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

[William Maley]

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

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[G. David Felt]

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.

[Cmicasa the Great]

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

[rougeriver]

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.

[Cmicasa the Great]

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.

[Drew Dowdell]

It's a shame.  If I lived in a different climate, I'd drive one.

[rougeriver]

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?

[Drew Dowdell]

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.

[G. David Felt]

 

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.

[smk4565]

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.

[Drew Dowdell]

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

[rougeriver]

 

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. 

[G. David Felt]

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.

[oldshurst442]

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

 

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...

[G. David Felt]

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.

[smk4565]

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.

[daves87rs]

It's a shame.  If I lived in a different climate, I'd drive one.

+1

[ocnblu]

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.

[cp-the-nerd]

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.

 

[cadillacescaladefans]

I will miss the ELR, it was a beautiful car.

Edited June 4, 2016 by cadillacescaladefans