Cadillac Adds Apple CarPlay, Android Auto for 2016

As expected, less than two weeks after GM announced that nearly a dozen of its model-year 2016 Chevrolet cars, trucks and SUVs would receive upgraded phone-integration capabilities with the addition of Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, the automaker has followed suit for its luxury brand, Cadillac. The additions come as part of a broader enhancement of the Cadillac User Experience multimedia system, promising new features and faster, streamlined operation.

Related: Hyundai Launches Android Auto in 2015 Sonata

Starting this summer, Apple CarPlay will debut on almost all model-year 2016 Cadillacs equipped with the 8-inch CUE touch-screen system. The SRX crossover won’t get it until its redesign next year, GM said. Android Auto is expected to be available later in the 2016 model year.

Apple and Google announced their smartphone-integration systems in 2014 and both bring a simplified interface to the dashboard screen.

“Apple CarPlay takes the iPhone features you’d want to access while driving and puts them on the vehicle’s display in a smart, simple manner,” the automaker said in a statement. “This allows drivers to make calls, send and receive messages, and listen to music right from the touchscreen or by voice via Siri.”

CarPlay-supported apps include phone, messages, maps and music, as well as compatible third-party apps. Android Auto, meanwhile, is built around Google Maps, Google Now and the ability to talk to Google, the automaker explained; apps include WhatsApp, Skype, Google Play, Spotify and podcast players. Many features can be controlled by voice command through a steering-wheel button.

In addition to smartphone integration, the CUE system will also get a more powerful processor, which the automaker said will enable faster startup, voice recognition, navigation searches and media playing. Moreover, the navigation system’s control structure has been simplified for easier destination entry and quicker searches, while maps have been redesigned for greater ease of use, including one-touch control of frequently used features like instruction muting and route cancellation. The Escalade SUV, along with the CTS and XTS sedans, will also add a 360-degree-view camera.