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August 31, 2010
Cadillac Safety Engineers Working on a Crash-Proof Car
Photo: The Cadillac CTS exits as models sporting fashions from Russell Simmons' 2008 Argyle Culture walk the stage at GM Style - General Motors' car studded music and fashion gala that kicked-off the 2008 North American International Auto Show Saturday, January 12, 2008 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by John F. Martin for General Motors)
• According to General Motors, safety engineers at Cadillac are working on a crash-proof car.
• Cadillac is the luxury brand of General Motors and has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902.
John Capp, director for Global Active Safety for Cadillac, says future Cadillac technologies could include in-vehicle Doppler radar to spot obstructions or traffic jams ahead.
Looking even further out, Capp sees autonomous vehicles that can communicate with each other, traffic signals and buildings, pointing to a world where cars may actually drive themselves.
Photo: 2011 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon.
"We see things moving toward a point in the future where perhaps vehicles won't crash," said Capp. "We work on developing advanced safety technologies for Cadillac that alert drivers to potential dangers around them."
"We're evolving those technologies to develop the capability where vehicles will be able to avoid crashes," Capp said.
Photo: A Cadillac CTSv Coupe takes a turn at the Monticello Motor Club in Monticello, New York, Tuesday, August 10, 2010. (Photo by Emile Wamsteker for Cadillac)
Cadillac is already evolving its technology to come closer to the vision of a crash-proof car.
According to Cadillac, Capp and his team of engineers, inventors and futurists have developed life-saving active safety technologies that are already in place on the 2010 Cadillac DTS Platinum, including:
• Lane departure warning - a camera-based lane detection system that warns the driver when he or she leaves their lane without signaling. The camera, mounted near the inside rearview mirror, identifies traffic lane markings and provides audible alerts.
• Blind spot alert - twin radar beacons that detect an object in a vehicle's blind zone and provide a visual warning in the outside side mirror.
• Adaptive cruise control - sensors detect objects in a vehicle's path and slow the vehicle down to avoid a collision.
Chart: Auto technology saving lives. (Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers).
According to Dave McCurdy, President & CEO, Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, "Managing technology is the solution, and that's why automakers developed Driver Focus Design Guidelines to help drivers keep their eyes on the road. Drivers are going to have conversations, listen to music and read maps while driving, and automakers are helping them do this more safely with integrated connectivity technologies." The Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers is a trade association of 11 car and light truck manufacturers including BMW Group, Chrysler LLC, Ford Motor Company, General Motors, Jaguar Land Rover, Mazda, Mercedes-Benz USA, Mitsubishi Motors, Porsche, Toyota and Volkswagen.
Photo: 2011 Cadillac DTS.
Cadillac is also working on its advertising. It has selected Fallon as its new creative agency of record.
"Cadillac products today compete head-to-head with the best in the world. Fallon's deep, 17 year experience with other luxury automotive brands like Porsche and BMW makes them a perfect fit for our flagship brand," said Joel Ewanick, vice president, U.S. Marketing.
"We look forward to working with Fallon to illuminate Cadillac as the new 'Standard of the World,'" said Don Butler, vice president, Cadillac Marketing.
Meanwhile, Cadillac's Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant has begun production of the 2011 CTS Coupe and started shipping models to U.S. dealerships ahead of schedule.
"We have very experienced assemblers at Lansing Grand River," said Plant Manager Scott Whybrew. "They work hard to make sure each vehicle meets the levels of quality and craftsmanship expected in a Cadillac. We want customers to feel as much pride in owning a Cadillac as we do in building them."
|GlobalGiants.Com|
Edited & Posted by the Editor | 7:38 AM | Link to this Post
