Owners of the Cadillac XTS have the ability to change the design and theme of their luxury sedan’s gauge cluster thanks to an available feature of the CUE infotainment system. The industry-exclusive offering replaces traditional analog dials and offers a choice of four layouts — from simple and minimal to performance-oriented and very informative, while being controlled by an intuitive multi-directional switch on the steering wheel.
Each of the four layouts continually displays vehicle speed and fuel information, just like traditional dials, while owners can change the design of the cluster along with the type of information displayed based on their preference. The four cluster modes include:
Balanced Display
Serving as the default layout, the Balanced Display is for drivers who prefer the look of a traditional gauge cluster. The layout consists of three “zones” across the screen that include the speedometer, tachometer, fuel level, radio station information, as well as outside temperature.
Performance Display
Designed specifically for enthusiasts who would rather have information on the car itself, the Performance Display offers a clean look with a large speedometer on the right and a tachometer on the left. The driver can alter the display with other performance-focused information, such as fuel consumption and tire pressure.
Enhanced Display
According to Cadillac, the Enhanced Display is for the “uber-connected” driver. The web-inspired layout displays a navigation map on the left and digital speed and fuel readings on the right. The layout is simple and clean — allowing the driver to scroll through pages of information by using the multidirectional steering wheel switch.
Simple Display
Designed with the minimalist in mind, the Simple Display shows speed, fuel, and audio information — with additional data available at the driver’s request.
Each of the four layouts offers a screen-within-a-screen feature, as the smaller display in the center of the speedo and tach allows the driver to view navigation routes, control the radio, and cycle through a bevy of other information.
In developing the digital gauge cluster, Cadillac studied vehicle owners and their use of the radio, navigation, phone settings, and other user connectivity features. “Most drivers fall into one of four different categories in terms of the amount of information they want to see at any given time, so we built the XTS gauge cluster layouts to appeal to any one of those drivers”, said Scott Martin, senior creative designer in charge of building the digital cluster layouts.
The 12.3″ reconfigurable color gauge cluster is standard on the Premium and Platinum trim levels of the XTS, replacing the 5.7″ Driver Information Center found on the Standard and Luxury trim levels of the vehicle. Those looking for an excuse to upgrade to the Premium or Platinum trims should know that both add a 110-volt power outlet to the Super Epsilon-based Caddy.
Comments
To me that performance display is useless in this car. Stuff the long rumored twin-turbo 6 in there though and it will become more useful. Most critics enjoy the XTS except the bland powerplant. An XTS twin-turbo that can get to 60 in 5 seconds and still offers all of the great tech would easily be worth about $67K in platinum trim
I use the performance display because I find it the most functional and best looking. My “performance oriented” information was the speed limit and the distance to empty in my tank, unless I was making a phone call.
Were I to have this car with a TTV6, I would still have the speed limit and fuel range shown at all times.
To each his own (for sufficiently small values of “each”).
I really like a centered speedometer for all vehicles except those with a standard transmission, wherein the tach should be dominant. My current car has a centered tach and a small digital speedometer, which is just about right since it is a manual. Unfortunately, most cars are automatics and most have the split kind of arrangement of #2 in the article above, which often results in the gauges becoming a bit obscured by the steering wheel. This is certainly true of the Camaro. It would be really nice to have this flexible feature on more of GM’s mainstream cars, at least certainly for Buicks. I have really become accustomed to the digital speedometer and find it a bit less satisfying when I have to drive rentals that have a small, off-centerd analog display. Fortunately it looks like cars are moving towards hybrids with CVTs so the need for a tach may become relegated solely to performance cars. The hybrids and EVs I’ve seen have nicely centered speed gauges.
I want this in the rest of Cadillac and eventually in the rest of GM. This is a fantastic bit of tech, please use it more.
THAT IS SO COOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, bring it on, Cadillac…the more info in front of driver, the better, IMHO. This is good use of technology for sure….great article Alex 🙂
Strange, I thought the 4 gauge thing was available in the ATS as well.
A shame that it isn’t.
Grawdaddy…I was thinking the same thng but I do not believe it is so…alas!!! Another thing for us to wish for on the Standard List that I keep adding to each time I think about the ATS…. sure is neat though. I am hoping next year we see fogs, folding seats, etc…..on the base so none of us have to spend so much money for the car 🙂
I have the almost the same information in my STS., except I have to “push the button”. I almost traded for the XTS until I was told by my salesrep the XTS does “not have” the DVD Changer. When we are sitting outfront WalMart waiiting with the grandkids I put on a movie for them. I am hoping the Buick Park Avenue will have the DVD option. Too much “stripping” of power train and accessories for me. I still love my STS, and the available power, when I need it.
I prefer the standard cluster in the Base and Luxury trims. I prefer to see the diagnostic sweep that those gauges make. And considering that I have little or no use for any other configuration than what that cluster gives, this one is a bit of overkill for me.
Wait, you guys are not serious, right? Where have you been? This reconfigurable gauge cluster news is about a year old! (Yes, I know the car isnt yet)
The new ’14 CTS spotted testing on the ring and around in Germany had these lcd guages too. I agree that they should be available on the ATS but we will probably see them on the V version of the ATS. Then again, they may not be sporty enough for the V series. I disagree with those who like the standard gauges. The smaller (5.x”) screen should be centered in between the standard gauges and not on the bottom. Also, the standard gauge design (now found in the SRX, ATS, and XTS) is poorly designed. They look cheap for some reason and its not the blue hue. I hope the next Escalade doesnt have them as well.
CJ — interesting that you find the look of the gauges cheap. I’d say there’s room for improvement, but not because they’re cheap…
Also, this was a feature spotlight piece, not a news story. 😉
Alex – is it safe to say, given this article was written in 2012, that some of these 4 clusters are not available?
I have a 2016 XTS Premium and I only have 2 – Balanced and Enhanced. I have heard that owners of 2013 and 2014 XTS Premiums/Platinums have 4 displays but in my manual it lists only 2 and also says the Sport cluster is only available on the VSPORT model.
My apologies, Alex. As far as the gauges go, yes. They look cheap. I’m not sure if its the layout but the font is fine and the blue hue is fine. Maybe they should have hidden the needle bases behind CUE’s screen. That scrolling marquee looking screen at the bottom looks like an afterthought. The whole thing does NOT say premium at all. Just my opinion tho… Hey, wish I could work for u guys. I’d do it for free!!!
excuse me its the englissch off german excuse me
Given this article was written in 2012? – the current Balanced and Enhanced displays in the Premium/Platinum are a bit different in my 16 XTS. As for the Sport mode – thats only for the VSPORT model. The Simple I assume is for the Base or Lux models. Or is my CUE not up to current levels for the MY2016?