- Cadillac said it is working on a crash-proof car.
- No details or timetable has been set on the Cadillac of the future.
- Volvo's Vision 2020 is not as clear under Chinese ownership.
DETROIT — Cadillac appears to be taking a page from the Volvo playbook, announcing late last week that it is envisioning a "crash-proof car" and a world "where cars may actually drive themselves."
Without offering much detail, Cadillac said future Cadillac technologies could include "in-vehicle Doppler radar to spot obstructions or traffic jams ahead." It also pictured "autonomous vehicles that can communicate with each other, traffic signals and buildings, pointing to a world where cars may actually drive themselves."
In a phone conversation with Inside Line on Monday morning, Cadillac spokesman Nick Twork said that Cadillac's statement last Friday was about "a theoretical car" and that the automaker was not putting a date on a rollout. "It wouldn't be appropriate [to set a timetable]," Twork said. He also said that "cars that drive themselves are not in the immediate future."
When asked if some Cadillac enthusiasts would resist a driverless vehicle, Twork said: "I can't see anything on the horizon that we would take away the enjoyment of driving. That's one of the tenets of Cadillac."
Volvo, which on October 20, 2008, set a goal of no deaths in a Volvo by 2020, responded to Cadillac's new strategy in a gracious manner. "Nice that Cadillac has joined us for a safer future," said Volvo Cars North America spokesman Dan Johnston in reply to an e-mailed query from Inside Line.
Inside Line also asked if Volvo's Vision 2020 is still in operation under Geely, its new Chinese owner. Johnston replied: "Nothing with Geely. I think right now, it's all about back-end structures and where do we both go from here. [Geely Chairman] Li Shufu has clearly stated we will remain Volvo.
"Vision 2020 is not one technology that will miraculously appear to keep people from dying in car accidents; it's continued improvement in existing technologies, find[ing] new solutions to old problems and adding layers of safety to each new model," Johnston wrote.
Inside Line says: Your future Cadillac CTS-V may drive you, in Cadillac's vision of a brave new world. — Anita Lienert, Correspondent
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mklrivowner says:
05:45 AM, 09/01/2010
In future generations when techno-connectivity becomes, not only necessary, but desired, we will see a demand for "driverless cars". These may be something more akin to vehicles in "The 6th Day". Vehicles with an "auto-pilot" feature that handles driving on roads and freeways. These wehicles could still be manually driven and would also require you to park, or navigate low-speed areas like parking lots, traffic jams, and the like where too many conditions cannot be accounted for. Less likely are vehicles like those found in "I-Robot" where cars are more taxis that you get in, tell it where to go, and it gets you there.
To be sure, if anything like this happens in my lifetime, I'll be glad i know what a carburetor is. I agree with Jeremy on this one. You want a driverless car? Ride the metro, call a cab, get a bus ticket.
Of course, I would love to see one of these "cars" get stuck in the left lane for a day and a half because it was driving side-by-side with other vehicles and was limited to speed limits. That would certainly lower their desirability.
jeremy_c says:
05:51 AM, 08/31/2010
If someone wants to climb into a "pod" that simply takes them from point A to point B, they can take the bus. What Caddy is doing is in effect charging someone upwards of probably $70K for a bus ticket.
scottyscooter says:
02:49 AM, 08/31/2010
Do people actually want their cars to be a fully automated product that drives itself?
This is just my opinion, but I think that the demographic that would potentially want technology like this really only view an automobile as a transportation tool and nothing more. A car is basically an appliance to them, and people who think of their cars as an appliance that gets them from point A to B generally don't blow a ton of money on their vehicle. A car with Doppler radar and the ability to do everything that Cadillac envisions would certainly be extremely expensive; are the type of people who think that it is appealing to climb into a pod and have it automatically drive you to work the same type of people that would spend a fortune on a car?
I suppose time will tell since this is apparently Cadillac's new direction...
maxwellhere says:
08:07 PM, 08/30/2010
And I envision a dull box in a passion-free world.
jeremy_c says:
07:59 PM, 08/30/2010
Yep, cars that can't crash... I can see where GM got that from. Right from "car companies that can't fail courtesy of taxpayer bailout money"
GM, no matter how badly you run the company, it won't go into Chapter 11, one of the tenents of this great car company. Idiots car maker taking care of idiot drivers.
I'll take my Mustang 5.0 please.
mce63 says:
05:19 PM, 08/30/2010
***Blatant Stereotype Warning***
If Cadillac is taking a page from Volvo's motto, "Safe cars for bad drivers"*, then it reveals who Cadillac thinks their customer base is. All the baby-boomers who will soon be reaching the age where their families take them off the road. If Cadillac can make a driverless car, families might let gramps drive (a Cadillac) a little longer.
*And I say this not because of my personal experience, but because Volvo actually ran ads promoting their collision avoidance warning. The driver was chatting and looking at the passenger not paying attention. They are telling their customers, it's ok to not pay attention, we've got you covered.
qdp says:
05:12 PM, 08/30/2010
Either in city or on highway drive, when facing unexpected imminent dangers, no mechanic devices can handle the complex and demanding situation, swift manueouvring and powerful braking. Just by looking at nowadays most sophisticated robots, we can get to know how limited those mechanic things are.
delraylocal says:
03:37 PM, 08/30/2010
What a waste of money!
ajayboyapati says:
02:49 PM, 08/30/2010
this is all a very longshot plane success and error process.but i am happy cadillac is moving in the right direction.wish u success.
shouldermonkey says:
01:44 PM, 08/30/2010
.... a driverless world? so, automated buses and cabs then?