News on the next generation Cadillac STS

Dear 001,

Just went to a special car screening in which I was called up to test drive and then compare 3 cars. A new 7-series BMW, a new LS430 Lexus, and a "concept". The most interesting of the 3 was the concept car while it was purely a metal/plastic mockup it had onboard GM's own "idrive" system. The system as I was told when tying to use it basically does away with a "joystick" as the only single means of operation and is designed to facilitate easer use through buttons located around the screen which act as instant activation buttons (i.e. Radio, AC, etc.) the system was seemed a bit counter-intuitive and besides having a very pre-production look and crashing occasionally came across as a bit boring, bland, and unsophisticated. It also was "slow" and couldn't keep up with fast commands, when asked to compare the BMW I found the system nearly as complicated for a first timer but more interesting/justifiable given the options compared to GM's which didn't need a screen and all the extra hassle since it didn't have anything it really needed a screen for (if that all makes sense).

I was also asked to compare little things such as how hard it was to put the BMW & Lexus into gear when doing the

test drive then asked to do different functions while driving such as change the radio station, the Lexus was by far the

easiest given the fact it was all buttons and no screen but it was a bit unfair because given a few days with the BMW and

I would have been equally as proficient. I suggested (and still do) that carmakers with these type of systems should incorporate a setting which would allow a user to select the level of "detail" or amount of options they had (while in park) while driving thus making it easier for people to learn and also to keep it simple if they wanted to, kill two birds with one stone, I like the option of having all these choices (such as in a new 7) but I know some people wouldn't/don't, I mean its all a computer program anyway so its not that difficult to dumb-it-down right? I would expect the system to debut on the upcoming Cadillac STS.

Austin

p.s. Speaking of STS how come you guys don't have a lot of info the new STS (especially the STSv which if GM wants could kick the new M5's butt), I mean its only 6 months away from debuting right? I hear rumors of V8's, V10's and even the V12 being an option but have yet to see testing in Germany nor clear photos of the car, guess GM is doing pretty good hiding this car huh. And what rumors of the new XLRv, when should we see that?

001: Because GM isn't puposely leaking it like the other manufacturers do...XLRv...hmmm...