"Rear drive" used to be the darling of many luxury cars, because its steering is more flexible than that of the predecessor, which can bring drivers a more enjoyable driving experience and become the standard of luxury cars in everyone's mind.
However, with the changes of consumption habits and market positioning, many traditional luxury brands gradually give up the rear drive and turn to the predecessor platform with simpler structure and relatively low manufacturing cost to build products. For a time, "rear-drive" models suddenly became precious, especially in the field of luxury cars that emphasize sports attributes.
Therefore, when Cadillac's CT series (car lines) all adopt rear-drive structure, this practice makes me feel like an experienced artist who sticks to traditional techniques. No matter how quietly the window changes, he is unmoved and still works hard in the direction he thinks is right.
Therefore, "no rear drive, no luxury" is not only a slogan, but also a totem of Cadillac brand spirit.
Under the influence of this spiritual power, I was lucky enough to complete the test drive experience of three CT4\5\6 rear-drive family models in two days in one trip. To tell the truth, although the trip is in a hurry, all links are closely linked. During this trip, we experienced cities, county roads, expressways and even the SAIC-GM proving ground. It can be said that we have basically rehearsed all kinds of road conditions that we can experience every day, so the conclusion will be relatively comprehensive and objective.
My first test drive was the flagship model of CT series. CT6, and it is a super cruise model. The biggest difference between it and ordinary models is that it is equipped with Super? Cruise super intelligent driving system. This driving system includes many subsystems, including two core technologies: driver's attention keeping system and centimeter-level high-precision map data system. It integrates a lane center keeping system, a full-speed adaptive cruise control system and a 360-degree omni-directional detection and perception system, thus achieving an amazing driving assistance function.
Limited by domestic traffic regulations and traffic hardware deployment, this super intelligent driving system can't be called an automatic driving system, but after practical experience, the powerful ability of this system has made me see the prototype of future automatic driving.
On the highway, I pressed the driver's assistance start button on the steering wheel and waited for the system start prompt light on the dashboard to turn green. In fact, this waiting process is that the vehicle-mounted GPS and high-precision map cooperate with each other to accurately locate the vehicle position, calculate the vehicle trajectory, and combine the all-round detection and perception system of the vehicle to make the vehicle drive safely on the right road.
Once the start prompt light on the dashboard turns green, a curved green light strip will light up on the upper arc of the steering wheel. At this time, you can remove your feet from the pedal, just touch the steering wheel with your hands and look straight ahead, so that the vehicle can judge the distance between the front and rear cars by itself and keep driving in the middle of the lane.
At first, due to the uncertainty of the system, I will hold the steering wheel carefully, and when I see the distance from the front car is close, my feet will subconsciously move to the brake pedal. However, CT6 Super Cruise Edition will skillfully grasp the timing of braking and acceleration, maintain a safe distance and maintain a reasonable speed. After several operations, I slowly relaxed and let the car drive by myself.
In order to verify the capability of this system, we also carried out a more exaggerated test at SAIC-GM test site. Just like the operation on the highway, we still let the vehicle drive in the designated lane, but the difference is that this time we let our hands leave the steering wheel completely and no one manipulated the car.
On the experimental high loop, we made steady progress at the speed of 120km/h, and the vehicle did not deviate at all. It took several minutes to leave our hands (limited by the length of the road). Theoretically, if the high-precision map covers and the regulations allow, we can drive the CT6 super cruise for a long time until we reach our destination.
Of course, all these obscene operations also have a premise, that is, the driver must look ahead and maintain a good mental state. Once the driver's attention keeping system judges that he is not looking forward or driving fatigue, the system will remind the driver that the super cruise is about to be lifted through seat vibration and sound, and the driver will take over driving.
In order to achieve the above effect, CT6 Super Cruise Edition has installed various sensors in various parts of the car body, including 1 forward-looking camera: it is used to identify lane lines and detect vehicles and pedestrians in front; Four panoramic cameras: assisting in enhancing the driver's vision at low speed and parking conditions and identifying redundant lane lines; 1 long-range radar +5 short-range radars: identify the relative position of the vehicle/object in front, determine the motion state, etc. 12 ultrasonic radar: detect surrounding obstacles at low speed and under parking conditions. A miniature camera is placed at the top of the steering column in the car to attract the driver's attention, and the infrared sensors on both sides of the steering wheel light strip track the driver's head position and facial features to judge his line of sight direction and monitor the driver's attention to the road ahead.
To be honest, the attraction of this intelligent driving system is far greater than my concern for the traditional three pieces. I think its actual performance is not inferior to Tesla's FSD, which makes me see the full efforts of traditional car manufacturers in the field of autonomous driving. "counterattack."
As for the feelings of driving, we have reviewed the test drive experience of bicycles before the Y car review, so I won't go into details in this article. Just to mention a few points, the texture of the first chassis is very advanced, compact and elastic, and it is in a leisurely state in the face of various road conditions, thanks to the MRC active electromagnetic induction suspension, lightweight suspension structure and engineers' profound adjustment skills.
Second, the NVH level is first-class, so it is difficult for you to criticize it at the noise level, regardless of tire noise, road rage and engine noise. If I have to give some room for improvement, I can only say that after the speed of 100 km/h, there is indeed some wind noise reaching my ears because of the shape. But what is this wind noise when you turn on the Bose top-mounted stereo 10 speaker?
We specially found a mountain road to drive CT4, because we think it is a product representing the sports spirit of the rear-drive family, and even a little aloof.
It is arrogant and detached because of its paranoid positioning. The wheelbase of 2775mm is 76mm shorter than the standard axis 3 series, and even shorter than Mercedes-Benz A-Class. The quintessence of the Wu family, which is one inch short and no more than five minutes long, embodies its insistence on pure sense of movement, but you can't have your cake and eat it, which really affects the practicality of the back row space.
As far as driving sense is concerned, it is indeed a car that is very easy to make people feel excited. The rear wheel drive system makes it have a larger front wheel steering angle, and the minimum turning diameter is only 1 1. 1 m. With the cooperation of mechanical variable transmission ratio steering rack and SSPS speed adaptive electronic power steering system, high-speed steering is more accurate and low-speed steering is more efficient.
Especially on mountain roads, every precise turn makes you more and more confident in the control of bending center. Unconsciously, you will form a rhythm with the car, braking, turning and accelerating in one go. This kind of carefree feeling is hard to experience in the crowded traffic in the city.
Excellent chassis performance is another important factor to promote the feeling of carefree. CT4 upgrades the traditional McPherson independent suspension structure to a two-section multi-link structure. Other lightweight designs, such as aluminum alloy front lower control arm and aluminum alloy steering knuckle, minimize the unsprung weight, reduce the weight inertia and improve the dynamic response speed of the vehicle.
CT4 is a "small" car that is very interesting to drive, and it is also a particularly addictive luxury car.
The last one is CT5, which cannot be ignored. There are many rear-wheel drive models of the same class, but Cadillac just puts the mLSD mechanical limited slip differential on the top.
On the surface, when a wheel loses grip, the limited slip differential can prevent the wheel from idling and transmit the driving force to the wheel with grip. In the dark, if you turn off ESP, the ways to have fun will increase a lot.
Coupled with Michelin ps4 and Brembo opposed 4-piston brake calipers, CT5' s sportiness will surprise everyone who drives it.
So when I drove the CT5 around the Kinkana circuit in an open space of 20,000 square meters at the SAIC-GM proving ground, it felt like a bodybuilder took off his exquisite suit and rolled up his sleeves. Although he is much bigger than CT4, his flexibility has not obviously decreased.
It can cope with high-speed pile winding and large U-bend, and the switching between the left and right centers of gravity during intense driving is not like a cart nearly 5 meters long.
After the test drive of Cadillac rear-drive family, my biggest feeling is that they are a group of treasure models, all of which contain strong product strength.
All three cars are rear-drive, but their personalities are different. CT4 has obvious fun attributes and should be a young choice who knows how to drive and loves to drive. CT5 has both home use and sports, so that older boys with more responsibilities can also keep a private land for driving. There is no doubt about the comfort of CT6, which is equipped with Cadillac's cutting-edge future technology, making it perfectly in line with the identity of the flagship car.
Under the background that new cars are more and more similar, and the personality and driving pleasure are gradually fading, Cadillac can help many people persevere, which is really rare.
This article comes from car home, the author of the car manufacturer, and does not represent car home's position.