Some New Cadillacs Can Now 'Talk' to Other Vehicles

The Cadillac CTS sedan now comes standard with Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communications.

Beginning with 2017 interim model year cars that are in production now, the Cadillac CTS can share information that can be used to alert drivers to upcoming potential hazards. The American automaker’s V2V solution uses Dedicated Short-Range Communications (DSRC) and GPS, with the potential to handle 1,000 messages per second from vehicles up to nearly 1,000 feet away. That means the sedan can prompt alerts for hard braking, slippery conditions and disabled vehicles ahead of time, giving ample warning to the driver.

For example, when the car approaches an intersection, the system scans the vicinity for other vehicles and tracks their positions, directions and speeds with alerts appearing in the instrument cluster and available head-up display. Owners can customize these alerts that appear on their Cadillac user experience infotainment system.

SEE ALSO: Feds Push for Mandatory Vehicle-to-Vehicle Communication

Unfortunately only vehicles equipped with compatible V2V systems will be able to communicate with one another, but the technology is expected to roll out from more automakers in the coming years. Multiple V2V-equipped vehicles are able to create an ad hoc wireless network to transfer information without relying on sight lines, good weather conditions or cellular coverage. The 2017 Cadillac CTS sedan’s V2V technology operates on the 5.9 GHz spectrum allocated by the Federal Communications Commission.

“From the introduction of air bags, to the debut of OnStar, Cadillac continues its heritage of pioneering safety and connectivity advances,” said Richard Brekus, Cadillac global director of product strategy. “V2V essentially enables the car to sense around corners. Connecting vehicles through V2V holds tremendous potential, as this technology enables the car to acquire and analyze information outside the bounds of the driver’s field of vision. As an early mover, we look forward to seeing its benefit multiply as more V2V-equipped vehicles hit the road.”