Cadillac is updating its in-car entertainment system for 2012 with a smartphone-like multi-touchscreen, screen layout as well as some advanced features that are driven by a triple-core processor.

Called CUE, short for Cadillac User Experience, the system is based on an 8-inch capacitive touch screen on the front-end, as well as an ARM 11 triple-core processor that is used to run a Linux-based entertainment platform. Cadillac said that the processor is about three times as capable as the chip used in its current entertainment system and is able to process about 400 MIPS. According to the car manufacturer, CUE will support the parallel input of up to 10 Bluetooth-enabled mobile devices, USBs, SD cards and MP3 players.

The user will control input and output via a high-resolution touch screen that can supports touch gestures such as tapping and swiping. With the help of a proximity sensor, the interface layout changes as a hand approaches the display; integrated haptic feedback is designed to improve the usability of the system. Thanks to the more powerful processor, there are some advanced features in CUE, including natural voice recognition, which is, for example, used for responding to text messages that are translated between text and voice.

There was no information how much CUE will cost, but we know that the system will initially debut in the upcoming XTS and ATS sedans as well as in the SRX crossover.