Skip to main content

Cadillac debuts streaming-video rearview mirror for 2016 CT6

Rearview cameras have begun to supplant rearview mirrors in many cars, but General Motors will soon combine the two.

When the 2016 Cadillac CT6 debuts next year, it will have a rearview mirror with streaming high-resolution video, giving the driver a clear view out the back without any obstruction from roof pillars or passengers’ heads.

Cadillac says it improves rear visibility by 300 percent, and makes backing up in the large four-door CT6 like driving a convertible with the top down.

The apparatus includes a TFT display and HD camera, which Cadillac says yields crisp images and reduces glare compared to a conventional auto-dimming mirror.

The camera is covered in a hydrophobic coating to keep it clean and maintain visibility in all conditions. Drivers can also switch the streaming video feature off with a switch on the mirror.

The rest of the 2016 CT6 should be pretty good too.

Set to debut at the 2016 New York Auto Show in April, it will become Cadillac’s new flagship and vault the brand into one of the most prestigious realms of the luxury-car world.

It will compete against the likes of the Audi A8, BMW 7 Series, and Mercedes-Benz S-Class. Cars in this class are defined by long lists of tech options, so the CT6 will need more than a fancy mirror to stay in the game.

So far, Cadillac has hinted that its new flagship will be smaller than the competition, which means it could be more driver-oriented. There are also plans for a 70-mpg plug-in hybrid model.

Whatever its other merits turn out to be, we at least know the CT6 will be pretty nice to drive in reverse.

Editors' Recommendations

Stephen Edelstein
Stephen is a freelance automotive journalist covering all things cars. He likes anything with four wheels, from classic cars…
Mercedes-Benz G580 first drive: old-school off-roader goes electric
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

American car buyers mostly know Mercedes-Benz as a luxury brand. But for decades, the automaker has also produced the tough, rugged G-Class (also known as the Geländewagen or G-Wagen), an SUV not afraid to get its leather upholstery muddy. And now, this iconic Mercedes is going electric.

The 2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology — the final name of the SUV previously known as the EQG — isn’t the first electric off-roader. The Rivian R1S and R1T and GMC Hummer EV have proven that electric powertrains and off-roading are a great combination. But the electric G-Wagen is different because it’s based on an internal-combustion model — and a very traditional one at that.

Read more
Honda believes hydrogen semi trucks will make the case for fuel cells
Honda hydrogen fuel-cell semi truck.

Honda remains committed to hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles, but the market for those vehicles remains limited. So Honda is looking at other uses for fuel cells -- including commercial trucks.

To show how that could work, Honda converted a semi truck to fuel-cell power, replacing its diesel engine with three fuel-cell modules. Together, the three modules produce a combined 321 horsepower, and can propel the truck to a top speed of 70 mph. There's enough onboard hydrogen storage capacity for a 400-mile range with a full load, Honda claims.

Read more
Mercedes-Benz G580 vs Rivian R2: Is the much cheaper Rivian actually better?
2025 Mercedes-Benz G580 from three quarter view.

Mercedes-Benz has finally taken the wraps off of the new "Mercedes-Benz G580 with EQ Technology." Yeah, it's a mouthful, but it's basically a new electric G-Wagon. It looks a lot like the G-Wagon you know and love, but with an electric powertrain and a battery. It's not the only electric SUV out there, however, and there are some great ones -- like the Rivian R2.

Both the Mercedes G580 and the Rivian R2 have a lot going for them, but they also approach the electric SUV slightly differently. Is one better than the other? I put the two head-to-head to find out.
Design
The approach that the two vehicles take to design is quite different -- and you might like one better than the other.

Read more