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Cadillac Lyriq infotainment system will be 33 inches of something totally new

It’s screen day! Mercedes was first up with the EQS screen. Now, Cadillac just dropped more information on the massive infotainment screen going in its upcoming Lyriq EV, and the details are intriguing.  GM asked for some rather nontraditional help when designing and developing the LyriqÂ’s infotainment system. Both Territory Studio and Rightpoint were brought in to help Cadillac put something together that is hopefully nothing like the disaster that CUE was. The 33-inch LED screen spanning the width of the dash gave them plenty of real estate to get creative. Territory Studios is a global (originated in London) creative agency known for its expertise in user interface design, and itÂ’s worked on a number of video games, too. Rightpoint is a digital consultancy company that does a whole lot of everything in the digital world. Cadillac says the two companies were “focused on artfully integrating aesthetics, purpose and technology.” We wonÂ’t know how successful they were until we give it a shot, but Cadillac emphasizes that itÂ’s trying a fresh perspective for what an infotainment systemÂ’s user interface should be. Customizability and flexibility are two elements Cadillac is highlighting. There will supposedly be display themes “to fit the driverÂ’s mood and personality.”  The short 25-second video clip above preview shows a scaled-back and simple interface with a bottom row of essential function buttons. A menu list appears above this, and while there are likely many color themes available, the one shown is mostly dark with blues and blacks dominating the screen. One icon weÂ’ll point out is the colorful Google Maps icon in the menu list. Will Cadillac actually use Google Maps as the navigation system from the factory in the Lyriq? Perhaps. It tends to be exponentially better than any manufacturer-designed navigation system. Cadillac says more in-depth info will be available on January 12, so check back for a deeper dive then. You can peruse photos of the car getting this infotainment system below. Cadillac Lyriq View 8 Photos

How the demise of Lincoln's Town Car has kick-started a limo revolution

The deaths of the Ford Crown Victoria and the Lincoln Town Car have meant overhauls of three high-profile American fleets: police, taxi and livery car. Just as police fleets are more open to considering other options and a Nissan van is the new face of the NYC taxi, livery car companies are looking at replacements for the Town Car beyond The Blue Oval. Ford, via Lincoln, has made an MKT Town Car (pictured), but an article in the Detroit News claims "it has failed to win over most of the big limousine companies." The upstarts trying to move in include livery and limo editions of the Cadillac XTS, and livery specifications of the Toyota Avalon and Chrysler 300.
Each of those challengers, however, faces challenges. The Town Car was a workhorse, American, rear-wheel-drive sedan with plenty of rear legroom. Cadillac has been in the livery space before but with decontented models that were about selling the brand, not its luxury. It is taking the opposite approach with the XTS, pointing out that its livery edition is "contented in the upper half of the XTS range." Still, the CEO of Michigan's largest livery company says "it's quite a bit smaller than what we're used to," and he also prefers rear-wheel drive.
The Chrysler 300 is rear-wheel drive, and American, which matters to some companies, but Chrysler hasn't yet revealed the livery package for it. The livery Avalon marks Toyota's first time getting into that business in the US, a natural step after having done so well with taxi clients and with the Town Car out of the way. Still, the livery client is a different to taxi buyers, so the Avalon could face other soft-touch hurdles.

Cadillac CTS-V, ATS-V special editions celebrate IMSA titles

This was Cadillac's first year of competition for its DPi-V.R. Daytona Prototype race car in the IMSA Endurance Championship, and it brought home both the manufacturer title and driver title. To celebrate the occasion, Cadillac has created special editions of its fastest road cars, the CTS-V and ATS-V, and their defining features are stickers. Yes, the most unique part of these special Cadillacs is a decal package. But it is an attractive one, with white, gray, silver and red accents inspired by the race car. They're complemented by either a black or white paint job and red side mirrors. The rear quarter windows also get little stickers of the race car's silhouette. Though the stickers are the defining trait of these special-edition cars, they aren't the only features. The CTS-V and ATS-V each come bundled with an array of other features such as a sunroof, the carbon fiber exterior accent package, and a red and black interior that features red-accented carbon fiber trim and Recaro seats. Available as additional options are an eight-speed automatic for the ATS-V, a performance data recorder and a suede steering wheel and shift knob. The other neat tidbit is that, if those extra features are must-haves, the IMSA edition ATS-V is the way to go. The $72,190 price for the sedan is almost $2,000 less than an equivalent standard ATS-V sedan. The regular ATS-V sedan also isn't available with the red and black interior. The special-edition ATS-V coupe starts at $74,390, which is a little over $1,000 more than an equivalent normal ATS-V coupe. Unfortunately for CTS-V buyers, the IMSA edition model, at $105,730, is pricier than optioning up a regular CTS-V. So in that case, you'll have to decide whether the decals and exclusivity are worth it. Related Video: Featured Gallery 2018 Cadillac CTS-V and ATS-V IMSA Championship special editions View 13 Photos Image Credit: Cadillac Cadillac Coupe Luxury Performance Sedan cadillac ats-v