Jump to content
Create New...
  • William Maley
    William Maley

    The Cadillac ELR Has Left the Building... Back in February

      A quiet exit for the Cadillac ELR

    We knew that the Cadillac ELR would be driving off into the sunset, but we didn't know when.

     

    "I plan to continue admiring it as one of the most beautiful cars on four wheels. But we don't plan further investment" in the coupe, said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen back in February.

     

    This lead many to believe that Cadillac was going to keep the ELR until the end of the 2016 model year. That would not be the case as General Motors quietly stopped production in the same month.

     

    “Cadillac ELR production recently concluded. A very small quantity of ELR units remain available at dealers today,” said Cadillac Product Communications Manager David Caldwell in a statement to Hybrid Cars.

     

    Through April, Cadillac only moved 357 ELRs.

     

    Source: Hybrid Cars

    User Feedback

    Recommended Comments

    The ELR is a lovely auto and the inside is night and days ahead of the VOLT. 

     

    Sadly, Cadillac needed to do I think a CUV version of this power train. That would have sold more than the ELR. Plus the crazy high price did not help it since the tech came from the VOLT.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Things that held the ELR back:

    1) Price possibly, but

    2) No Sunroof. Seriously? In a car that looks like this.. sold to greenies with money (obviously) in California.. No Sunroof?

    3) Its a sports car config. The backseat, like that in a 911 is a joke.

    4) No advertising after "Poolside." None. Nada. If costs vs return is the issue.. be like most luxo manufacturers and have a all-inclusive marketing campaign that shows all the models at once. Heck. Take page from Chevy. Their ad has everything from Cruze to Z06 in it.

     

    5) Preach leasing! $1999 at lease with $599-699 per month. Why are people looking at the PRICE anyway unless its a collector car? The tech will continuously evolve.. buying an EV in today's market will in teh next few years be kno different than buying an iPhone or Galaxy. Every 6 months!!! Upgrade.

     


    Bottom line is that the ELR at $75K was fine IF Cadillac only wanted to sell them to niche buyers. They didn't. They FAILED to sell the intended 3000 (last year about 1/2 of that)  units annually because they did nothing to market this car after "Poolside" went viral and let's be honest, its a 2-seater (eff the back seat in any of these sports coupes/Verts from Cadillac to Benz), it has no sunroof, which is insane considering the market for this car would seemingly be the well-to-do, Silicon Valley, greenie types who love to show up in something sexy that lets's their hair blow around in the wind. 

     

    This car.. THIS CAR.. should have been a sub-ATS sports car, with a convertible roof or sunroof having coupe, with a TT 2.0L 270HP and 350HP VSeries version, and ta hell with EV. The Voltec should have gone in the XTS. The XTS, with Voltec would have made sense. The XTS with Voltec would have added numbers in the realm of what Tesla sell because it would be in a car that could actually seat 5, maybe 6, with a trunk that could house a bunch of Golf Clubs.

     

    Anyway, the CT6 Hybrid rights this wrong. The ELR, will return in a proper form, and a different name. I'm thinking CT7. The CT6, with 335 hp and 432 lb-ft of torque, not to mention light weight will be pretty refreshing

    • Agree 2
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    The CT6 will add one more planetary to the system described in this article, which goes into detail about the 2016 Volt:

     

    http://www.hybridcars.com/second-generation-volt-transmission-operation-explained/

     

    And this article has a nice summary of the development of hybrid drive along with how the latest GM systems evolved out of 2 Mode:

     

    http://www.hybridcars.com/revenge-of-the-two-mode-hybrid/

     

     

    IMO, GM needs to make the Voltec technology a power transmission option in as many products as possible. Some form of it will be in my next purchase.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    The CT6 will add one more planetary to the system described in this article, which goes into detail about the 2016 Volt:

     

    http://www.hybridcars.com/second-generation-volt-transmission-operation-explained/

     

    And this article has a nice summary of the development of hybrid drive along with how the latest GM systems evolved out of 2 Mode:

     

    http://www.hybridcars.com/revenge-of-the-two-mode-hybrid/

     

     

    IMO, GM needs to make the Voltec technology a power transmission option in as many products as possible. Some form of it will be in my next purchase.

     

     

    Yes. Pretty much it needs to stop being 'special' and just embrace mainstream. The Malibu Hybrid is tops.. the CT6 will be as well. Volt is getting rave reviews.. and there really is zero reason why the tech is not employed in a "tall wagon" (read CUV) at this point. Betting good money that a Equinox, XT5, Terrain, Encore.. with Voltec would do very well for GM.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I was going to purchase a Malibu hybrid, but my wife insisted on a luxury marque and I insisted that it be one of the D3- so enter the ATS. After she gets her Mercedes, I might trade the ATS for something with Voltec. In Montgomery County, MD I see a lot of Volts and a few Tesla S' tooling around. An old guy about 80, came creeping out of a white Tesla S, that he had parked next to my car. My father always wanted an electric car, but did not stay in this world long enough to see it happen. In his case, a Volt probably would have done the trick. He had a lot of anxiety issues. And being a retired electrician, the service he put in the garage could easily support 220 along with a small machine shop. 

     

    One bright spot I see, based on all the EV or PHEV products being sold, is that battery pack are not the issue that skeptics made them out to be. From what I have read, the glitches in the Tesla S or X have been in body hardware or trim. Even the motor issue was washers out of spec. But the battery, where the lions share of their work has gone, has been solid. 

     

     

    And where is that asshole Farago, who claimed the Volt was vapoware and would be a horrible product?

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I was going to purchase a Malibu hybrid, but my wife insisted on a luxury marque and I insisted that it be one of the D3- so enter the ATS. After she gets her Mercedes, I might trade the ATS for something with Voltec. In Montgomery County, MD I see a lot of Volts and a few Tesla S' tooling around. An old guy about 80, came creeping out of a white Tesla S, that he had parked next to my car. My father always wanted an electric car, but did not stay in this world long enough to see it happen. In his case, a Volt probably would have done the trick. He had a lot of anxiety issues. And being a retired electrician, the service he put in the garage could easily support 220 along with a small machine shop. 

     

    One bright spot I see, based on all the EV or PHEV products being sold, is that battery pack are not the issue that skeptics made them out to be. From what I have read, the glitches in the Tesla S or X have been in body hardware or trim. Even the motor issue was washers out of spec. But the battery, where the lions share of their work has gone, has been solid. 

     

     

    And where is that asshole Farago, who claimed the Volt was vapoware and would be a horrible product?

     

    You can find ELRs with under 5k miles on them for about 50% off sticker.... they'll even extend the warranty for you.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

     

    I was going to purchase a Malibu hybrid, but my wife insisted on a luxury marque and I insisted that it be one of the D3- so enter the ATS. After she gets her Mercedes, I might trade the ATS for something with Voltec. In Montgomery County, MD I see a lot of Volts and a few Tesla S' tooling around. An old guy about 80, came creeping out of a white Tesla S, that he had parked next to my car. My father always wanted an electric car, but did not stay in this world long enough to see it happen. In his case, a Volt probably would have done the trick. He had a lot of anxiety issues. And being a retired electrician, the service he put in the garage could easily support 220 along with a small machine shop. 

     

    One bright spot I see, based on all the EV or PHEV products being sold, is that battery pack are not the issue that skeptics made them out to be. From what I have read, the glitches in the Tesla S or X have been in body hardware or trim. Even the motor issue was washers out of spec. But the battery, where the lions share of their work has gone, has been solid. 

     

     

    And where is that asshole Farago, who claimed the Volt was vapoware and would be a horrible product?

     

    You can find ELRs with under 5k miles on them for about 50% off sticker.... they'll even extend the warranty for you.

     

    Agreed, it is freakin amazing the deals on ELRs, There is a fully loaded 2015 ELR with 2815 miles at the local Caddy dealer for 40K, originally almost 80k. Not bad, The less than 100 miles on the 2016 ELRs are all in the high 50's to low 60's. I bet they get blown out this fall to clear the lots.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    They should recycle the ELR body/chassis and put a turbo 4 cylinder with about 200 hp, maybe a 1.6T base fwd a 2.0t optional with awd.  Call it CT2, base price of $32,990 and there is your CLA competitor.  Take out the batteries and back seat room and trunk space increase.

     

    ATS later becomes CT3, base price of $34,990.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

     

    I was going to purchase a Malibu hybrid, but my wife insisted on a luxury marque and I insisted that it be one of the D3- so enter the ATS. After she gets her Mercedes, I might trade the ATS for something with Voltec. In Montgomery County, MD I see a lot of Volts and a few Tesla S' tooling around. An old guy about 80, came creeping out of a white Tesla S, that he had parked next to my car. My father always wanted an electric car, but did not stay in this world long enough to see it happen. In his case, a Volt probably would have done the trick. He had a lot of anxiety issues. And being a retired electrician, the service he put in the garage could easily support 220 along with a small machine shop. 

     

    One bright spot I see, based on all the EV or PHEV products being sold, is that battery pack are not the issue that skeptics made them out to be. From what I have read, the glitches in the Tesla S or X have been in body hardware or trim. Even the motor issue was washers out of spec. But the battery, where the lions share of their work has gone, has been solid. 

     

     

    And where is that asshole Farago, who claimed the Volt was vapoware and would be a horrible product?

     

    You can find ELRs with under 5k miles on them for about 50% off sticker.... they'll even extend the warranty for you.

     

     

    Thanks, I will have to put that on my list. 

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    They should recycle the ELR body/chassis and put a turbo 4 cylinder with about 200 hp, maybe a 1.6T base fwd a 2.0t optional with awd.  Call it CT2, base price of $32,990 and there is your CLA competitor.  Take out the batteries and back seat room and trunk space increase.

     

    ATS later becomes CT3, base price of $34,990.

    Take an ELR for a test drive, you will be surprised how much force that electric motor will push you back into the comfy luxury seat they have in the ELR. They are much nicer than the VOLT, just was never worth the $ they asked. If they brought it out at the current selling price in the mid $40K's they would have done much better.

    • Agree 1
    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Its a shame Cadillac did not use this car's sex appeal to its fullest potential.

    2014-Cadillac-ELR-098.jpg

     

    Drew...

     

    You mentioned to SMK that they'd have a much bigger redesign challenge than what SMK suggests...

     

    The ELR is based off of the 1st generation Volt platform which in itself is based on the 1st generation Cruze platform.

    Am I correct with this assumption?

     

    If Im correct, what SMK is suggesting....couldnt Cadillac/GM and Chevy  move parts around to make it happen?

     

    Unless of course all that swapping being made on an "outdated" platform is not worth the hassle...

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I think its platform is going away as the Cruze/Volt moves on.  They'd have a much bigger redesign challenge than you suggest. 

    Correct the platform was retired and the new VOLT is now on the new Global D2XX I think is what it is called if memory serves me correct.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    I am sure the body of the ELR could work on D2XX with little change to the design.  The Buick Cascada 1.6 liter turbo could serve as the engine.  The size of the ELR is very close to the 2017 Cruze, they might have to tweak a few things here to there, but it shouldn't need too much redesign.  The interior might have to change more to fit with other D2xx cars, but most of the Cadillac center stack is the same in every car, so you just fit that in there.   Then you have your sub-ATS car, your sleek looking car to appeal to young people, your CLA/A3 fighter all rolled into one.  Yes it would be a 2+2 coupe, but I doubt CLA buyers are using that back seat much anyway.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    Meh.  The new Volt blows this thing away in every aspect for those who think they need electrification, and I am normally a coupe lover.  Would have been worlds better just as a 2.0t gasoline powered runabout priced in the low 30's.

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites

    It's a real shame. The ELR was a true stunner of a car. I liked it even more after the mild refresh with the new crest and new wheels, along with a new sport mode that shaved about a second off 0-60 acceleration.

     

    The price was wrong from the beginning. At $55k it could have sold reasonably well.

     

    Overall, Cadillac's advertising has been ABYSMAL. I think it's the only real reason the cars are selling so poorly. 5 or so years ago, Cadillac ran CTS-V ads that were absolutely awesome. They made the car look badass and desirable. There was a V-coupe running a track with an exotic sports car talking about magnetic ride control, pioneered by GM. There was one with the V out-running a bunch of archers firing arrows, it was visceral and cool.

     

    I just recently saw an ATS-V commercial that builds you all up with awesome clips... then cuts to a base 2.0T and says "most powerful 4-cylinder turbo in its class" without saying anything real about the V! Like what the f@#k are they thinking??

     

    Anyway, RIP beautiful. misguided Cadillac.

     

    cadillac-elr_100508406_h.jpg

    Link to comment
    Share on other sites



    Join the conversation

    You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
    Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

    Guest
    Add a comment...

    ×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

      Only 75 emoji are allowed.

    ×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

    ×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

    ×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.


  • google-news-icon.png



  • google-news-icon.png

  • Subscribe to Cheers & Gears

    Cheers and Gears Logo

    Since 2001 we've brought you real content and honest opinions, not AI-generated stuff with no feeling or opinions influenced by the manufacturers.

    Please consider subscribing. Subscriptions can be as little as $1.75 a month, and a paid subscription drops most ads.*
     

    You can view subscription options here.

    *a very limited number of ads contain special coupon deals for our members and will show

  • Similar Content

  • Posts

    • Those that cannot accept a multi-cultural world and immigration deserve to lose everything. I will stay professional, but believe that our North American Economy is about to get far worse over the long term than it is now. It is amazing how people do not seem to realize that the first two years of a new president is dealing with the ramifications of the last president. The high inflation was due to the failed policies of those before. We now have low unemployment and a strong economy. Will be interesting to see how it ends.
    • I say, let it get worse.  The people have spoken and this is what the MAJORITY voted for.  He even got the popular vote.  Therefore the people of America have spoken.   This is what they want.  This is what they feel comfortable with.   But I dont want to hear ANY whining from ANYBODY about what possibly may happen with him Him in power.  Fool me once,  shame on you!  Fool me twice, shame on me?   Technically this is how that saying goes.  But you never know. Maybe it really IS the lefty libtards that are the problem.   Hopefully it IS the lefty libtards that are the problem and the Messiah Trump will BE the solution to ALL of our problems.   I will be the first one to apologize if He actually does fix America's and Canada's problems.  And unite ALL of the world and the world gets to sing Kumbaya ALL in unison. Hopefully He is the next coming of Christ.   Keeping my fingers crossed but I aint holding my breath if you know what I mean.   
    • @oldshurst442 This pretty much sums up just how bad it is going to get. Trump's economic plans would worsen inflation, experts say | AP News
    • Not just iPhones... He tariffed Canadian wood the first time around as Pres and the prices of wood skyrocketed so American home builders bought American wood which was and is more expensive than Canadian wood.  I guess that is good for American wood producers. But for the fact that house prices also skyrocketed.  And considering that Canada and US have a more or less good trading thing going on...so not that good.  Not for the US and not good for Canada.  But Donald thinks otherwise. And all the folk that voted for him this time around think that the economy will get better?  I hope so for their sake. But Elon and Jeff B's billions rose quite a bit upon the announcement of his re-election.  I wonder if those  people that voted for him, I wonder if their wealth also rose instantly?    You poor bastards... You have no idea what is coming to you... (those that voted for him.  With the excemption of the rich of course)     Donnie Rides Again
  • Who's Online (See full list)

    • There are no registered users currently online
  • My Clubs

×
×
  • Create New...

Hey there, we noticed you're using an ad-blocker. We're a small site that is supported by ads or subscriptions. We rely on these to pay for server costs and vehicle reviews.  Please consider whitelisting us in your ad-blocker, or if you really like what you see, you can pick up one of our subscriptions for just $1.75 a month or $15 a year. It may not seem like a lot, but it goes a long way to help support real, honest content, that isn't generated by an AI bot.

See you out there.

Drew
Editor-in-Chief

Write what you are looking for and press enter or click the search icon to begin your search