We’ve known the ELR, Cadillac’s new electrified coupe, would go on sale soon, and today we know what it will cost: the ELR will start at $75,995 when it goes on sale next January. If a buyer is eligible for federal tax credits, that price could drop to as low as $68,495.
The ELR is GM’s first vehicle derived from the Chevrolet Volt, and it shares that plug-in hybrid’s 1.4-liter gas engine teamed up with a 16.5-kWh battery. EPA estimates for the ELR haven’t been released yet, but they should be close to the Volt’s, which are 35 mpg in the city and 40 mpg on the highway. Cadillac did say that the ELR’s total range would be “in excess of 300 miles” and the electric-only range around 35 highway miles; the Volt’s range is 380 miles and its all-electric range is 38 miles.
The Volt, however, recently received a price cut that reduced the sticker price of 2014 models to $34,995; that price could drop to as low as $27,495 for buyers eligible for federal tax credits. So what does an ELR buyer get for that price premium of $41,000?
First off, there’s the handsome sheetmetal that is heavily influenced by Cadillac’s show car, the Converj, from the 2009 Detroit auto show. Since it is a production vehicle, the ELR isn’t as low or as wide as the Converj, but it retains the proper proportions and details such as the LED head- and taillamps.
The interior is equally as impressive, featuring handcrafted leather that is set off with real wood-grain and chrome trim. Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system is front and center, featuring an eight-inch capacitive-touch screen with navigation. Other standard technology includes lane-departure warning, forward-collision alert, and GM’s vibrating safety seat alert.
The main difference between the Volt’s powertrain and that of the ELR’s is a reprogrammed electric-drive controller. The new programming permits more current to flow from the battery, which increases system output by 58 horsepower and 22 lb-ft of torque, to 207 hp and 295 lb-ft, respectively. GM estimates this should be enough for the ELR to do 0–60 mph in around eight seconds.
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The ELR’s powertrain also features unique driving modes, including the regular Tour mode; Sport mode; Mountain mode, which maintains the battery charge in hilly terrain; and Hold mode, which allows drivers to choose when they can use either the gas-powered generator or battery power alone to run the ELR. In addition, the ELR features Regen on Demand, which allows the driver to use steering-wheel-mounted paddles to increase the regenerative braking and slow the ELR more—similar to downshifting in a vehicle equipped with a manual transmission.
Perhaps more telling is the fact that the ELR is priced exactly $4000 less than the base price of a Tesla Model S sedan with the 85 kWh battery. That car—a pure electric with room for five, a range of around 265 miles, and fuel economy of around 90 MPGe—starts at $79,995 before tax incentives. Whether or not the ELR will pose a real sales threat to Elon Musk’s creation, however, remains to be seen.
Source: CarAndDriver
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