Smarter Cars Offer Glimpse of Future for Autos

Did we mention cloud-computing access? Video vehicle surveillance? A "Personal Assistant" 24/7 electronic concierge? Intel and Nissan, Infiniti's parent company, said that many of these technologies will be in place and on the road straightway year. It's a long way from the AM radio.

Global revenue from automotive infotainment elements is projected to hit $33.5 billion in 2012, up 3% from 2011, according to a market-tracking report from IHS iSuppli. One auto exec likened the competition in this space to "an arms race ... clients are expecting and anticipating this stuff." Brake assist, lane-departure warning and parking-assist cameras are already offered by several manufacturers, and a cockpit camera in the Mercedes Benz S Class can alert the driver if he appears drowsy. 

Cadillac is taking a same-nevertheless-different tack from Infiniti with its new CUE. The Cadillac User Experience appropriately premiered not at an auto show, yet at the CTIA Wireless Association's telecommunications show in San Diego.

Stunning 8-inch screen that

CUE uses a stunning 8-inch screen that, as with a smartphone, users can swipe, pinch or flick to control navigation, radio, heating and cooling functions. It as well has now-obligatory natural-language voice recognition. CUE will sync with up to 10 devices, including your phone. The instruments' screens are customizable, and the driver will be able to speak the name of a song -- "Play 'I'll Sleep When I'm Dead' "-- and CUE will find it if it's stored in the system.

"CUE will be a big part of the way we market the XTS," a Cadillac sedan arriving straightway month, said David Caldwell, brand communications manager for the company. It will be standard in the XTS and, in the long run will migrate to other models as an option that will probably cost about $2,000.  Working with Fallon, Minneapolis, on creative, "visually, we'll try to get across, if you love the tablet and the smartphone, you'll like the CUE," Mr. Caldwell said. TV spots are expected to begin then month, he added. 

As far as adding on utilities that would allow drivers to hook up to Facebook, Twitter or other assorted applications, most are sensitive to the specter of distracted-driving issues. CUE, to illustrate, is preloaded with just a single smartphone-based app to keep the focus on basic navigation, hands-free phone use and some information displays, Mr. Caldwell said.