands-free feature fixes the worst parts about driving
The 145-mile jaunt between Flagstaff, Arizona, and Phoenix is almost entirely downhill. With a drop of approximately 5,800 feet between the two cities, the road that joins them -- Interstate 17 -- has multiple warnings about saving your brakes (meant mostly for big rigs) and is peppered with sharper twists and turns than your typical highway. Yet, while I was behind the wheel, I did almost nothing for the entire drive thanks to Cadillac's new Super Cruise feature on the 2018 CT6.
Cadillac’s Super Cruise maps are key to our robotaxi future
Cadillac is doing something new with LiDAR. Instead of sticking a puck on its cars, it's using the sensors to map the highways of the United States and Canada and geofence its semi-autonomous Super Cruise feature, instead of letting drivers use it anywhere they want. It seems like a bold move, but in reality, it's how self-driving cars will initially enter the market.
ICYMI: Cadillac takes on Tesla's Autopilot and a biometric thrill ride
Today on In Case You Missed It: When people think semi-autonomous driving, Tesla's Autopilot system is usually the first thing that comes to mind. But Cadillac wants in on the robot-driving action. The automaker is launching it's own system called Super Cruise on the upcoming 2018 CT6. The company says it's the "industry's first true hands-free driving technology for the highway." The new semi-self-driving technology will not only keep track of the road, but also the driver to make sure that they pay attention even if they don't have to have their hands on the wheel at all times.
Cadillac unveils its answer to Tesla's semi-autonomous tech
Outside of Tesla, semi-autonomous driving modes are still quite rare. GM, however, wants to make it relatively mainstream. The upcoming 2018 Cadillac CT6 (due this fall) will be the company's first car with Super Cruise, a technology that can take over during highway drives. If you believe the Cadillac crew, this is the first production car with "true" hands-free driving. Where Tesla's newer Autopilot versions require that you keep your hands on the wheel, Cadillac only requires that you look at the road. An infrared camera on the steering column tracks your head to make sure you're paying attention, and the vehicle will send alerts or even bring the car to a stop if you won't (or can't) keep your eyes forward.
Cadillac is renting vehicles as a subscription service for $1,500 a month
Variety is the spice of life, but reality is full of commitments. Buying a car typically means being stuck with a specific model for the duration of ownership. If you have enough money to burn, however, Cadillac has another option: Don't own a car. Subscribe to one. Today the company announced Cadillac Book, a "luxury vehicle subscription service" that lets you rent various Cadillac vehicles on the fly. Basically, it's an app-based rental service that carries only one brand of vehicle and costs $1,500 a month.
The 2016 Cadillac CT6 delivers power and luxury
As a kid, I marveled at the Cadillac owned by my parents' friend. You could roll down the windows with the push of a button! My father would comment that it was just another thing that would break. A few years later, you couldn't roll down two of the windows on that car. For a while that was what car buyers could expect from the American luxury brand: features that failed after a few years. Flash forward to now and all those bells and whistles that caught my attention as a child are now standard on most cars. So now Cadillac has to up both its game and build quality, and with the 2016 CT6, it succeeds.
CarPlay and Android Auto will be in Cadillac's 2016 models
Following in the footsteps of sibling Chevrolet, Cadillac has also revealed its plans to support both CarPlay and Android Auto. This is yet another move by the automaker's parent company, General Motors, to not miss out on the new wave of in-car features from Apple and Google. Cadillac says it's all part of a major overhaul to CUE, the 8-inch infotainment system that's been powering its vehicles for the past few years. You can expect to see CarPlay in most 2016 Cadillacs this summer (save for the SRX Crossover), while Android Auto compatibility is scheduled to arrive at a later, undisclosed date.
Cadillac's cars are getting smart rearview mirrors next year
Hey, Nissan: you won't be the only big automaker with a camera-equipped rearview mirror next year. Cadillac has revealed that its future cars are getting a smart mirror that shows a 1,280 x 240 view of what's behind you without passengers or roof pillars getting in the way. You can flip between the camera's perspective and a conventional mirror at the drop of a hat, and the system is designed to both give you a wide view and hold up in harsh weather. It sounds cool (if familiar), but you'll be patient if you want a Caddy with this extra safety measure in place. The mirror will first be available when the CT6 launches in late 2015, and it could be a while longer before it spreads to other models.
Future Cadillacs to come with dual-standard wireless chargers
If you're thinking of buying a new Cadillac soon (congrats!) and you're also big on gadgets, you may want to keep an eye out for some specific models. Visteon, a car electronics supplier that conjured up a smart infotainment system in 2013, is set to debut its wireless charger in the 2015 ATS luxury sedan. It will also be installed on the CTS Sports Sedan this fall, though, as well as the Escalade SUV and other General Motors cars by the end of 2014. Unlike most wireless chargers, Visteon's works with two standards -- Qi and Power Matters Alliance (PMA) -- similar to the ChargeSpot Pocket out of Canada. The dual-standard capability future-proofs your in-car charger... unless manufacturers decide to stick to another standard instead.
GM is bringing wireless phone charging to some Cadillac cars
General Motors may be going through a rough patch at the moment, but that's not stopping the company from setting its sights on the future. Today, the Detroit-based automaker revealed that it plans to put wireless charging pads inside a number of Cadillac vehicles, starting with the launch of the 2015 ATS sport sedan and coupe later in the fall. Although the announcement highlights the compatibility with Powermat, a General Motors representative has confirmed to Engadget that the feature also supports Qi and "other in-phone wireless charging technologies." What's more, GM says this is coming to more vehicles soon (as had been previously reported), with the Cadillac CTS, Cadillac Escalade, GMC Sierra and Chevy Silverado expected to be added to the list in Q4 of this year.
Your new Cadillac ELR will come with OnStar RemoteLink too
Still waiting for those Cadillac ELRs to roll off the production line and onto the forecourt? Well, when they do, turns out they'll be OnStar-enabled and Smart Grid ready. The OnStar EV-specific mobile app lets you control and schedule when you charge your new wagon up. It'll even let you locate renewable energy sources (via an third-party services provided over an API), or set it to only charge during off-peak times -- to soften some of the inevitable sting from the estimated $75k sticker price. OnStar's been part of the Volt experience for some time, but GM's clearly keen to see it come to the bigger vehicle too. It's even throwing in a year of premium service to get you hooked started.
Cadillac ELR arrives on lots in January, starting at $76,000
If you've been saving your pennies in anticipation of the Cadillac ELR's pricing and availability announcement, it's almost time to smash the piggy bank. Come January, you'll have the distinct privilege of dropping upward of $76,000 on the fully rebranded and slightly upgraded Chevy Volt. Until then however, you have a few months left to decide if its 58 extra horsepower and high-end accoutrements are worth the price of two of Chevy's EVs.
AT&T LTE coming to GM's 2015 fleet
Ready to trade your old car in for a shiny new mobile hotspot? AT&T and GM are using the international platform that is Mobile World Congress to announce a partnership that'll bring the carrier's LTE network to "millions of cars" under the Chevrolet, Buick, GMC and Cadillac umbrellas. The rollout is set to hit the 2015 models due out in 2014 in the US and Canada. The partnership with GM-owned OnStar will bring AT&T connectivity to a variety of services, including safety, diagnostics, infotainment and safety -- the carrier's president of emerging enterprises and partnerships, Glenn Lurie, told us that the latter was a chief concern for his company. "First and foremost is making the car safer," he explained, referencing the company's "It Can Wait," anti-driving-while-texting campaign. Such will certainly be a concern when the company realizes its dreams of turning GM vehicles into mobile hotspots. Details of the partnership are forthcoming, though Lurie insists that AT&T will be "working on every aspect of what's going into the vehicle," including opening up SDKs and APIs for developers in an attempt to, "futureproof the car for things to come." As far as futureproofing after market vehicles, Lurie says, "we are working and looking at all opportunities in the after market space. We are absolutely working with partners on the after market." More info from GM and AT&T can be had after the break. Daniel Cooper contributed to this report.
Cadillac to update CUE infotainment system for improved responsiveness
If unresponsiveness in Cadillac's CUE infotainment system has been a personal point of frustration, relief is on the way: an update to smooth things over is being worked on. CUE Design Manager Jeff Massimilla told Wired that the firm's received feedback regarding responsiveness, and they're working on "a modification that will be released sometime later this year." With the upgrade, the infotainment system will be more responsive and the touchscreen and capacitive buttons will provide haptic feedback more quickly. The Cadillac XTS and ATS are set to score the update, but there's still no exact date penciled in for the patch's arrival. Though vehicles could suck down the update with a built-in data connection, the software will need to be installed by a Cadillac dealership instead. Not a fan of having lost knobs and dials to a touchscreen in the first place? According to Cadillac VP of Marketing Don Butler, we'll see the likes of such analog controls complement the screen interface in the future.
Cadillac ELR unveiled: A Volt for the luxury set (updated with pictures)
It's taken a good, long while for the Cadillac Converj concept to break cover as a production machine, but at the 2013 North American International Auto Show in Detroit, the car has finally shrugged off its camouflage. You can think of this as the Chevy Volt's better-mannered big-brother if you like, as this machine relies on the same Extended Range Electric Vehicle platform as its predecessor. That is, it has the same basic hybrid structure as the Volt that allows it to run as a pure EV for up to 35 miles before switching over to a more traditional parallel hybrid mode, burning gasoline for a maximum range of over 300 miles. But, that's not to say this is a Volt that's just made a trip to the tailor for a better-fitting suit -- there's a bit more to it than that. Join us after the break for the details.
Cadillac to reveal 2014 ELR electric coupe on January 15th
Cadillac still doesn't have a proper footprint in the world of electric powertrains. We can at last say when it will, however: the automaker has confirmed that it's unveiling the production, 2014 model year ELR coupe on January 15th at the Detroit Auto Show. Few details have surfaced in the teaser image and release, but a mention of "extended-range electric vehicle technology" supports beliefs that the ELR is still using a variant of the Chevy Volt's powerplant, not unlike the Converj concept from 2009. Clues to the bodywork (and recent spy photos) also suggest it won't be much different on the outside. No matter how much has changed, we'll have a better sense of how green GM's luxury marque can be when we're on the show floor in a month's time.
Cadillac CUE makes its way to XTS, navigates with ease in NYC (hands-on)
Navigating those mean Manhattan streets is an intimidating chore for any driver, with or without a battery of high-tech in-car aides. But after an introduction to Cadillac CUE, it's easy to see the benefit of such a comprehensive system. CUE isn't your typical in-dash GPS nav -- sure it can get you on your way just as well as any other navigation system, but a bounty of sensors and displays allow you to keep your eyes on the road and avoid collisions, while also providing the smartphone integration and media playback support you'd expect from a high-end 2012 automobile. The base system, included standard with 2012 and 2013 XTS and SRX models and available as an option with the ATS, is centered around an 8-inch, 800 x 400 capacitive touch LCD with anti-scratch, anti-glare and oleophobic coatings to keep the display in tip-top shape and completely viewable from both the driver and passenger seats. The display flips open to reveal a lit storage compartment with a USB port for connecting and charging your smartphone, while capacitive-touch buttons below the panel provide haptic feedback and a variety of control options (you can tap or slide your finger across to adjust volume, for example). Add-ons include a 12.3-inch, 1280 x 480 "instrument cluster" that provides speed and fuel information in a familiar readout, along with directions, phone call info and music selection. Also available is a slick heads-up display, which features a more subdued color pallet (compared to the vibrant LCDs) and outputs key info, including speed limits and collision warnings, while also minimizing ghosting thanks to a wedge-shaped windshield, which thins as you move from top to bottom. Two more USB ports in the center console let you sync up and charge two additional devices, while an AUX input enables older devices to pipe out tunes. Now, much of this may seem familiar -- we took a peek at CUE at last year's CTIA -- but this is the first time that we've actually had a chance to take the tech for a spin in a drivable 2013 Cadillac XTS, and New York City seems like the perfect venue for pushing the system to its limits. Inputting a destination is as simple as typing an address into Google Maps (though CUE uses a proprietary maps app based on NAVTEQ's database). As we drove from our office near Union Square to the Financial District, the car let us know when we were cutting things a bit too close, as seat vibrations alerted us to obstacles on either side. All the while, adjusting music and climate was simple as can be, and HUD-based directions gave us little excuse to look away from the busy road. After arriving at our destination, we slid on over to the passenger seat to film the action while an expert drove. If a new Caddy is in your future, you should be able to pick up a CUE-equipped car within the next few weeks. For now, you can jump past the break for a front-seat look as we cruise on through the 212.
Cadillac road tests self-driving Super Cruise tech, could hit highways by mid-decade
If the standard options on the Cadillac XTS or ATS sedan just aren't enough to get you to pull the trigger, perhaps this will. GM and some fellow researchers are road testing Super Cruise self-driving technology in hopes of making those grueling road trips a bit easier on the ol' chauffeur. Capable of auto steering, braking and lane centering on the open road "under certain optimal conditions," the system is meant for highway use in both free-flowing and bumper-to-bumper traffic. Super Cruise implements a mixture of radar, ultrasonic sensors, cameras and GPS info. However, when "reliable data" can't be gathered by the system, you'll have no choice but to take the wheel yourself. Although the basics of the new tech have already been implemented on the 2013 Cadillac XTS and ATS autos as a piece of the Driver Assist Package, the full rollout could happen by the middle of the decade. For a look at Super Cruise in action, hit the video just past the break.
Cadillac focuses on safety with vibrating drivers' seats, other accident avoidance tech (video)
To say General Motors' Cadillac division is taking safety seriously on its upcoming 2013 vehicles would be an understatement. The automaker recently announced its high-tech accident avoidance packages dubbed Driver Awareness and Assist, the earlier of which is set to debut this Spring on its new XTS model, moving along to the ATS by the summer. Driver Assist (set to release in the fall) packs goodies like Automatic Collision Preparation and auto-braking, while the Awareness version aims to help keep you in your lane and safe from blind spots, among other things. Despite the differing monikers, both sport many of the same systems such as Adaptive Forward Lighting that can shift 15 degrees based on your turn, radar-based adaptive cruise control and Rear Cross Traffic Alert so you don't get sideswiped while backing up. Most notable among both is the company's Safety Alert seat -- AT&T Labs may be testing a force-feedback steering wheel, but GM's gone and planted haptic feedback into the drivers' bottom seat cushion. Essentially, using the radar, cameras and sensors around the car, the seat can rumble on its left, right or all around, in order to "nudge" you in situations such as getting too close to another car or veering out of your lane. You can also opt for audio cues if you're not fond of vibrations, or use both together. Of course, there's a whole lot more to it, so if you're curious to see it all in action you'll find a duo of videos and more information in the press releases planted after the break.
Remembering the Apple Paladin and other prototypes
Way back in 2006 we had a story from AppleGazette about 5 Apple products which never made it to production. Today there's a photo of an old "touchscreen" phone Apple prototyped circulating (although I remember digging this up when the iPhone was announced; we never ran the story it seems) and I wound up doing a whopping five minutes of research on Flickr for more Apple prototypes. Like fishing for Steve Jobs videos on YouTube, these diversions can be a lot of fun. It's a bit like staring into an alternate universe, seeing glimpses of Apple's ambitions -- often ahead of their time, and re-appearing years later in substantially refined form. The Paladin is one of those Frankenstein machines you'd never imagine would emerge out of Cupertino. While the "touchscreen phone" prototype was stylish, the Paladin looks like a Duo and a fax machine took a cue from the Wuzzles and had some freakish techno-mutt. Paladin had a pull-out keyboard with trackball. The combination of a fax machine, scanner, phone and computer probably made sense before the Newton, but molded as a typical fax machine in that old beige just seems so... uninspired. Then again, this was 1994 -- not exactly an era of innovation from Apple, unless you count endless models of Performas "progress" (the market sure didn't). The Paladin doesn't even have an Apple logo up top, instead showing Apple on the label only. Of course, the pics from Jim Abeles are showing a prototype, so there's no real reason to attach a logo at this point in the process. Mr. Abeles has a few curious prototypes on his Flickr page, including an iPhone, a 13" MacBook in very rough form, the Newton-powered Bic and Cadillac prototypes (way before the iPad), the W.A.L.T. (Wizzy Active Lifestyle Telephone), and a Mac Portable with transparent case (translucent plastic, OMG!). Apparently he's collected more, but only these ultra-rare prototypes are on Flickr. What a collection!
