Cadillac ELR

Overview

Cadillac ELR

manufacturer	General Motors
production	2013–2016 2,958 produced
model years	2014 and 2016
assembly	United States: Detroit, Michigan (Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly)
class	Compact car‡R1R‡
body style	2-door coupé
layout	Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive‡R1R‡
platform	GM Delta II / GM Voltec‡R2R‡
engine	1398 cc EcoFLEX LUU I4 (gasoline)‡R1R‡
transmission	CVT Voltec 4ET50 multi-mode electric transaxle‡R1R‡
battery	16.5kwh (2014) – 17.1kwh (2016) kWh lithium-ion battery‡R1R‡
range	340 mi(EPA)
electric range	(2014) 37 mi (2016) 39 mi (EPA)‡R3R‡
drivetrain	Series hybrid‡R4R‡
wheelbase	2695 mm‡R1R‡
length	4724 mm‡R1R‡
width	1847 mm‡R1R‡
height	1420 mm‡R1R‡
weight	1846 kg‡R1R‡
related	Chevrolet Volt/Holden Volt/Opel Ampera/Vauxhall Ampera
designer	Exterior: Tim Kozub Interior: Keith Fisher‡R5R‡
sp	us

The Cadillac ELR is a two-door, four-passenger luxury plug-in hybrid compact coupé manufactured and marketed by Cadillac for model years (MY) 2014 and 2016 – with a hiatus for MY 2015.[6] Using a retuned version of the Chevrolet Volt's Voltec EREV drivetrain,[2] the ELR's lithium-ion battery pack delivered an all-electric range of 37-39 mi and a top speed of 106 mph.[3]

The ELR derived from Cadillac's Converj concept, which debuted at the 2009 North American International Auto Show. Scheduled for production and subsequently canceled during GM's bankruptcy and restructuring, and after a series of on-again, off-again decisions, the ELR was approved for production for MY 2014 with a MSRP at roughly $75,000 — $35,000 higher than the Volt whose basic powertrain it shared.[7]

Development

General Motors debuted the Cadillac Converj concept, the car that would eventually become the 2014 Cadillac ELR, in January 2009, at the North American International Auto Show.[13]

In April 2009, Motor Trend reported that General Motors approved the production version of Cadillac Converj in 2011 as a 2012 model year vehicle.[14] GM refuted the report, saying that the Converj was "a concept vehicle undergoing a review".[15] An August 2009 BusinessWeek report said GM vice-chairman Robert Lutz wanted to see the Converj go into production, possibly as early as 2014,[16] and it was reported that while delivering the keynote speech at the 46th annual Northwood Auto Show Lutz "hinted that an announcement on production for the well-received Cadillac Converj concept car may be forthcoming."[17] At the 2010 North American International Auto Show, Lutz told the Society of Automotive Analysts, "The Cadillac Converj is cleared for production," but that "It won't be next year or the year after that."[18] Despite these statements, in March 2010, Bloomberg BusinessWeek reported that GM decided to end work on the Converj, because the car "couldn't have enough amenities and electric range to be compelling to buyers and produce a profit".[19]

In August 2011, General Motors reversed its decision to cancel the project and announced the Converj concept would go into production as the Cadillac ELR, at a price less than the US$57,400 Tesla Model S, but did not provide details on performance or timing. General Motors said the ELR would be about the same size as the Chevrolet Volt and would be produced in the same facility.[20][21] Within the framework of GM's vehicle electrification strategy,[22] the Cadillac ELR was—after the Chevrolet Volt EREV and Spark EV—the third plug-in electric passenger car sold by General Motors in the U.S. since the EV1 was discontinued. In contrast to pure battery EV proponents like Tesla Motors, GM has initially focused on extended-range EV technology that incorporates internal combustion engines.

General Motors began testing ELR prototypes in mid-2012.[23][24] The production version was unveiled at the 2013 North American International Auto Show.[10]

Cadillac ELR

Development

Specifications

2016 model

Fuel economy

Operating modes

Production and sales

Awards and recognition

Marketing

See also

Sources

External links

References