2006 Cadillac Escalade Esv on 2040-cars

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Cadillac Super Cruise wins the 2019 Autoblog Technology of the Year Award

Autoblog's 2019 Technology of the Year winner is Cadillac's Super Cruise. The SAE Level 2 semi-autonomous system allows for hands-free highway driving, reducing driver fatigue and improving safety. Additionally, Super Cruise packs in safeguards that force a driver to stay alert, bringing in a level of accountability not found in other Level 2 systems. Cadillac beat out Infiniti's VC Turbo technology and the EQ Boost 48-volt system from Mercedes-Benz, the other two finalists. General Motors mapped more than 130,000 miles of highways across the country, so Super Cruise always knows where you are. A camera on the steering column keeps an eye on the driver to make sure they're watching the road. Stray your gaze too long and the system forces you to take back over. Super Cruise has its limitations — it won't change lanes for you — but it is the most well-rounded and refined semi-autonomous system we've ever tested. There's no ping-pong effect as the car finds the center of the lane, and it always seems to leave a comfortable gap between you and the car ahead. Super Cruise launched in the CT6, which is ending production this year. But the sophisticated technology will migrate to other Cadillacs in 2020. The system is as easy to use as any other adaptive cruise control. Indicators in the instrument cluster and a light on the steering wheel indicate when and if the system is able to work. If you're off the defined grid, you can still use the car's regular adaptive cruise control — you just have to keep your hands on the wheel. Autoblog editors were also impressed with Cadillac's responsible approach to marketing the tech. The company doesn't even promote it as a Level 2 system, as it doesn't want to over-promise and under-deliver. Quite the opposite actually. Super Cruise simply works, and it works well. That's why it's our 2019 Technology of the Year. We'll present the award next week at the Detroit Auto Show. Come back for video of the event. Related Video:

Ghostbusters trailer stars Ecto1 and a quartet of actresses

"Um... you didn't disclose that the vehicle was going to be a hearse," says funnywoman Melissa McCarthy in the brand-spankin'-new trailer for the upcoming Ghostbusters reboot. Traditionalist fans may be similarly angered by the vehicle's basis, since the original Ecto1 was an ambulance, not a vehicle for the dead. Leslie Jones' response to McCarthy wasn't meant to answer those critics, but it does a good job of it anyway: "It's a Cadillac!" Naturally, there's a lot more to look at in the new trailer than just the Ecto1. There are, obviously, ghosts. Lots of 'em, in fact. There's also an opening piano sequence that's pretty darn great, but we ought to warn you that if you watch the video up above, you're going to be humming the theme from Ghostbusters for the rest of the day. We're sorry, but it simply cannot be avoided. You've been warned. Related Video:

Bring back the Bronco! Trademarks we hope are actually (someday) future car names

Trademark filings are the tea leaves of the auto industry. Read them carefully – and interpret them correctly – and you might be previewing an automaker's future product plans. Yes, they're routinely filed to maintain the rights to an iconic name. And sometimes they're only for toys and clothing. But not always. Sometimes, the truth is right in front of us. The trademark is required because a company actually wants to use the name on a new car. With that in mind, here's a list of intriguing trademark filings we want to see go from paperwork to production reality. Trademark: Bronco Company: Ford Previous Use: The Bronco was a long-running SUV that lived from 1966-1996. It's one of America's original SUVs and was responsible for the increased popularity of the segment. Still, it's best known as O.J. Simpson's would-be getaway car. We think: The Bronco was an icon. Everyone seems to want a Wrangler-fighter – Ford used to have a good one. Enough time has passed that the O.J. police chase isn't the immediate image conjured by the Bronco anymore. Even if we're doing a wish list in no particular order, the Bronco still finds its way to the top. For now (unfortunately), it's just federal paperwork. Rumors on this one can get especially heated. The official word from a Ford spokesman is: "Companies renew trademark filings to maintain ownership and control of the mark, even if it is not currently used. Ford values the iconic Bronco name and history." Trademarks: Aviator, AV8R Company: Ford Previous Use: The Aviator was one of the shortest-run Lincolns ever, lasting for the 2003-2005 model years. It never found the sales success of the Ford Explorer, with which it shared a platform. We Think: The Aviator name no longer fits with Lincoln's naming nomenclature. Too bad, it's better than any other name Lincoln currently uses, save for its former big brother, the Navigator. Perhaps we're barking up the wrong tree, though. Ford has made several customized, aviation themed-Mustangs in the past, including one called the Mustang AV8R in 2008, which had cues from the US Air Force's F-22 Raptor fighter jet. It sold for $500,000 at auction, and the glass roof – which is reminiscent of a fighter jet cockpit – helped Ford popularize the feature. Trademark: EcoBeast Company: Ford Previous Use: None by major carmakers.