About two years ago, the U.S. Department of Transportation say that one in 10 of the 620,000 crashes that occurred during that year happened in the rain, being obvious that slippery conditions can hinder a vehicle’s performance in more ways than one and can even penetrate the braking system, increasing the chance of an accident. However, Cadillac is determined to prevent this as much as possible by fitting their premium crossover, the SRX, with a system called Auto Dry, a system that provides extra control in soggy conditions because Auto Dry Brakes can help to improve overall brake effectiveness during rainy conditions on the highway.
These brakes work with the SRX RainSense automatic windshield wiper system, or when the standard windshield wipers are operating, and the SRX has been traveling over 20 mph continuously for more than four miles without using the cruise control. The Auto Dry Brakes and it works by occasionally applying (touching) the brakes in order to keep them dry when driving in wet conditions for sustained periods of time.
“With drier rotors, when the driver does apply the brakes, the brake system operates more effectively, giving a more-assured stopping feel and better brake effectiveness in wet conditions,” GM explains.
“The important thing is to assure the brakes are as dry as possible before the driver applies the brake pedal,” said Randy Leek, a General Motors brake development engineer. “We designed this feature to ensure that the brakes provide optimal braking performance while driving in inclement weather.”
In addition, Cadillac made sure to synchronize this system with a RainSense automatic windshield wiper system which, weirdly, is even more difficult to explain fully.
Pricing for the 2012 SRX starts from $36,060 including $875 destination charge. The vehicle is fitted with a 308-horsepower 3.6L direct-injected V6 engine that comes with a driver-selectable ECO Mode for optimal fuel economy.
Source: Cadillac
