Future Cadillacs May Come Without a Steering Wheel
GM won’t promise that every future Cadillac will have a steering wheel, but it is promising that anyone who wants to drive a V Blackwing will be able to. Whether or not this means drivable in our current understanding, or some dystopian electronically-mediated version of driving, remains to be seen.
What It Means For Drivers
Jaclyn McQuaid, GM’s senior vice president of vehicle products, told The Drivecast she can’t rule out a wheel-free Cadillac: “I can’t say that there won’t be Cadillacs where that one day happens”. It echoes a concept GM showed in 2024, the Opulent Velocity, whose steering yoke retracts in fully autonomous mode.
2025-2026 Cadillac Escalade IQ
For now, not much changes. GM’s eyes-off driving system debuts in the 2028 Cadillac Escalade IQ and then moves to full-size light-duty trucks, with a later “Mission Mode” meant to let vehicles run errands for owners. Eyes-off is a step beyond today’s hands-free Super Cruise, but nothing in McQuaid’s comments says the wheel goes away.
The Blackwing Promise
Enthusiasts got the clearest answer. McQuaid said “if somebody wants [to drive a] V Blackwing, they’re going to be able to drive a Blackwing,” and added that it “doesn’t have to be a one-size-fits-all answer.” She cited GM’s racing programs in F1 and NASCAR and called herself “a lover of driving.” According to reports, the next CT5-V is expected to offer a naturally aspirated V8 and a manual gearbox, which would keep the Blackwing tradition of driver-focused engineering alive.
Cadillac
Why It’s Not Happening Soon
Federal safety rules were written around a human driver. In July, NHTSA gave Zoox a two-year exemption for a wheel-free robotaxi, capped at 2,500 vehicles in any 12-month period. That is a commercial permit, not a way to sell cars to consumers. NHTSA proposed rule changes for driverless vehicles on October 23, but they must go through public comment first, and one report estimates six to eighteen months for rules like this.
Closing Thoughts
GM’s McQuaid also tied autonomy to older drivers keeping their independence, which is a more relatable pitch than a car with no wheel. I don’t know what relevance “older drivers” have when it comes to wanting to drive and exercise your independence. As somebody who has a soft spot for classic cars, one thing is clear: what we as enthusiasts or drivers want almost doesn’t matter anymore – we are all riding the profit-maximizing, obsolescence planning constrain train past the golden age of engaging and visceral automobiles, all the way to regulation station. Once the data is out, showing that self-driving cars are safer than human-driven cars, the powers that be will use that argument to take driving away from us.