The 2008 Cadillac CTS luxury sedan marks a new approach to in-car navigation, information and entertainment. The system is redesigned and upgraded in every way, including “infotainment” technology intended to add capabilities, while also adding fun. 

In the consumer electronics world, devices with the most attractive design and intuitive operation dominate. The new Cadillac CTS was designed in consultation with consumer electronics experts to break the recent tradition of cars that are more advanced, but also more complex and cumbersome. 

“Our goal was to add leading-edge electronic features at the forefront of the industry, but do so in a way that adds pleasure, not complexity,” said John Howell, Cadillac product director. 

The infotainment package of the Cadillac CTS includes advanced systems such as a telescoping touch-screen, a 40-gigabyte hard drive, USB and auxiliary audio connectivity, three-dimensional imaging of landmarks on the navigation screen, the integration of real-time traffic data (where available) and the integration of iPod functionality including the ability to:

Charge an iPod

Record tracks from CDs

Obtain traffic information (where available)

Pause, rewind and playback live radio

Listen to a book from Audible.com

Navigation and information

The navigation system in the Cadillac CTS takes advantage of the latest developments in the GPS industry to create a faster, more informative and better-looking total package.  The operating software conducts route calculations 30-percent faster than previous systems. The graphics include 3-D imaging.

Drivers on long road trips or vacations will find even more useful and convenient features. Points of Interest functionality has been greatly enhanced for the 2008 Cadillac CTS, including many more detailed and specific categories of businesses and landmarks.  Drivers can set up preferences of the type, style and even brand name of roadside attractions, shops and services. For instance, the system can provide the location of gas stations, restaurants or coffee houses while en route; they can even appear via expandable color icons.

These various features of the navigation system can be accessed via simple push-button controls, touch-screen controls and enhanced voice activation. Drivers can use traditional voice commands, or take advantage of a new series of “voice tags,” which are shorter, simpler voice commands. 

The navigation screen in the Cadillac CTS is telescoping, enabling it to rise or retract into the instrument panel. When retracted, a small portion of the screen remains visible, showing alphanumeric data in the manner of a traditional radio display. The retractable touch-screen is an eight-inch full VGA display, with 800 x 480 pixel resolution and a large 104 x 174 mm viewable area. The screen even has anti-pinch technology, preventing it from pinching objects in its path as it closes.

Digital entertainment

The new CTS has been designed for all forms of music lovers – from iPod and MP3 fanatics, to CD devotees and serious audiophiles.   Music can be stored on the car’s 40-gigabyte hard drive. Through a USB jack located in the vehicle’s center console, digital audio music files – such as MP3 and other formats – can be downloaded to the hard drive for storage and playback. Additionally, music from CDs can be recorded and stored on the hard drive. Music recognition software from Gracenote, a leader in global entertainment technology, is incorporated in the hard drive enabling it to recognize track listings, song titles, genres and artist info for CDs loaded into the system. This makes cataloging and organizing stored music very convenient and similar to the digital music libraries consumers maintain elsewhere. 

Full operation of the overall navigation and audio system is maintained, even while the hard drive is ripping and storing CD tracks. In fact, the simultaneous, seamless operation of the system was a key design goal, an imperative for today’s digital consumer who expects instant and easy access. While the hard drive is downloading the contents of a music CD, passengers will still get uninterrupted audio playback from the radio or digital music from an iPod, while said device is also being charged, and while the driver is receiving split-screen views of both the audio information and navigation data. The only restriction, in terms of simultaneous operation, is that the hard drive can only “record” or write from a single source at a time.

The hard drive also has digital audio recording capability, enabling listeners to pause and rewind radio broadcasts. The system can record radio broadcasts on an ongoing, 60-minute rolling basis when driving or not. For example, a portion of a sports game broadcast can be recorded while a shopping errand is attended to, or a customer who just missed the weather report can simply rewind to hear it again. Once users return to the vehicle, they can instruct the hard drive to pick up where the recording was set, including fast forward and rewind capability within a 60-minute time window. If the radio station is changed, the hard drive clears and starts recording again on the new channel. 

Cadillac engineers designed the controls, menus and other aspects of the system after consultations with iPod designers and engineers, in addition to other music and electronics industry professionals. 

CTS is one of the first cars to be designed for digital music. Via USB and auxiliary ports located in the center console, these devices can receive battery charging. With a special cord developed by GM and available at Cadillac dealers only for the CTS, iPod users can plug-in for full integration. This cord features the proprietary iPod output on one end, and both USB and auxiliary plugs on the other. This enables full integration of the iPod – including advancing tracks via the car’s steering wheel or console controls, along with battery charging, and of course, audio output. 

The USB connector will import only audio files. To reduce driver distraction and maintain optimal focus on the top priority of digital music, the hard drive will not accept photos or other types of data. 

The hard drive will be offered as a stand-alone option on the CTS, meaning that even consumers who do not opt for the navigation system can choose the hard drive as an addition to their car’s standard infotainment package. 

On vehicles equipped with navigation, the CTS has a single-slot DVD video system, enabling DVDs to be viewed only when the car’s transmission is in Park. A TV tuner is also included in navigation-equipped cars.

A six-disc in-dash CD changer also is included in the CTS as standard equipment, with the ability to read CDs and MP3-format files. 

Home theater-style audio performance

Regardless of the type of input, CTS has been designed to achieve levels of sound on par with fine home theater gear. 

A first-time option in the CTS is the Bose® 5.1 Cabin Surround® sound system. This optional 10-speaker system delivers 5.1 digital sound in a 360-degree field. It includes Bose AudioPilot® noise compensation technology which continually adjusts to the many aspects of the audio signal while preserving the listening experience, even as background noise levels change.  The CTS comes standard with a high-performance eight-speaker Bose stereo sound system.