Cadillac to release upgraded Super Cruise tech in 2020

The feature will be available on more cars, too.

Cadillac re-affirmed its commitment to making continuous upgrades to its Super Cruise technology. It will improve the feature, which is one of the most advanced semi-autonomous systems on the market, while making it available on more cars.

When the right conditions are met, Super Cruise lets drivers take their hands off the steering wheel and their feet off the pedals. They need to remain 100% alert at all times, however, and a driver-facing camera makes sure they're watching the road ahead, not Netflix. Cadillac refused to go into specific details, but it announced it will add more functionalities to Super Cruise in 2020.

"The system that we have today, we continue to upgrade. We have over-the-air re-flash capability and you'll continue to see us add features and capabilities to Super Cruise going forward," said Brandon Vivian, Cadillac's executive chief engineer, in an interview with The Verge. He added it won't be an entirely new generation of technology; the firm will release "more like a half step in between."

Vivian hinted the team of engineers he leads is working on making Super Cruise work in a wider array of driving and road conditions. Researchers are also teaching the technology how to read road signs and traffic signals, still according to The Verge, how to drive through intersections, and how to handle construction zones.

As of writing, the only Cadillac available with Super Cruise is the CT6. The CT5 sedan introduced during the 2019 New York auto show will also offer the technology as an extra-cost option, but it's not expected to arrive in showrooms until later this year. Pricing information hasn't been released yet, either. Four additional Cadillac models -- including some that haven't been unveiled yet, like its upcoming EV -- will be available with Super Cruise by the end of 2021.