Perhaps this is the future of luxury travel.
The automaker presented two concepts that, while unlikely to be in production, were hidden among General Motors’ big technology announcements at Consumer Electronics Show. The Cadillac Vertical Take-Off and Landing and Cadillac Personal Autonomous Vehicle are two examples of a future where humans have no control over transport.
Because the Cadillac Personal Autonomous Vehicle is boxy and pod-like, it maximizes interior space. This makes it more attractive than an exterior that’s stylish. Three walls of the cabin are occupied by a wraparound couch. The cabin’s high-class appearance is achieved with dark wood accents. To create large spaces for entry and exit, the window and body panels can be tilted apart.
Self-driving at Level 4, where the vehicle can drive itself, but still requires a steering wheel, is still an technological challenge for mass-market products. So something like the Cadillac Personal Autonomous Vehicle without controls is a long way off entering production. It’s still fascinating to see Cadillac’s vision of the future.
The Cadillac Vertical Take-Off and Landing concept is not yet a production-viable vehicle. However, it’s certainly more interesting than the other two vehicles. The vehicle has a transparent front section that allows for clear views of the outside world. One occupant is seated in a comfortable, swiveling, cushy seat.
This would enable a single person to travel short distances, such as from rooftop to rooftop within a city. The four rotors can reach speeds of up to 56 miles an hour (90 km per hour) thanks to the electric motors. In the future, the company may show a two-seat version.
Cadillac envisions these concepts as working together. The drone would then pick you up and take you to the closest landing spot. You would find the autonomous pod waiting to pick you up and drive you to your destination.