Cadillac brought out St. Nick for a photo opportunity as the first 2014 ELRs began shipping to dealers. The range-extended electric car will become one of the flagships of Cadillac’s lineup when it goes on sale shortly, offering fully electric power around town as well as up to 300 miles of range with a gasoline engine on had to charge the batteries.
Cadillac’s newest coupe shares some of the underpinnings of the Chevrolet Volt, including its T-shaped 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and 1.4 liter gasoline engine. With 295 pound-feet of torque on hand from the batteries, the ELR should offer entertaining performance. The battery is charged by the gasoline engine, or by a household outlet. Charging time is about 4.5 hours at a 240-volt charging station. The ELR also features a sporty Watts-link rear suspension, continuous shock damping and rack and pinion steering. Wide tracks front and rear and a low body contribute to confident handling. Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system and other amenities are also on hand.
Pricing is expected to start at about $75,000 The ELR enters the market facing cars like the new Lexus RC Coupe, Mercedes E-Class Coupe and BMW 4-Series, and it’s the only fully-electric car in its class. Cadillac did not announce whether potential ELR buyers would be interviewed to see if they were naughty or nice.
ELR production is significant for Cadillac as well, as it marks the re-opening of GM’s iconic Hamtramck assembly plant. The plant was shuttered when DTS sedan production ended in 2011, and has been retooled to build the electric ELR.
