DETROIT AUTO SHOW: What Price Should The Cadillac ELR Come In At To Guarantee Success?

Is it just a different flavor of the Chevrolet Volt?  Underneath is almost certainly is, and to most of us it may not really matter.  The bigger question maybe if the upcoming ELR has enough on the inside to convince the average buyer to take the plunge. 

To date the Chevrolet volt has been a hit or miss proposition with price being a key factor. 

Think about it for a minute, there is a substantial subsidy on each example and a very aggressive leasing option.  One might think that that would be enough to launch sales into the stratosphere, but movement is not following suit.  Yes, if you add the unfettered access to California HOV lanes you start seeing traction, but face it most of America is not that gridlocked to make it a factor.  Booming sales in California are more an oddity than a success.  You have to build on more than that.

Price is the key here, and with an unsubsidized new Volt hovering in the 45K range, it makes you wonder what the pricing of the ELR should be to guarantee success?

With that as a given, and the images below I am asking the best of the best to tell us what the new Cadillac ELR should be priced at?

AutoSpies.com is the number one site in the world for Auto Show photos.

With other sites you're a spectator but with Auto Spies is like you're THERE!


Official Detroit Auto Show photo gallery

**The 2013 Detroit Auto Show Gallery and coverage is sponsored by Lexus
















Official Detroit Auto Show photo gallery

**The 2013 Detroit Auto Show Gallery and coverage is sponsored by Lexus

valhallakey - 1/16/2013 11:06:33 AM

+1 Boost

I think it has to start in the mid 40s... maybe not realistic given the Volt's price point but people are not going to pay a huge premium for an environmentally friendly car. They want an environmentally friendly car at normal prices. This seems like a BMW 4 series or Merc C class coupe competitor so it needs to start around there somewhere.

Agent009 - 1/16/2013 12:11:03 PM

+1 Boost

I can see them tag a $60K price point and let federal subsidies ease the pain.

M35MT - 1/16/2013 1:15:48 PM

+1 Boost

Agreed, keep it at or just under $60k and they have a winner. Can they do it without cheapening the interior materials too much? We shall see...

vdiv - 1/16/2013 2:54:44 PM

+1 Boost

The ELR will be cheaper than the Fisker Karma -- the closest competitor to-date. According to Bob Lutz, GM planned for the ELR to be about twice as much as a Volt (i.e. $75k to $80k) though now that we know what the ELR is it is very unlikely to be that expensive.

The question for GM is if they are going to lower the cost on the Volt now that the 2013 LEAF is cheaper, and that they know the Volt sells much better with an approximately $5,000 discount. And if they are going to lower the cost of the Volt would that be achieved by trimming down features and specs to make it more like the Plugin Prius, and the upcoming Honda Accord PHEV and Ford Fusion Energi.

If they do price the ELR at $70k then that leaves a gap open for a "mid-priced" Buick Electra (equivalent to the Opel Ampera with a few improvements over the current Volt) to be sold as well.

What GM really needs to do is introduce a crossover using the Voltec platform and it is surprising/disappointing that they haven't done that yet.

1CarSmart1 - 1/16/2013 11:46:59 AM

-9 Boost

Much of Detoilet doesn't have running water, sewage lines or ELECTRICITY, so the car won't sell.

docholiday - 1/16/2013 5:59:07 PM

+4 Boost

I think you are confusing Detroit with certain parts of Asia and Europe.

autobroker - 1/16/2013 1:55:56 PM

+2 Boost

Anything over $50,000 is too much. It is the same platform as mentioned as the Volt but with slightly better electric only range. You get better styling, higher quality interior materials, and status of a Cadillac vs. Chevy. But when you consider you can buy a Volt or lease one for pretty reasonable money now, the price can't be too far from where you can buy not MSRP of the Volt or it isn't worth the difference. Also, it's still a small car, and they have this model to offset the cost of the Volt anyway, so they shouldn't overcharge for it if they want it to be a success. Last, Hybrids and all electric vehicles are slow selling now, so the demand isn't there either if history tells us anything.