It seems somewhat incongruous to me. Maybe even a dichotomy.
Cadillac’s 2014 ELR luxury coupe looks like a sports car – but it’s equipped with Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) technology – that provides pure electric driving that extends the gas engine’s range by about 35 miles.
Powered by a Voltec electric-drive system with 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and Ecotec 1.4-liter gas powered generator engine, the ELR delivers 33 miles per gallon fuel-efficiency with the gas engine. More when you factor in the 35 gas-free miles.
I wouldn’t call the engine performance scintillating – it certainly can’t be confused with the Cadillac CTS – but it’s not supposed to be. The ELR was built to delivery a sportish driving experience with an environmentally friendly, green badge of honor.
It does make me want to test drive a Tesla.
Cadillac certainly makes the electric feature simple: It comes with a programmable charging schedule and energy efficiency reports available online and via smartphone notification.
Let’s see what the 2016 model brings to the table. It’s supposed to be ready for the public shortly after Cadillac took a break in 2015.
ELR’s exterior gets more than its fair share of glances, double-takes and sometimes blatant stares.
Designers created an aggressive, forward-leaning profile fueled by a prominent, sweeping body line enhanced by 20-inch, ultra-bright, machined aluminum wheels.
Other notable features include a flush, front fascia and grille with active shutters, door handles hidden in recesses behind the doors, and vertical headlamp and taillamp elements, a Cadillac brand tradition since 1948.
The interior is loaded with luxurious appointments and the latest, greatest in whiz-bang technology. It seats four adults – in theory – but the proportions are tight, and would get uncomfortable quickly.
Posh, leather seats with multiple adjustments and auto-heating are complemented by a premium Bose audio system, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, and navigation system displayed on an eight-inch LCD screen with CUE (Cadillac Uses Experience). CUE is Cadillac’s breakthrough system for connectivity and control, using voice recognition, capacitive touch, and hand gestures used on smart phones and tablets.
The trunk is not Larry-sized, that’s for certain. But fold-down rear seatbacks accommodate longer items such as skis and golf clubs just as long as there are no more than two passengers.
Sport mode is one of four driver-selectable choices that help make the most of the ELR’s driving experience for a variety of driving styles and conditions. The others are: Tour mode, which provides the greatest driving comfort and efficiency; Mountain mode, which automatically adjusts to provide needed power; Hold mode, which allows the owner to direct when the ELR uses its gas-powered electric generator, reserving the remaining battery charge for later use.
Safety features worthy of note include a rear vision camera, forward collision alert, lane departure warning, and a theft deterrent system.
2014 CADILLAC ELR
Base price: $75,000
As tested: $77,690
Base price includes destination charge. Vehicles are provided by the manufacturer. Prices may vary at local dealerships.
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