General Motors’ Super Cruise system is one of the most advanced driver-assistance systems on the market. It allows drivers to take their hands off the wheel (but not their attention off the road) under certain conditions and trust that the car will steer itself, keep a safe distance from traffic, and apply emergency braking while prompting the driver to take over when necessary. It will soon learn a few more tricks.
Autonomous Lane Changing
Current versions of Super Cruise can change lanes if the driver initiates the process with the turn signal. The next generation of Super Cruise will be capable of changing lanes on its own. The system will monitor speed and conditions in several lanes and may change lanes to pass slower traffic without any input from the driver.
Hands-Free Towing
It will also be usable while towing.
Anyone who has driven with a trailer knows that a vehicle’s handling and braking behavior changes with the added weight of a trailer. The upcoming version of Super Cruise will be capable of calculating the weight of both trailer and tow vehicle and adapting to compensate so that drivers can safely use it while towing. The lane-change feature, however, will automatically disable when a trailer is attached.
Release Date Unclear
Super Cruise is currently available on the Cadillac Escalade SUV, Escalade ESV, CT4, CT5 and CT6 sedans, and Lyriq EV, as well as the Chevrolet Bolt EV and Bolt EUV. There’s no word yet on when the lane-change function will come to those models.
GM says the trailering function will debut on the 2022 GMC Sierra Denali. Upper trim levels of its Chevy Silverado sibling will add the feature later, as will the GMC Hummer electric vehicle and the Cadillac Escalade.
