Latest news with #SuperCruise
The Drive
3 days ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Hands-Free Driving Aids Top List of Most Wanted New Car Features: Study
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Automakers continue to go all-in on advanced driver assistance systems. The question is: Do people actually want them? A recent study from research firm AutoPacific confirms that, yup, features like hands-off highway driving aids are the most desired among surveyed folks who intend to buy a new vehicle soon. Those systems, which include GM's Super Cruise and Ford's BlueCruise, are on the 'want' list for 43% of people who plan to buy a vehicle in the next three years. In 2024, automated driving features ranked far lower, with just over 20% of those surveyed seeking out hands-free driving. And just to be clear, these people specifically want systems where driver attention is still required; totally autonomous cars are further down the list, with a still-impressive 38% of people wanting a car with no steering wheel. AutoPacific This jump in popularity correlates with an increase in trust of automated driving features. Sixty percent of people said they would feel comfortable with their cars handling certain driving tasks, like staying in their lane or parallel parking, while 56% trust their cars' safety systems to prevent accidents on their own. Notably, 48% say they want their vehicle to drive itself so they can do something else, like read, or watch movies, or knit, or scroll some more. Now, this is where I interject to say that AutoPacific is not just surveying enthusiasts. People who actually enjoy driving are a lot less likely to say they'd rather trawl Pinterest than handle the steering wheel. But this seems to be reflective of the greater general population. Caleb Jacobs Having tested Ford's BlueCruise 1.4 suite in the 2025 Expedition just a few months back, I have to say that it was genuinely impressive. It made the drive between Louisville, Kentucky, and Columbus, Indiana, a breeze as it handled nearly everything on its own. Lane changes were hands-free, it didn't wander around in its lane, and aside from yelling at me to pay attention to the road when I was locked in on the highway ahead, it was largely glitch-free. I can understand why people want it, for sure. It makes the mundane daily drive a lot less repetitive. I just don't trust people to use it responsibly, as drivers have been trying to game these systems—and, in some cases, succeeding—since they first hit the road. Fortunately, Ford and GM's systems seem pretty foolproof in that regard. Got a tip or question for the author? Contact them directly: caleb@
Auto Blog
7 days ago
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
GM's Super Cruise Hands-Free System Just Got Even Better
By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. View post: Trump's Tariff Trade Deal With Japan Give Toyota and Honda Something To Smile About Super Cruise keeps pace with Ford's BlueCruise and Tesla's Autopilot Super Cruise is one of the leading hands-free driver-assistance systems in the industry. It may not outperform Tesla's Autopilot or Ford's BlueCruise in every way, but it's good enough to make long journeys a lot less fatiguing. The great thing about these systems is that they're always being improved. Last year, Super Cruise expanded to include about 750,000 miles of compatible roads in the United States and Canada. Now, GM is about to roll out a few new features for the system for 2026 model year vehicles. Two Key New Functions Added As part of GM's second-quarter earnings report, the company also detailed the upcoming changes to Super Cruise. Firstly, the system will now offer integration with Google Maps. Super Cruise has relied on pre-mapped roads to operate until now. Google Maps integration should further improve the system when drivers are navigating to their next destination. This addition makes sense, given that many GM vehicles already feature Google built-in, seamlessly linking up to Google Maps. The other new feature is the ability of Super Cruise to automatically switch to hands-free mode when transitioning to a compatible road. This function should result in one less step for the driver and more people switching to hands-free driving more often. These new functions add to existing Super Cruise features like automatic lane changes and the ability to use the system while towing. Super Cruise Availability Still Increasing General Motors Super Cruise — Source: Cadillac By the end of June, there were over 500,000 vehicles on the road equipped with Super Cruise. This is a year-on-year increase of over 100%, and by the end of 2025, GM expects to double the number of cars that have the hands-free system. Of Super Cruise's customers, over 60% are active monthly users, with over 200,000 monthly active users in the second quarter of this year. While initially available on more expensive GM vehicles, Super Cruise has gradually filtered down to more affordable models such as the Chevrolet Equinox EV, Chevrolet Blazer EV, and Cadillac CT4. Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. As 2026 models are now starting to roll out, owners can soon start enjoying the refinements made to Super Cruise. About the Author Karl Furlong View Profile
Miami Herald
19-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
Should GMC's Rivals Worry About the Upcoming 2025 Acadia Denali Ultimate?
The Acadia has always been a luxurious SUV. Even at the base level, for $43,000, it comes with a punchy 2.5-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 328 horsepower, an updated Bose sound system, GMC's comprehensive safety suite, and can be equipped with GM's impressive semi-autonomous feature, Super Cruise. Depending on how you configure it, it can also seat up to 8. For $54,100, you can get the Denali, which is even fancier. Leather seats, a nicer heads-up display, and higher-quality interior materials all complete the package. At that price, it looks like the Toyota Highlander, Hyundai Palisade, Chevy Traverse, and Kia Telluride are directly in GMC's crosshairs. Recently, GMC announced the addition of the Denali Ultimate trim. Which, if you could believe it, brought GMC's flagship SUV to all-new heights of luxury. With styling changes on the outside and the inside, added technology, and creature comforts, the Acadia's top-shelf model turned up the sumptuousness, right when we all thought it wasn't possible. So, should GMC's key rivals be concerned? The answer truly depends on what it will cost when official pricing is announced closer to its autumn launch. At the very least, the aforementioned automakers should be paying close attention to what we do know. The most apparent changes are to the features list, but I feel we should discuss the stylistic changes first. On the outside, the grille is darker, painted in what GMC calls "Vader Chrome." As a Star Wars nerd, the ashy chrome color felt appropriate. The badge is darker, there are LED daytime running lights with animated lighting sequences, fancy badging, and 22-inch wheels with an equally galactic metallic finish. The seats are all-leather, complete with massaging capabilities, and beautiful contrast stitching. Genuine wood is included, too, and GMC had maps etched into the seat backs. The door trim, map pockets, and floor mats all have "Denali Ultimate" badging. The Denali Ultimate will also feature a 16-speaker Bose sound system, Super Cruise, a large panoramic sunroof, a large, customizable heads-up display, and "performance" suspension. It also has six different drive modes to choose from. They haven't been announced, but I'd wager they'd be Sport, Eco, Normal, Off-Road, Towing/Hauling, and Snow. Official pricing hasn't been announced either, but if I were to guess, the added technology over the Denali and styling changes will likely bring the price close to $70,000 without add-ons. The Americans have always been competing with Japanese SUVs. First it was the RAV4, then the 4Runner, and now the updated Highlander. The one thing Toyota has over GMC, however, is the hybrid option for the Platinum model. With Toyota, buyers can choose between a gas-only engine or a hybrid option. As an AWD hybrid, the Highlander still earns around 30 mpg combined, and much higher overall range before needing a refill. The GMC Acadia, even if it's bought as an FWD SUV, earned around 23 mpg combined. All-wheel drive diminishes that slightly. If we focus on the gas-only price point for the Highlander to make it more fair, the Toyota comes out ahead. The base MSRP for the Highlander is $36,420, while the Acadia starts at $38,195. For higher-end models, the GMC has a higher price of $57,595 for the Denali, while the Highlander's top-shelf MSRP is $52,725 for the Platinum. With the higher resale value, reputation for longevity, and lower entry price, the Toyota is hard to beat. As a gas-only vehicle, the Highlander has the same towing rating of 5,000 lbs, too, so the only thing the GMC has over the Toyota is maybe buyer loyalty, interior design, and materials. Toyota's interiors are notoriously plain. Otherwise, I don't think Toyota should be too concerned, especially since the Denali Ultimate will likely be significantly more expensive than the Platinum, or even the Hybrid Platinum. For some reason, Hyundai has lagged behind in offering the Palisade as a hybrid. The Santa Fe's hybrid model is a best seller for the brand, so putting that setup in the Palisade would only make sense (though I argue a 1.8-liter engine seems a bit small for a large SUV, but maybe that's just me). The Palisade is one of my favorite family SUVs, due to its size and long list of features for the price. The Night edition is especially nice, since every car looks good with black accenting. I love the V6 that's in the Palisade, but it's not the most efficient. When the Palisade gets the hybrid treatment for 2026, I'm sure it'll sell even better than the standard Palisade. Since the GMC Acadia, once again, does not come as a hybrid and GMC has made exactly zero announcements on whether or not it will come as a hybrid, buyers are stuck with the 2.5-liter turbo four for now. That's fine since it makes more power and has the same towing rating as an engine with two more cylinders, so it truly comes down to whether or not a buyer trusts Hyundai or GMC more as a brand. Since Hyundai's reliability ratings are improving and its warranty is superior, I'm not sure Hyundai should be overly concerned, especially with a hybrid version coming down the pike. The Palisade is quite fancy in the upper trim levels, too, so it's hard to say there's much the GMC has over it. Price-wise, the Hyundai comes out ahead, too. As a gas-only SUV, the prices range from $40,430 for the base SE model, and go up to $55,555 for the Calligraphy model. As a hybrid, the price starts at $45,155 for the SEL Blue and goes up to $57,775 for the Calligraphy trim. Which, I'm guessing, will still come under the Denali Ultimate's upcoming price announcements. Since the Palisade is longer, taller, and has more passenger space than the GMC, the Hyundai is a pretty easy choice. Chevy and GMC may swap recipes here and there since they're both companies under the General Motors umbrella, but the Traverse and the Acadia are two different beasts. Yes, they're both 3-row SUVs, but the Traverse is a tad larger, leaving more room for passengers and their cargo. Similar to the GMC, the Chevy also has a 2.5-liter turbo four, making the same 328 horsepower. The Chevrolet is obviously going to run a little bit cheaper and come with a more minimalistic interior, although the Traverse does come with a bigger infotainment screen than the GMC. The GMC is smaller, but it feels more refined and has a much more upscale interior. By cheaper, though, I should say marginally cheaper. The Traverse starts at $42,195, while the GMC starts at $43,000. So, for a bit more dough, you sacrifice a bit of cargo space, but you get a lot more technology, higher-quality interior materials, a nicer sound system, a more performance-oriented ride, better fuel economy, and a more elegant design language. The Chevy is a lot more rugged and rustic. If you're looking at higher trim levels, they're priced pretty similarly. The ZL1, which is second from the bottom, runs around $49,295, and the RS starts at $55,595. The Denali's base MSRP is, according to GMC's site, the exact same as Chevy's RS trim if you opt for FWD, and $57,595 if you get AWD. Since Chevy doesn't have a step above the RS trim for the Traverse, in this case, Chevy will have a lot of work to do to catch up to the level of pizazz in the Denali Ultimate. The Traverse doesn't come in a hybrid, at least not yet, so the Chevy is the GMC's direct competition. Until Chevy unleashes an equally snazzy trim level, the GMC will be ahead of the game. Chevy should pay very close attention to the Denali Ultimate, no doubt. The Kia Telluride is another reasonably popular family SUV. It's spacious without being overly large, the third row is pretty roomy (even for adults), it boasts a very tech-forward interior, and there are enough trim levels to make just about anyone happy. The GMC Acadia's lineup is much more refined, while being known for its interior and ride quality. The Kia is bigger by about three inches all around and has more overall cargo space. However, if power is what you're looking for, the GMC is the answer. The Kia comes with a 3.8-liter V6 (for now) that offers 291 horsepower. The Kia Telluride can certainly be fancy, especially at the top-of-the-line SX Prestige X-Pro model, which starts at $53,685 and is noticeably less than GMC's $57,595 for the Denali. However, Kia's reputation is still recovering from its reputation for catching on fire and being fairly easy to steal. Kia's warranty is the best in the industry, though, so at least if your Telluride caught on fire or something failed, there's a 99.9% chance it would be covered under warranty. GMC's reputation isn't stellar either, but until people stop assuming the new Telluride can't be stolen with a screwdriver or spontaneously combust, the Telluride should certainly be nervous about the new Denali Ultimate trim. While we don't have pricing information about the 2025 GMC Acadia Denali Ultimate yet, its luxury touches could very well make it a strong competitor for the models listed above. If a hybrid engine joins the fray, that would make the newest Acadia an even stronger competitor in the luxury SUV segment. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Motor 1
18-07-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
GM's New Technology Could Help You Avoid Crappy Roads
Let's face it: America's road infrastructure is less than perfect. Potholes, pockmarks, and defects line hundreds of thousands of miles of pavement across this country. And with so many vehicles driving along these roads each day, deterioration is almost impossible to predict. Almost. General Motors recently filed a patent application for a system aimed at warning drivers of road deterioration before they even see it. GM Authority uncovered details that show GM filed the application initially with the US Patent and Trademark Office on December 15th, 2023, though it wasn't published publicly until June 19th, 2025. It lives under the patent number: US 2025/0200526 A1. GM's system would use sensors and cameras on vehicles, collecting road data such as suspension displacement, wheel rotation, and vibration as they drive. The company would then use those cameras to show road imperfections in real time—like potholes or pooling water—and beam that information up to the cloud via specific telematics and GPS. From there, the system will determine a Road Maintenance Score that reflects the condition of the road in question. Poor enough score? GM could—in theory—send that information to officials for immediate attention. GM's system would also recommend alternate routes to drivers via the in-car navigation system if it detects broken pavement along their path. Though it wasn't specified in the patent, we would expect a system like this to work in perfect tandem with GM's Super Cruise, which will soon have 750,000 miles worth of roadways across the US and Canada already mapped out. It's certainly an interesting idea—and one that could theoretically save drivers thousands of dollars in repair bills, especially given America's below-average road conditions. GM Road Deterioration Patent Filing Photo by: US Patent and Trademark Office GM Road Deterioration Patent Filing Photo by: US Patent and Trademark Office Earlier this year, the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) gave America's infrastructure a "C" grade, as reported by Fortune . The ASCE takes things like bridges, dams, and, of course, roads into account when scoring, which happens once every four years. The ASCE's "C" grade is actually an improvement over the previous rating, due in large part to former President Biden's $1-trillion infrastructure deal, which became law in 2021. "We have seen the investments start to pay off, but we still have a lot of work to do out there," noted Darren Olson, chair of the ASCE's report. "By investing in our infrastructure, we're making our economy more efficient, we're making it stronger (and) we're making ourselves globally more competitive." Of course, this road deterioration patent isn't the only thing in GM's arsenal aimed at helping drivers. Last May, GM filed a patent dubbed the 'Vehicle Occupant Mental Wellbeing Assessment and Countermeasure Deployment.' Essentially, a road rage deterrent that would use countermeasures to prevent an 'undesirable situation' while on the road. A separate GM patent filing from 2023 aimed at reducing headlight glare from oncoming vehicles via an augmented-reality, auto-dimming windshield . It should be noted that GM hasn't received patents for these inventions. But we can hope some of this technology makes its way to the road—and eventually improves our lives. More Cool Patents Time Is a Circle: Stellantis Snags Patent for Three-Speed EV Gearbox Ferrari Trademarks Hint at Two New Special Editions Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: US Patent and Trademark Office via GM Authority Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Lucid's New Hands-Free Tech Is Another Blow For Tesla
Lucid's New Hands-Free Tech Is Another Blow For Tesla originally appeared on Autoblog. New Driver-Assistance Features Coming for Lucid Air and Gravity models Whether for bragging rights or as an actual tool to make driving less fatiguing, hands-free driving technologies are becoming more and more popular. From Tesla's Full Self-Driving suite to GM's Super Cruise, several automakers now offer hands-free driving on compatible roads. In the case of Tesla, one of the brand's Model Y's recently drove itself all the way to its new owner. Lucid, which has always offered an array of driver-assistance features, is now expanding the suite of driver aids on its models with two new hands-free features. Perhaps it's surprising that a luxury automaker is offering the tech after mass-market brands like Ford, but better late than never, right? The new features will also give EV fans one less reason to run to Tesla - the Air Sedan is already outselling its Tesla rival comfortably. New Features To Be Available Via Software Update Hands-Free Drive Assist and Hands-Free Lane Change Assist are the two new functions that will be added to Lucid's optional DreamDrive Pro suite of driver-assistance technologies. Both will be available via an over-the-air update for the Lucid Air sedan on July 30, while owners of the Lucid Gravity SUV will be able to add the new features later in the DreamDrive Pro suite is an option that adds to the DreamDrive Premium suite. The latter includes technologies like adaptive cruise control, blind-spot warning, and a driver monitoring system. With DreamDrive Pro, the suite gains an array of sensors made up of LiDAR, ultrasonic sensors, visible-light cameras, and surround-view cameras. Using these, the car can be safely operated with hands off the wheel. "The addition of these features to Lucid's DreamDrive Pro offers a glimpse into the future that Lucid is building with the impressive capabilities of our software-defined vehicles," said Kai Stepper, Vice President of ADAS and AD at Lucid. "With our in-house software stack, a comprehensive suite of 32 sensors, and regular OTA updates, we have a roadmap to continue to deliver significantly more functionality to our owners in the future." The DreamDrive Pro suite will add $2,500 to the price of the Air sedan, besides the pricey Sapphire, which gets this suite as standard. An Already Great Luxury EV Gets Even Better View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article The Air Sedan is one of the finest new luxury EVs you can buy. It has swift acceleration, an upscale and spacious interior, and more range than competitors; depending on the model, the Air can cover up to 512 miles on a single charge. Even the least capable model wearing flashy 21-inch wheels can manage 361 miles, and a recent Air sedan set a new EV range record. The smooth-riding sedan can now be enjoyed hands-free, and a quick flick of the turn signal stalk allows the car to execute its own lane changes on compatible divided highways. An in-vehicle alert system will let owners know if they're on a compatible hands-free road, or if visibility and weather conditions are suitable for the functionality. These new features should further boost Lucid Air sales, which are already looking much better in 2025. For the first half of the year, 5,094 Air Sedans were sold, comfortably outselling rivals like the Porsche Taycan (2,083) and Tesla Model S (2,715).Lucid's New Hands-Free Tech Is Another Blow For Tesla first appeared on Autoblog on Jul 16, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jul 16, 2025, where it first appeared.
