Preview: 2014 Cadillac ELR

2014 Cadillac ELR. Click image to enlarge

Preview by Mike Schlee, Photos by Mike Schlee and courtesy of General Motors

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2014 Cadillac ELR

Despite the naysayers who deemed the Volt would never reach production, and who have been predicting its eminent demise ever since, it is still here. It is no secret that the Volt’s initial development costs were high, and the vehicle itself is expensive to produce. To help recoup some of the money invested in the Voltec platform, GM has always said there would be more range-extended electric vehicles in the future; and here they come.

First up will be the 2014 Cadillac ELR. The ELR is a 2+2 coupe that Cadillac claims is “guided by the core values incorporated into all Cadillac designs.” Or, in other words, their Art and Science design philosophy. Like the recently introduced Cadillac ATS, the ELR is tasked with taking the Cadillac brand even further globally. GM wants Cadillac to compete with the best of the best in the luxury market in not just North America but also places like Europe and Asia.

So, as part of this strategy, Cadillac has created what they call the first extended-range vehicle from a full line luxury automobile manufacturer. Like its platform-mate, the Chevrolet Volt, the ELR is a front-wheel-drive vehicle featuring two distinct power sources. One is an electric motor that is the primary power source for the ELR, while the other is a gasoline engine that works as a generator to recharge the battery pack that powers the electric motor.

2014 Cadillac ELR. Click image to enlarge

The range-extending gasoline engine is the same 84-hp 1.4L four-cylinder Ecotec engine found in the Volt. The electric motor on the other hand is far more powerful than the one found in the Cadillac’s Chevrolet brethren. The drive motor is a 117-135 kW electric engine producing 207 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. This makes it 53 hp and 23 lb-ft more powerful than Volt’s 111 kW motor. Sending power to the electric motor is a 198-kg lithium-ion battery pack that Cadillac claims will allow for an estimated mixed driving range of 56 km on battery power only. Like the Volt, once the battery is depleted the gasoline generator will kick in to allow for a total range of 480 km. Expect it to take roughly 12 hours for the battery to recharge on a regular 120V outlet or 4.5 hours to recharge on a 240V stage two charger.

Even at 1,846 kg, Cadillac wants the ELR to offer a sporting drive and not be another boring to drive ‘green car’. To accomplish this, the ELR offers four driving modes; Sport, Tour, Mountain and Hold. Sport mode delivers quicker applications of torque to the front wheels as well as revised steering and suspension settings; the latter thanks to the HiPer front suspension setup. Tour mode is the default ‘normal’ setting while Mountain mode will not allow the battery to get completely depleted, allowing there to be a little extra boost in reserve if needed when climbing steep grades.

2014 Cadillac ELR. Click image to enlarge

The most interesting mode however, is the newly introduced Hold mode. It allows drivers to decide when the ELR uses its gas-powered electric generator so they can save the remaining battery charge for later use. The reasoning behind this mode is to help improve efficiency for ELR users as they can choose to run the gas engine when on the highway and then switch back to battery power for city driving where an EV vehicle operates most efficiently thanks to more use of the regenerative braking. Speaking of regenerative braking, the ELR incorporates a feature called Regen on Demand which allows the driver to activate the regenerative brakes at any time via steering wheel mounted paddles. This can simulate a ‘downshift’ to set the car up when entering a corner.

2014 Cadillac ELR. Click image to enlarge

All of this technology is impressive, but there are many technologically advanced EV and hybrid vehicles on the road. The ELR needs to stand out from the green car crowd, and with its great application of Cadillac’s Art and Science styling language, it will. Although it is still a very aerodynamic design, the ELR has a striking form that may even exceed that of Cadillac’s own ATS. To ensure maximum efficiency, details like recessed door handles, radiator shutters and a flush front grille all reduce drag. But this is a luxury car, so it needs luxury appointments. To ensure luxury buyers feel like they are buying something special, the ELR features LEDs in the headlamps, daytime running lamps, tail lamps and Cadillac’s signature front and rear lighting accents. All ELRs will roll on 20-inch wheels with 245/45R20 tires attached to them. Exterior colors will include Black Raven, Radiant Silver Metallic, Graphite Metallic and Crystal Red.

Inside, the ELR will feature a standard CUE infotainment system with Navigation on an eight-inch, full-color capacitive-touch screen. Surfaces inside will be covered in a mix of leather, suede microfibre, chrome, wood and available carbon fibre. A Bose 10-channel audio system with active noise cancellation will also be standard in the ELR. Finally, the rear seats fold down to accommodate longer items and expand the estimated 255 L of cargo space in the trunk.

This is the first Cadillac to receive a new interior design layout that they say will make its way into future Cadillac models. As can be expected, the ELR will feature the full array of Cadillac’s advanced active safety features including the safety alert seat, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, side blind zone alert, rear cross-traffic alert and adaptive cruise control. Limited production of the ELR will begin in the United States in late 2013 with sales starting in early 2014 in North America and then expanding to global markets including China and Europe. At this time there is no official word on pricing in Canada.

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