Autonomous Cadillac previews GM’s mid-decade aspirations

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The original spirit of the concept car has taken a bit of a beating during the past decade, with many so-called ‘concepts’ quite close in design to the production models they soon morph into. Now Cadillac has restored the initial aims of a concept vehicle — to be wildly futuristic, the stuff of sci-fi, and upend accepted norms — with the unveiling of the InnerSpace Autonomous Concept at CES 2022.

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According to the automaker, the two-person electric luxury concept “offers a vision of future personal mobility focused on elevating the passenger experience.” The InnerSpace is the third addition to Cadillac’s Halo Concept Portfolio, joining the PersonalSpace, a single-seat vertical takeoff and landing concept; and the SocialSpace, an autonomous vehicle with space for six.

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“The vehicles of the Cadillac Halo Concept Portfolio are designed to provide effortless travel through extraordinary means,” said Bryan Nesbitt, GM executive director, Global Advanced Design and Global Architecture Studio. “They are visions for the next decade and beyond, showing the possibilities enabled by General Motors’ comprehensive approach to autonomous drive technology with the goal of a world with zero crashes, zero emissions, and zero congestion.”

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Leaving aside the ever-present debate over the zero-fun aspect of a self-driving vehicle, the InnerSpace does appear to be a pretty cool, very chic, and ultra-comfortable way to travel from point A to point B. [Editor’s note: more importantly, it might be closer to reality than it looks, since GM CEO used her CES keynote speech to proclaim the company may offer fully autonomous car to the public “as soon as the middle of the decade.”]

AI-driven biometric input and interfaces, accessible through a large, panoramic SMD LED display, allow passengers to select from Augmented Reality Engagement, Entertainment, and Wellness Recovery themes for their drive. Power comes from General Motors’ Ultium Platform wireless battery management system, and the battery modules are spread about the concept vehicle to optimize the cabin for spaciousness and serenity.

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The exterior features expansive, panoramic glass on the roof, which opens with the doors for more comfortable entry and egress; the seats pivot outward when the doors are opened.

The EV-specific tires are developed by Goodyear and feature so-called SoundComfort technology designed to help mitigate soundwave resonance within the tire for a quiet ride, while soybean oil and rice-husk-based silica replaces petroleum-based oil as a key ingredient in their construction.