Move Over Super Cruise, Ultra Cruise is Coming
Recently, GM started adding the hands-free, semi-autonomous Super Cruise system to more than just Cadillac vehicles. The first was the all-new 2022 Chevrolet Bolt EUV with the 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 to receive the system. But now, that system will seem obsolete when Ultra Cruise is set to debut on Cadillac models in 2023.
Super Cruise is only operational on approximately 320,000 km (200,000 miles) of highways throughout the United States and Canada. It allows for hands-free driving and lane changing but it has cameras to track your face to make sure that you are paying attention.
Ultra Cruise is being touted as a “door to door hands free driving” system that will work on public paved roads in Canada and the United States. The system can detect and react to permanent traffic control devices, provide drivers with information on a dynamic display, follow navigation routes, follow posted speed limits, perform both automatic and on-demand lane changes, perform left and right turns, avoid objects, and park in a residential driveway.
Ultra Cruise is powered by a 5-nanometer, scalable computer platform that GM says will be future proof thanks to over the air updates. The system relies on 360 degree cameras, radar, and lidar sensors to provide a 3D view of the area surrounding the vehicle.
With all of these sensors and advanced computing power, Ultra Cruise will be able to drive the vehicle in 95% of driving scenarios on over 2 million miles of roads throughout Canada and the United States. Over time, that number is set to increase to 3.4 million miles. The more complex driving situations will be handed back to the driver and the system will shut down, just like Super Cruise, if a driver doesn’t take over the wheel when the vehicle requests help.
Like Super Cruise, this is not a self driving system and will only have a level 2 driver assist system. Level 4 and 5 are generally considered full self-driving systems. Ultra Cruise will not replace Super Cruise but will instead be an upgrade to Super Cruise on top trim levels. Expect to see Ultra Cruise in 2023.
Eagle Ridge GM – Coquitlam, British Columbia