If you can afford this high-end luxury Cadillac, it will do the driving for you
Cadillac’s newest version of the Escalade will drive itself, thank you very much.
The company unveiled the 2021 Escalade in Hollywood, California, on Tuesday and it features a new and improved version of the Super Cruise system, CNN reported. The first iteration was released in 2017.
What is Super Cruise?
Super Cruise is a “true hands-free driver assistance feature” that allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel while their Escalade maneuvers more than 200,000 miles of compatible highwayacross the U.S., Cadillac says on its website.
It’s designed to work with Cadillac’s Adaptive Cruise Control, which controls the car’s acceleration and braking when it’s enabled, meaning drivers can take their feet off the gas and hands off the wheel at the same time, according to the website.
How does it work?
Super Cruise uses cameras, OnStar, radar sensors, LiDAR mapping and GPS to detect curves on compatible highways, Cadillac says.
OnStar is required for Super Cruise to operate and a three-year subscription is included with Super Cruise enabled vehicles, according to the website. After, owners will have to purchase their own plan to keep Super Cruise functioning.
To use Super Cruise, drivers first need to set their Adaptive Cruise Control. Once it’s set and the driver is on a compatible highway, the Super Cruise icon will illuminate, allowing the driver to press the Super Cruise button, according to the website.
When the button is pressed, the icon and steering wheel light bar will turn green, signifying that it’s safe for the driver to remove their hands.
To turn it off, just press the button again or hit the brakes, Cadillac says.
Click here to see a map of compatible highways.
How much does it cost?
The new Escalade will arrive in 2021, with the Premium Luxury trim featuring Super Cruise, Cadillac says.
Pricing hasn’t been announced, but a 2020 Escalade with Premium Luxury trim costs about $85,000 new, according to the website.