General Motors has been slowly developing its autonomous vehicle technology over the years, with ambitious plans to have all the bugs ironed out of the system by 2020. Engineers are still hard at work developing the self-driving cars, as evidenced by the Cadillac SRX equipped with self-driving technology which was recently spotted testing on Michigan roads.
The spy shots, provided by Left Lane News, show the SRX outfitted with multiple sensors and cameras. From the photos its apparent the autonomous driving technology isn’t quite production ready, but as GM continues its development work, the hardware will become more integrated into the vehicles electronics.
When development of the technology is complete, the most likely place for GM to introduce it would be on a Cadillac. The technology may appeal more to luxury customers, and as Left Lane News points out, they should be able to hide the additional cost of autonomous technology in Cadillac’s higher prices.
Comments
Am I the only person who actually enjoys driving? Not just windy mountain roads, revving the engine on a normal residential street is just satisfying. Self driving cars are just going to suck the fun out of everything. When did driving become SUCH AN UNBEARABLY TAXING CHORE? I blame the lack of cheap RWD cars for why people aren’t enjoying driving. FWD sucks the enjoyment out of driving.
“Self driving cars are just going to suck the fun out of everything. When did driving become SUCH AN UNBEARABLY TAXING CHORE?”
When the first rush hour traffic jam occurred.
“I blame the lack of cheap RWD cars for why people aren’t enjoying driving.”
Cheap RWD cars won’t make the gridlock disappear, nor will it magically make terrible drivers better.
“FWD sucks the enjoyment out of driving.”
No, poor driving conditions suck the enjoyment out of driving. Drivetrain has nothing to do with it.
I think you’ll find that many, many people will pay top dollar to have an autonomous car. Cadillac will need to court these buyers and prove to them that they are leaders in autonomous technology. It’s is Cadillac’s duty as a luxury automaker to diminish and relive the stress and struggle of driving on today’s roads.
If Cadillac and GM refuse to acknowledge the demands of buyers who want a car to be something that makes the owners life less irritating, then what business do they have promoting ANY luxury product? Luxury doesn’t sit still, and if GM doesn’t offer it, its competitors will.
How many rich millionaires drive their own cars? Almost all have a private driver ( a chauffeur). So if I wish to feel like a millionaire but don’t want my own driver, I buy a Cadillac that can drive itself. When I feel the need, I drive it as a normal car. But when I am tired or sick and might be a treat to other drivers, I let the car drive me home or to the doctor. This will be great for those who drink, too ( I don’t).
I too wonder if I am the last of the wild ones as I love to drive.
The real reason so may do not like to drive anymore is traffic in larger cities, Other things they could be doing like texting and watching TV.
The reality is the love affair with the car is over and it is just a means of transportation to many people anymore and becoming more so with the younger generation.
Electronics rule today and the faster the phone or pad the better not so much faster the car.
The lack of RWD and more FWD is not the issue as there are some really good FWD cars out there.
I used to be anti FWD and 4 cylinder and today my daily beater is a 25 MPG city 32 highway 300 HP HHR SS. I did not even like HHR’s but after driving it I was hooked. It hauled things I needed and hauled ass.
It is a blast keeping right with a Mustang only to have him roll the window down and ask what did you do to that and I just tell him stock GM parts.
I still prefer RWD but if you want MPG and the ability to haul a load this was my only option.
The sad fact is cars and trucks are becoming appliances and nothing more to the younger generations.
The love affair with cars is far from gone.. might not want to speak for younger generation when your 60 dood.. and while I wouldnt be interested in this feature as long as theres an off button im fine. And this feature will help alot of elderly keep there license… then again dont be suprised if u see an old man or a drunk fool asleep on the highway with this feature lol
Dude I am not 60 and I work in the performance aftermarket. My job is selling performance and it is an aging industry. I see the numbers and the companies that have folded or gone bankrupt.
I never said there were no younger people still involved but there are so many fewer than just 20 years ago,
Many today are not even getting drivers license till they are 18 and it has the entire performance industry worried.
Just go to a Walmart and look at the hot wheels and the average age is 40 not 14.
They are not passing out bumper stickers that say take a kid to a car show because they think it would just be fun. They are worried for the future.
One major issues is the cost of a car and the brain washing of global warming in schools. Kids today are taught too often that their cars will kill the planet. As for cost most fun cars are out of the price range of the younger drivers and the insurance even if they can afford the car is too much as the Gecko and Flo shows no love for them.
While the love affair is not totally over it is in a great decline. I just hope I can make my 60’s and retire before it effects my work to where it hurts our volume. We already have had to shift to other markets and line to increase business.