The automotive world is increasingly turning to electric propulsion, and one of the latest SUVs with Android Automotive, the Cadillac Lyriq, sold out
Modern cars are chock full of technology. They are distantly related to the cars of twenty or even ten years ago, when features that are now taken for granted in every segment, such as satellite navigation, which today (thanks to Android Auto or Apple CarPlay) is widespread, were an inflexible and upgradeable option that cost several thousand euros.
Technology has stolen the scene even in the world of four wheels. To increase driving safety, as evidenced by the various systems that keep cars on track autonomously, but also to improve on-board entertainment. Among these systems is Android Automotive, Google's operating system for car entertainment, already seen recently on the new Renault Mégane E-Tech and which has just made its arrival on the new Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV: a car whose design seems to come from the future with 100 kWh batteries that, according to the company, guarantee over 500 km on a single charge despite the fact that the permanent magnet electric motor develops 255 kW, over 340 horsepower.
Cadillac Lyriq has gone on sale
The pre-order system for the Cadillac Lyriq electric SUV has nearly gone belly-up. Units scheduled for preorders for the crossover's Debut Edition version, which as the translation from English suggests is what Cadillac's people planned to celebrate its launch, ran out just 19 minutes after preorders themselves opened.
Cadillac's electric SUV possesses a huge 33-inch horizontal LED display through which the driver can consult operating and driving parameters over the steering wheel, while the portion of the screen to the right of the steering wheel is dedicated to infotainment that is managed by Android Automotive, the all-in-one platform from Google's green robot.
This last section of Cadillac Lyriq's 33-inch display is slightly oriented toward the driver so as to make it easier for him to read and thus minimize opportunities for potential distractions. Also present, of course, is the intelligent voice assistant Google Assistant and the Play Store, the same as on Android phones, from which to download applications for the car's system, and Google Maps for navigation.
What is Android Automotive
Between Android Automotive and Android Auto, a much more widespread and well-known system, there is a substantial difference from which others derive: Android Automotive is the only operating system in cars that adopt it. Android Auto, on the other hand, overlaps with the car manufacturer's infotainment system, while Android Automotive is the car's infotainment system, the only one.
It follows that, for example, Android Auto necessarily needs an Android smartphone to work while Android Automotive is already active when the car is turned on, even if an iPhone or no smartphone is connected. The latter operating system is much more powerful and complete than the former: it can manage, for example, the air conditioning, even the seats if the car has this equipment, and it can do everything Android Auto is capable of.