Cadillac SRX Receives New Technology, Styling Tweaks for ’13

General Motors will unveil a refreshed-for-’13 Cadillac SRX midsize luxury cross/utility vehicle at the New York auto show this week, adding new technologies and styling to the brand’s best-selling model.

The new CUE infotainment system headlines changes to the SRX, available in the fall. The Cadillac User Experience comes standard.

According to Cadillac, CUE pairs entertainment and information data from up to 10 different Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, USBs, SD cards and MP3 players with an infotainment system boasting reduced complexity through customized information, voice commands and fewer icons and buttons.

Central to the CUE system is an 8-in. (20-cm) LCD multitouch-sensitive screen atop the center stack with proximity sensing and haptic feedback. Capacitive technology allows users to perform the same “swipe,” “pinch” and “spread” gestures common to today’s smartphones.

The touchscreen includes a motorized face plate that reveals a hidden compartment for items such as a smartphone.

The ’13 SRX features Cadillac’s new Driver Awareness and Driver Assist active-safety technology packages. The optional systems include technologies such as adaptive cruise control, blind-zone detection and automatic rear and front braking.

The Driver Awareness and Driver Assist packages first bow on the new-for-’13 XTS large sedan later this spring.

The exterior of the boldly styled SRX will add new colors, including Evolution Green Metallic, Glacier Blue Metallic and Silver Coast Metallic. A new design graces the front upper and lower grille and new front-fender vents incorporate LED light pipes.

The interior adds items such as additional device ports and jacks to accommodate the CUE system, a 120V power outlet, new headphone and remote design for the rear entertainment system, a new shift knob and steering wheel design and a new instrument cluster to integrate CUE.

Active noise-cancellation technology debuts on the SRX, helping quell much of the ambient noise inherent to the cabins of most CUVs and wagons.

A new Light Titanium interior color complements a new Raven Sapele wood color accent.

According to WardsAuto data, the SRX eclipsed the CTS sedan last year to become the best-selling model for Cadillac with 56,905 deliveries. It continues to lead so far this year, with 9,149 sales through February.

Since its redesign in 2009, the SRX also has taken a bigger bite of the Middle Luxury CUV segment with a 14.2% share in 2011. That’s good for second place behind longtime leader, the Lexus RX, at 20.6%.

Through February, SRX tightened the gap with a 14.8% segment share compared with the RX’s leading 17.5%.

The Cadillac SRX has been a big success in China since its introduction last year, selling more than three times the volume GM expected.

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