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The Cadillac XT4 Lights Up The Turn Ahead With Available Cornering Headlights

Cornering headlights that swivel to help illuminate twists and turns in the road are nothing new. Preston Tucker deployed the technology in his company’s first (and only) car – the Tucker 48 – some seven decades ago, using a third, central headlight reflector that turned with the steering wheel, but there is evidence that automobile manufacturers had considered the feature even before then.

Now, in the twenty-first century, Cadillac has made cornering headlights available on the all-new, 2019 Cadillac XT4 compact crossover. These adaptive XT4 lights utilize the lower-most LED bulb in each of its signature headlight blades, and as on the Tucker 48, the angle of deflection is a function of the steering input; as the wheel turns, the headlights pivot in the same direction.

This allows the XT4 to better illuminate the road as the vehicle navigates a corner, rather than casting all its light straight ahead, to the outside of the turn. While night driving, especially in rural areas where illumination from external sources such as street lamps is scarce, these Cadillac XT4 lights could mean the difference between avoiding the deer, pothole, ice patch, or other obstacle, and failing to see it in time.

2019 Cadillac XT4 Sport - Exterior - Seattle Media Drive - September 2018 001

Availability

Granted, not every Cadillac XT4 will ship with cornering headlights; the feature, which wears RPO code “T87”, comes standard only on the 2019 Cadillac XT4 Sport, and is available on the Premium Luxury model only with the optional $1,650 Technology Package. It’s not available on the base Luxury model.

The Premium Luxury Tech Package – RPO code “CWM” – also includes an 8-inch digital instrumentation screen, head-up display, cabin air ionizer, power rake and telescoping steering column, and wireless phone charging.


The all-new, 2019 Cadillac XT4 represents the luxury GM brand’s entry in the competitive C-segment luxury crossover space. The North American version is built at GM’s Fairfax Assembly Plant in Fairfax, Kansas, and rolls on the automaker’s E2XX platform, with power coming from GM’s 237-horsepower 2.0-liter turbo I4 LSY. Our own Manoli Katakis had a go in Cadillac’s smallest CUV recently, and you can read all about his thoughts on the interior and the ride and handling characteristics.

Keep a watch on GMAuthority.com for all the latest Cadillac XT4 news.

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Aaron Brzozowski is a writer and motoring enthusiast from Detroit with an affinity for '80s German steel. He is not active on the Twitter these days, but you may send him a courier pigeon.

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Comments

  1. My parents 2013 Escape titanium has this, and I have to admit it’s a real nice feature when turning into driveways at night or even and a stop sign and lights up the cross walk. For something so small it’s neat

    Reply
  2. Late 1920’s to early 30’s Cadillacs offered an extra pair of headlights in front of the radiator that turned with the steering.

    For decades, all Cadillacs had fixed cornering lights on the fender sides that came on with the turn signal when the headlights were on, which was helpful because you could see BEFORE you turned. They were extra cost on large Buicks and Olds. The ones on my DTS will also come on when the car turns even if you don’t signal.

    Reply
    1. Hard to believe now but Cadillac was once the leader in new and exciting things that the others didn’t have. One can only hope that one day the will return to that leadership role. First things first let’s get the quality to leadership status.

      Reply
      1. I had cornering headlights in my 2008 CTS, 2014 CTS and now in my 2016 ATS. This is not a new feature for Cadillacs. I’m not sure when they were introduced, but I’ve had them in my caddy’s for over a decade. Cadillac often does play catch up, but I don’t think they were tardy to the party on this one.

        Reply
  3. Good.

    They’re catching up with Kia, Hyundai, Audi. BMW, Porsche and everyone else who already has them.

    (Porsche’s burn out relatively quickly, and are expensive to replace).
    But they are standard (not ‘available’) on most upscale SUVs.

    Reply
  4. BMW’s and Audi’s have had this feature for quite some time…

    Reply
  5. cadillac playing catch up once again.
    even the cheapest kia has this already for many years.

    if you want to know what features will come for a new cadillac model, just look what the competition offered 10 years ago.

    Reply
    1. Sad, but true.

      Reply
  6. Hold on a minute, are you saying that this is the first modern (if ever) Cadillac to have adaptive headlights?

    For God sake, I can’t even … ?

    Reply
    1. No they had it for years and they took it away. At least some people have to do some research. My GOD!!

      Reply
  7. This is nothing new, the ATS has adaptive headlights and it’s been sold since 2013.

    Notably, such headlights are only on the most expensive trims, so GM are really only selling an infinitesimal number of cars with such headlights.

    My ATS has these lights but I expect them to stop working soon and of course to be stuck pointing off to the side. My preference would be for reliable high performance fixed headlights.

    Reply

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