Not Just Autopilot, Cadillac Wants To Make A Car That Understands Driver's Health

Cadillac Elevated Velocity concept car. (Photo: Cadillac)

JAKARTA - Cadillac is looking at the future of the automotive industry with a concept that is further away from just electric cars or self-driving. Through a project titled 'Elevated Velocity', this brand from the United States seeks to design vehicles that can 'understand' and predict the driver's needs for the next 15 years.

In an interview with Motor1, GM's Vice President of Global Design, Bryan Nesbitt, explained that Cadillac wants to find a new way to bring value to customers in the era of autonomous or autopilot vehicles.

"We want to understand how to provide a driving experience that remains valuable, even when the vehicle is driving its own," Nesbitt said, as quoted by VOI, Tuesday, October 14.

He added that the combination of autonomous technology and the sensation of direct driving will be a separate attraction in the future.

One of the technologies highlighted in the concept of Elevated Velocity is an integrated biometric sensor system. This feature can monitor the heart rate, oxygen levels, and stress levels of the driver.

When the car operates automatically, this system can help drivers calm down through breathing or relaxation settings. This approach shows Cadillac's ambition to combine automotive technology with health and well-being elements.

In terms of design, Cadillac presents a futuristic display with illuminating wheels and a screen on the steering wheel that displays important information such as speed, time, to battery status.

This design eliminates conventional instrument panels and replaces them with augmented reality display technology (augmented reality) through a full windshield. However, Nesbitt admits that there are still technical challenges such as airbag placement to stay safe and in accordance with regulations.

This concept is fully electric-powered, although Cadillac has not disclosed details of its performance. In comparison, the Cadillac Lyriq-V, which is the brand's highest performance model, is priced at more than 80 thousand US dollars or around Rp. 1.32 billion.

However, according to Nesbitt, performance is no longer the only difference in the luxury car segment, where vehicle experience and intelligence are the main values. Cadillac emphasized that the Elevated Velocity is not just a futuristic vision, but an exploration project that will become the basis for the development of their products in the future.