- the new 2021 cadillac escalade uses a set of oled screens for its instrument cluster and infotainment system.
- these screens enable several customizable displays including augmented reality navigation and night vision views.
- the screens are standard on all versions of the 2021 escalade, which goes on sale in late 2020.
compared with lcds, oled screens draw less power and offer a more natural color range, with the ability to display true black. so far, the technology has made it to production info screens only as an option in the audi e-tron, but cadillac is changing that. the 2021 escalade will come standard with more than 38 diagonal inches of oled real estate across the three curved displays that make up its infotainment system and gauge cluster.
from left to right, the screens measure 7.0 inches, 14.0 inches, and 16.9 inches, with the center 14.0-inch screen serving as the instrument cluster. it's the only non-touchscreen display of the three. the cluster has several distinct displays, including the classic gauge view; a navigation view, which fills the whole center screen with a map; a night-vision screen; and an augmented reality display with route directions.
the night vision feature isn't new to cadillac, but it's appearing on the escalade for the first time. the system projects an infrared image of what's in front of the car onto the instrument cluster, and when an animal or person is detected within 82 feet of the car, an amber box appears around them. if they're approaching quickly, the box turns from amber to red and a front pedestrian alert flashes in the windshield.
the other unique display adds augmented reality elements to the navigation display when a route is active. it uses the the car's front-mounted cameras to capture the scene in front of the car and display it on the instrument cluster. when the navigation system is in use, the route directions appear on top of the projected image.
in true cadillac form, the automaker's crest also sits in the center back of the display, backlit like the apple logo on a macbook, for all passing by to see.
automakers have been hesitant to adopt oled screens, given that the technology is relatively new and longevity is a concern. early oleds have shown a tendency for the colors to dim over time. craig zinser, director of cadillac's infotainment division, says his team found ways to lengthen the life of its oleds; he estimates they'll last at least 15 years. keep that in mind when you're looking to pick up an escalade on the used market seven years from now.