A new infotainment system feature is now available in Cadillac EVs. It’s called Conversation Enhancement, and it’s meant to foster easier communication among everyone in the vehicle. It should be especially useful in large, 3-row models like the Cadillac Escalade IQ and Escalade IQL.
Cadillac describes the feature as follows: “Microphones and some speakers in the vehicle amplify the speaking volume of passengers to help make conversation between the front and back of the vehicle easier. To turn this feature on or off, touch the Conversation Enhancement icon on the controls home page of the infotainment screen.”
So, it’s like an intercom system, but it has microphones in the back so that the front-seat occupants can hear the people in the back seats more easily. Intercom systems are becoming common in mainstream family vehicles, especially minivans. For example, the Honda Odyssey has CabinTalk, the Toyota Sienna has Easy Speak, and the Chrysler Pacifica has Family Talk. However, most systems like this only amplify the voices of the front-seat occupants so kids can hear Mom and Dad better.
The photo above is of the second-row media screen in a Cadillac Escalade IQ. The passengers can turn the feature on when they want the people in front of them to hear them better, and turn it off when they want to talk amongst themselves. In addition to its usefulness for families, this is a good feature for anyone buying an Escalade IQ and has a driver shuttle them around.
Conversation Enhancement is available in the Cadillac Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, Vistiq, and Celestiq. It presumably isn’t available in the Lyriq and Optiq because their two-row cabins are small enough that everyone can hear each other. The Celestiq is only a four-seater, but the flagship halo vehicle ought to have just about every feature Cadillac offers.
In a large 3-row crossover or SUV, the driver and passengers shouting to hear each other can subtract from a luxurious experience. Cadillac EVs are quiet, smooth, and pleasant to drive, and this feature should help keep a peaceful serenity in their premium interiors by enabling everyone inside to communicate a little more clearly.
Comments
Why? Everyone stares at their phones, including the drivers.
To listen to the conversations and sell that data.
Bingo! It is just more spytech.
100%
Sad but likely true. Mary Barra had many ideas for generating revenue for GM and she was giddy about implementing them. This is probably one of them. She has to offset the EV losses.
This was first introduced on the Escalade back in 2020 with the new model year by the way, so this feature isn’t new at all.
usefull that is until the back seat riders are having a private conversation that becomes for all the vehicle to hear and not a good topic….LOL
Yeh GM will probably initially offer it then demand a subscription. Same with all our surround vision security recording via SD card cameras that they never fixed & promised.
This is nothing new, our 21′ escalade has it. All it does is use the embedded vehicle mics generally used for phone calls and cast it through the speaker system for all to hear.
Have a 21 Palisade with what appears to be the same feature. Looks like plenty of others also have a similar feature. What a concept. I guess they’re hoping for short memories on the customer’s part.