Design: Different Approaches
The Cadillac CT4 is a uniquely-styled sedan from both the front and the back, thanks to its headlights and taillights that look unlike any other car on the market. Cadillac added more aggressive elements like a front splitter, side skirts, and a ducktail spoiler on the trunk for the Blackwing model. Perhaps even more so than the CT5-V Blackwing, the CT4-V Blackwing brings a youthful, sporty vibe that looks ready to tackle a race track.
By contrast, the CLA s AMG transformation is more subtle. Buyers can opt for a more aggressive spoiler and front canards, but the standard CLA 45 is pretty tame aside from the large wheels and Panamericana grille. These two sedans are proportioned very differently, with the Cadillac having rear-drive proportions and the Mercedes riding on a front-drive platform with a coupe-like side profile.
The automaker is trying to make amends.
Last week, the heavily refreshed 2021 Tesla Model S and Model X were revealed to near-universal praise, with the exception of the yoke steering wheel that could well be a potential safety risk. Weird half steering wheel aside, the updated vehicles are reportedly already showing signs of improved sales after a multi-year decline, according to Electrek.
The cheaper and feature-packed Model 3 and Model Y stole some sales away from both flagship models. This recent Model S and Model X sales spike hasn t been seen since the launch of the Model S P100D with the Ludicrous model four years ago.
Look, ma! No hands!
The same day the Tesla Model S and Model X refreshes debuted, the automaker s famous CEO discussed a few other things during the quarterly earnings call. Elon Musk could have spent a chunk of time focusing on the fact Tesla, for the first time ever, had a profitable year in 2020, though this was largely thanks to selling EV credits to other automakers, which isn t a new practice. 2021 is going to be more exciting, Musk said. I think it s going to be a great year for Tesla.
But he didn t stop there.
He also said the company s Full Self-Driving system will be capable of Level 5 autonomy by the end of the year and will be capable of driving vehicles anywhere regardless of conditions with zero need for any human interaction. Why is this so controversial? Oh, where to begin.
You d think this would be obvious.
Not only is the all-new 2021 Cadillac Escalade the most luxurious Escalade to date, but it s also the most technologically advanced. Boasting a class-leading 38-inch OLED display and an Augmented Reality-enabled navigation system, it s the Super Cruise semi-autonomous hands-free self-driving system that s already a standout. Super Cruise recently beat Tesla s Autopilot in a Consumer Reports test and this fact alone will convince more buyers to pay extra for it.
Like Autopilot, Super Cruise has its limitations and not all drivers may fully understand this. But unlike Teslas, the Escalade is a real SUV with numerous capabilities, such as towing. And therein lies a potential new problem: can Super Cruise and towing go together? The obvious answer is no.