Cadillac unveiled a first ELR concept back in 2011 and ever since then everyone was pretty sure a production will also follow. Things got pretty clear in 2012 when a leak from OnStar confirmed Cadillac will dive into the hybrid realm with a vehicle not named "Escalade->ke245." The model finally made its world debut at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show and according to the first official details we have, it offers "an unprecedented combination of luxury, advanced engineering and progressive design."

However, this is not the first time in Caddy’s long history that it’s tread into the economy car world. The first one was the laughably Cavalier-like Cimarron. If you recall, Cadillac was so embarrassed by the Cimarron that the automaker refused to call it a Cadillac and instead dubbed it the “Cimarron by Cadillac” originally. GM later forced a name change to “Cadillac Cimarron.”

Needless to say Caddy->ke18 does not want to relive those days, so they took things pretty serious with the ELR. The model is being powered by the latest GM EREV technology that combined a pure electric drive and an efficient, range-extending 1.4 liter gasoline-powered electric generator.

Updated 02/10/2014: Cadillac unveiled a first commercial for its new ELR electric coupe featuring actor Neil McDonough. Enjoy!

Updated 03/25/2014: Cadillac unveiled a new video for the new ELR coupe which hopes it will help it sell the electric coupe better. Enjoy!

Click past the jump to read the entire review to see if the ELR will end up on TIME’s “50 Worst Cars of All Time” list alongside the Cimarron.

2014 Cadillac ELR

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2014 Cadillac ELR
  • Engine/Motor: inline-4
  • Horsepower: 162
  • Torque: 295
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array
Pros
Cons

Update History

Updated 01/15/2013: This review has been updated with the official details, images and video.

UPDATE 4/14/2013: Cadillac has just revealed the details on the ELR’s unique regenerative-braking system that allows you to regen on demand. See more after the jump.

Updated 10/11/2013: Cadillac reported today that the new ELR will go on sale in January 2014. The electric coupe will be priced at $75,995, including a $995 destination charge but excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees. After applying the federal tax credit, the price for the ELR could go as low as $68,495, including $995 destination.

Exterior

The 2014 ELR looks almost similar to the Converj concept that inspired it and introduces a new "progressive theme and proportion in Cadillac's design evolution." The model features Cadillac’s signature vertical headlights and vertical LED taillights and also the well-known trapezoid grille.

Next to making the ELR as elegant as possible, Cadillac also focused on delivering the best aerodynamics so the vehicle could "slip through the air with minimal drag." As a result the ELR is being equipped with a flush front fascia and grille with active shutters behind the grille opening, tapered fascia corners, sharp edges at the rear and a carefully designed spoiler. Cadillac also installed an aggressive rake on the windshield and back glass and obtained an impressive 0.305 coefficient of drag.

Exterior Dimensions

Wheelbase (in / mm)

106.1 / 2695

Overall length (in / mm)

186 / 4724

Overall width (in / mm)

72.7 / 1847

Track width front (in / mm)

62.1 / 1578

Track width rear (in / mm)

62.4 / 1585

Height (in / mm)

55.9 / 1420


Interior

The ELR offers a classic 2+2 layout and has been designed to offer the driver the best driving experience. The interior is trimmed in a combination of leather and authentic chrome and wood accents, while a carbon fiber trim is available as an option. The steering wheel is covered in leather and sueded microfiber, with the same material being used for the headliner.

As with all the other models launched in the past year, the new ELR is being offered with Cadillac CUE with Navigation featuring a large eight-inch, full-color capacitive-touch screen in the center of the instrument panel. It also includes a touch screen with gesture recognition and offers details on driving efficiency, energy usage, charging options and more.

Interior Dimensions

Front

Rear

Seating capacity

2

2

Headroom (in / mm)

36.9 / 938

34.7 / 882

Shoulder room (in / mm)

55.2 / 1403

49.9 / 1268

Hip room (in / mm)

52.9 / 1344

48.6 / 1234

Legroom (in / mm)

42.2 / 1071

33.6 / 853

Cargo volume (cu ft / L)

9 / 255 (est.)


Additional features include:

-Eight-inch configurable instrument and driver information displays, offering four configurations ranging from elegantly simple to technologically enhanced information

-Auto-glide/power-assisted covered storage/cup holder in the center console

-Fold-down rear seat backs accommodate longer items, including multiple sets of golf clubs

-LED-powered accent lighting in the instrument panel and doors

-Available Opus semi-aniline leather seating.

Engine and Technology

We do know that the ELR will feature an electric drive unit, powered by a 16.5kWh T-shaped lithium-ion battery pack. This electric drive unit is good for 207 horsepower and will feature 295 pound-feet of instantly available torque.

Additionally, the ELR will feature an 84-horsepower, 1.4-liter four-cylinder electric generator. Not an engine, folks, a generator to provide power to the drive unit, much like the Volt->ke2721.

Once the batteries become depleted, the generator kicks in to provide power to the electric drive unit, much like how an engine in gas cars spins the alternator to create current.

Using only the energy stored in the battery, the ELR will deliver a GM-estimated range of about 37 miles of pure electric driving, depending on terrain, driving techniques and temperature and over 345 miles of total driving with a fully charged battery and a full tank of premium gasoline (9.3 gallons). You can recharge you ELR on a 120-volt system or 240-volt charging station with the latter taking only 4.5 hours to recharge the batteries.

As expected, the ELR does include regenerative braking that helps use the heat energy used in braking to recharge the batteries, but this one is different from most. This system includes a set of steering-wheel-mounted paddles that are not used for shifting the gears, like on the traditional car. Nope, these paddles operate the Regen on Demand feature that lightly activates the system to recharge the batteries when you need it most. So, when you’re coming to a corner that will require braking, you simply pull back on the paddle and activate the Regen On Demand system, which slows the car slightly as you approach – like downshifting a traditional car – and stores this typically lost energy.

Additional contributors to the ELR’s driving experience include:

-Wide front and rear tracks – 62.1 inches (1,578 mm) in front and 62.4 inches (1,585 mm) in the rear – along with a long wheelbase (106.1 inches / 2,695 mm) and a low center of gravity

-HiPer Strut front suspension featuring lightweight forged aluminum components for reduced weight and more nimble, responsive action

-Dual-pinion, rack-mounted electric power steering system with premium ZF steering gear designed to provide excellent feedback while helping to save fuel

-A semi-independent rear compound-crank suspension with Watts link that incorporates weight-optimized trailing arms to absorb lateral forces, allowing the suspension to be tuned to handle vertical, forward and rearward motions

-Hydraulic ride bushings in the front and rear suspensions

-An electro-hydraulic regenerative brake system that captures energy and sends it to the battery pack

-Standard chassis control systems include antilock brakes, traction control and StabiliTrak electronic stability control.

Gasoline Generator Specifications

Type

1.4L DOHC I-4

Bore & stroke (in / mm)

2.89 x 3.25 / 73.4 x 82.6

Block material

cast iron

Cylinder head material

cast aluminum

Valvetrain

overhead camshafts; four valves per cylinder, continuously variable intake and exhaust cam phaser

Ignition system

Individual coil-on-plug

Fuel delivery

sequential multi-port fuel injectors with electronic throttle control

Compression ratio

10.5:1

Output (kW / hp @ rpm)

63 / 84 @ 4800

Max engine speed (rpm)

4800

Fuel type

premium required

EPA-estimated fuel economy

33 Combined, Est.

MPGe

82, Est.


Electric Drivetrain Specifications

Type

electric, two-wheel, front-drive

Motors (two)

drive motor, 117-135 kW; generator motor, 55 kW

Transaxle

Voltec electric drive system

Power (kW / hp)

154 / 207 (total system power)

Torque: (lb-ft / Nm)

295 / 400


Performance Specifications

0-60 mph

7.8 Sec. (Range Extending Mode) / 8.8 Sec. EV Mode

Top speed (mph)

106

EV range (combined city/hwy)

37 Miles

EV / Extended range

More than 345 miles, including EV on fully charged battery and full tank of fuel (est.)


Pricing

The new ELR will go on sale in January 2014. The electric coupe will be priced at $75,995, including a $995 destination charge but excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees.

Competition

BMW i8

The only true competition to the ELR is likely to come from the BMW i8. The Tesla Roadster is an EV, not a hybrid. That really leaves only the i8 as a true performance hybrid.

Let’s just say that the i8->ke3915 is a beautiful car, just like the ELR. In addition, we already know that the i8 cranks out a combined 354 horsepower and can hit 60 mph in about 5 seconds, but that is on battery and gas power. The ELR will run strictly on an electric motor with a four-banger generator making extra juice as needed. This leads us to believe that the ELR will likely fall well above the 5-second mark in 0-to-60 time. The advantage goes to the BMW i8.

Don’t get us wrong here, the i8 looks awesome, but it is a tad over the top for the average driver. The ELR, on the other hand, just looks like a really sleek and compact Cadillac. There is some appeal to Cadillac staying true to its design on the ELR, as many automakers go crazy on these futuristic cars. We have to give the concept version of the ELR the upper hand on this one. Now, this could change once we see the final production model.

The i8 runs a massive $132,600, so the Cadillac certainly wins out there.

Conclusion

Without knowing all of the specifics on the Cadillac, it is hard to say what to do. Our gut instincts say to snag up an ELR the second their tires touch a showroom floor. Despite its lackluster sales, the Volt’s drivetrain has been tested and seems to be working just fine, as there are no complaints yet.

For now, we have to say just wait this thing out and we will pass on more information as it becomes available. We can offer our promise that the ELR, sans a drastic change from the original concept, will not end up in a “Worst Cars” article.