Cadillac Has Impressive Car System, But Won't Offer Google
It is obvious that GM is extremely proud of its CUE entertainment system interface. If you have some time to play with the system in the brag edition of the spanking new Cadillac XTS sedan, you immediately understand why.
The XTS is Cadillac's new premium car offering that compares in size to the BMW 5-series and Mercedes E-class. What the XTS lacks in horsepower (there is just a 3.6 liter V6 with 304 hp), it makes up with the most advanced multimedia infotainment system we have seen and played with to date. The center stack multi-touch screen is 8 inches in size, it has the user experience of a modern smartphone or tablet. The software backend is based on Linux, like other mobile OSes. There is tactile feedback and support for responsive swiping - as well as a interface that lacks physical buttons. Since Cadillac was able to squeeze the 6-disc CD changer into the glove box, there is suddenly much more space and a storage compartment behind the center controls.
However, there is special feature that goes beyond the superficial looks: GM says it has built the most powerful ARM processor it could find into CUE (it’s a 3-core processor with two cores being used just for voice recognition) and uses an impressive 800x480 pixel screen. It is a highly integrated system that plays well with the (optional) 12.3-inch LCD that replaces the traditional physical gauges in front of the driver that has a much stronger focus on "design" than the dashboards we remember Cadillac has built two product generations ago. Cody Hansen, interaction designer at GM, told us that usability was the first priority, not specs. The approach of Apple product design isn't too far off from Hansen's thoughts. Tech follows user experience, not the other way around.
Of course, there are different ideas how car infotainment should look like. CUE lacks the Internet capability that is, for example, offered by BMW. While it can pull data from your phone and stream Pandora, Cadillac won't show a web browser (there is however, a hidden Webkit-based browser built in). Showing Google's front page would not solve a problem, Hansen said. Showing a search page would tell the driver and passengers to figure out a certain task themselves. Instead CUE was designed in a way so that applications and built-in features deliver on the consumer's desire to be entertained and stay connected with others while in the car. He did not deny, however, that there will be more online features in future versions. The interesting part on this note is that CUE could be flashed and updated simply via the SD card slot that is available below the armrest between the front seats. Hansen neither confirmed nor denied that Cadillac will be offering such a feature.
Cadillac promised us an XTS for an extended time to test the features in detail. The first impression is that, despite the clean layout, the overall feature set can be overwhelming and XTS buyers more than likely will have to spend some time with the system to be able to take advantage of it. However, there was also the awkward feeling that kids who are growing up with touch screen devices will expect CUE-like entertainment systems in the cars they will drive in a few years down the road.
The XTS retails from about $44,000 to $61,000.

These systems are even worse since they will be obsolete and not interface with any of your gadgets after a couple years and lose functionality. At least in older car stereos cassettes and CD's lasted a long time as a major consumer item and AM/FM is still all over the place. Even then you could always just replace the stereo not the case with many other cars. At least my 09 Mustang doesn't have any of that BS.
I'll agree with this. My car has the mpg, oil life, etc all through the stereo. I love having steering wheel controls, but if I upgrade, I'd lose some serious functionality.
^ Right, because GM can think of every possible reason anyone would ever want to use google search. GM is omnipotent. Sweet
http://www.linuxfordevices.com/c/a/News/Cadillac-CUE/
Could load up VDrift so you could play while stuck in a traffic jam when you can't drive for real.
Yea but a turbo 2.5L engine will get better fuel economy than a 3.6L non turbo if they do it right. As well as less weight.
Besides, a lot of factory radios are pretty good. You might need to upgrade some of the other hardware, but the radio itself seems to be OK these days in most vehicles. Audiophiles will either buy upgraded stereo options from the factory, or will find a way to do it themselves - see above.
Yet their engineers chose this direct injected naturally aspirated V6. Maybe these engineers know what they're doing? Maybe there's more to a car than just power specs, or for that matter more to an engine than just power or fuel economy alone? The DI 3.6L has a proven track record, for starters. It's a solid engine, and it's a fairly big car. Maybe in their testing the 3.6L had better characteristics or durability for the kind of workload/RPMs it would be under. Maybe it was quieter, and smoother. I think anyone in the market for a luxury XTS would want a vehicle with a nice, even throttle response and a smooth engine. Noise, vibration, harshness. NVH - very important to your typical luxury car driver.
If you want a mean little turbocharged Caddy, keep an eye out for the upcoming little brother ATS. Built on Alpha platform, with available turbo 2.0L. I should also note that the DI 3.6L in the Camaro now has improved heads and produces 323HP stock. After a couple of years they may deem it a suitable upgrade for the XTS, if it doesn't hurt NVH characteristics.
And as far as quality goes, I'm sure the fully-upgraded factory system is plenty good. Replace the speakers if you must, but why should you change the head unit?
At least fix your article please so it doesn't use the word "impressive." It's a dishonor to all the truly impressive things out in the world.
+1 Excellent points sir. Yea I see a lot of the econoboxes on the market that get ~40MPG HWY EPA and some have 1.8L naturally aspirated engines, others have a 1.4L turbo engine, both get about the same MPG ratings and close to the same HP. Perhaps the turbos get a tad more HP/Tq like the Chevy Sonic. But it's not clear if the increased complexity of a turbo is worth it, or heck, if DI with high pressure fuel lines is worth it.
FAIL - wish CD players were optional on my car whe i bought it... just give me a usb jack
A 2.5L turbo makes... meh, a little bit of torque and horsepower when you have it spinning to the moon... Whereas that 3 liter 6 popper will be making serious power at 3.5 grand on the RPM gauge, which is around the 65-75mph sweet spot, also, thats where you want power when you want to smash a honda off the line especially with a automatic....
Good turbo'ed engines can get nearly as much torque as they have horsepower. Take the 2.5L Boxer engine from Subaru, WRX STI: 305HP@6K-RPM, 290tq@4K-RPM.