Escalade

Make
Cadillac
Segment
SUV

Cadillac's Super Cruise driver-assist system available for the flagship Cadillac CT6 is already very advanced. Unlike Tesla's Autopilot, Cadillac's Super Cruise allows the driver to take their hands off the steering wheel and let the car take over driving in certain conditions.

Last year, a new update added support for hands-free driving on 200,000 miles of US highway. According to the Detroit Free Press, Cadillac is planning to roll out a huge update for its Super Cruise system on 2021 models that will add a slew of significant improvements bringing the system closer to fully autonomous driving.

Cadillac's Super Cruise chief engineer Mario Maiorana confirmed to the publication that Super Cruise support will be added to the 2021 Cadillac Escalade SUV and Cadillac CT4 and Cadillac CT5 sedans.

Cadillac originally planned to add Super Cruise support to all three models for the 2020 model year, but this is no longer expected to happen due to plant closures and delays.

One of the main new features being added in the upcoming update will be a new on-demand land change system. With Super Cruise engaged, the driver taps the turn signal stalk to go around a slower vehicle ahead or clear the lane for a faster vehicle behind. Sensors check the onboard map, monitor traffic, and automatically moves the car to either the left or right lane. The system will also accelerate or slow down accordingly to create a safe gap when changing lanes.

In addition, Cadillac's Super Cruise will be able to automatically navigate highway interchanges if the car is in the correct lane connecting them. Control is returned to the driver if the lane disappears after joining the new road.

The digital cameras that check the driver is alert to take over control if necessary and read lane markings will also be upgraded with new hardware and software. This will help prevent the cameras get blinded by sunlight, which often happens when the sun is low before dusk and after sunrise. Maiorana added that the Super Cruise system will also be easier to engage. By 2023, General Motors plans to expand Super Cruise support to 22 vehicles, including cars from other brands such as the Chevrolet Bolt EUV.