Is The Cadillac ELR Set To IMPLODE BEFORE It Even Hits Showrooms?

If there's one modern vehicle that didn't live up to sales expectations, it is easily the Chevrolet Volt. With over $1 billion dollars spent in Research & Development, not to mention some stimulation via tax payer funds, the Volt was supposed to be a gamechanger.

It certainly was an interesting exercise and even when I drove it I found it to be quite good. There were just two problems: 1) Its styling left a lot to be desired, and 2) It was expensive. Though one could argue that the price doesn't matter to the buyer as we've seen those high-end Tesla Model S' move into buyer's driveways without any hold up.

And it's been brought to our attention the Cadillac ELR, which is essentially a dressed-up Volt, has finally received a price. Are you ready for this?

$75,000.

Considering the Volt didn't do so hot at around $42,000 — before incentives — what makes General Motors think that this will fair out much better? Is it the recent success of Tesla?

As I've said all along, GM should have flipped the debut of these products with the Cadillac coming out first in an attempt to gain back some of those R&D bucks and then launch the Chevrolet so it could try and gain some critical mass.

So, here we are. What say you? Is the ELR going to be a BUST or will it be a BREAK OUT star?

Cadillac's press release follows:

Cadillac ELR Sales to Begin in January

Nationwide distribution, pricing announced for electric luxury coupe

DETROIT – Initial sales of the 2014 Cadillac ELR electrified luxury coupe will begin in January in all major U.S. metropolitan areas featuring provocative design and extended range electric vehicle technology.

Designed for a new generation of technology-driven luxury buyers, the 2014 ELR has a starting price of $75,995, including a $995 destination charge but excluding tax, title, license and dealer fees. Upon IRS certification of an anticipated federal tax credit, purchasers may be eligible for a tax credit from $0 to $7,500 depending on individual tax liability. Net pricing after tax credits could be as low as $68,495, including $995 destination.

"The ELR is a unique blend of dramatic design with electric vehicle technology capable of total range in excess of 300 miles," said Bob Ferguson, senior vice president Global Cadillac. "ELR is also unique in that it will be offered nationwide within a luxury customer experience, with proven benefits and care extending from the shopping process all the way through the ownership experience."

Dealers nationwide are specially trained and certified to sell and service the 2014 ELR. Backing up the dealership experience, prospective customers and buyers of the ELR can take advantage of their own ELR Concierge Representative. Trained in white-glove customer care, the Concierge Representative is an additional point of contact for information on battery care, home charging, service scheduling, news and updates by calling 855 4 CAD ELR (855-422-3357).

As with all Cadillac models, the ELR comes standard with Cadillac Shield, a comprehensive suite of owner benefits including Remote Vehicle Diagnostics, a Premium Care Maintenance program and 24/7 roadside assistance. For added peace of mind, the ELR also comes with an extended battery and propulsion warranty of eight years or100,000 miles, whichever comes first, and a four-year or 50,000-mile, whichever comes first, bumper-to-bumper limited warranty.

The ELR comes equipped with standard advanced technology features such as Cadillac CUE with Navigation accessible through a large, eight-inch, full-color capacitive-touch screen, light-emitting diode, or LED, front and rear exterior lighting, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, the Safety Alert Seat and the exclusive Regen on Demand™ feature, allowing the driver to temporarily regenerate energy from the vehicle's momentum via steering-wheel paddles.

The ELR interior features handcrafted leather complemented by authentic wood grain and chrome trim.

Powering the ELR is a combination of pure electric drive and an efficient, range-extending 1.4L gasoline-powered electric generator. A T-shaped, 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is located along the centerline of the vehicle, between the front and rear wheels to make the most of weight distribution. The pack supplies energy to an advanced electric drive unit to propel the vehicle.

ELR is capable of a total driving range in excess of 300 miles. Using only the energy stored in the battery, ELR's initial range is about 35 highway miles, or 82 MPGe, of electric driving, depending on terrain, driving techniques and ambient temperature. Official EPA estimates are not yet available.

The ELR also offers unique driving features, including four driving modes – default Tour mode, the more-responsive Sport mode, a Mountain mode that maintains charge in hilly terrain and Hold mode, which allows drivers to select when to use battery power or the gas-powered generator.

cidflekken - 10/15/2013 11:18:15 PM

+4 Boost

FAIL, out of the gate.

First, 75 large for a Cadillac is alot to swallow. Second, for a gussied-up Volt is tough to not gag. Third, 35 miles on electric charge is enough to vomit at the whole thing. I'm sure it comes with sh*ts and giggles, but that price is outrageous.

Sure, Tesla is charging more. But Tesla is also a new brand, with their sales networks in very unique/classy showroom settings, phenomenal performance, a full-size sedan, and its styling is gorgeous.

Agent00R - 10/15/2013 11:36:16 PM

+1 Boost

Agreed!

I can't believe I am saying this but if you DIDN'T go with the Tesla you'd have to be a complete fool.

Jordo107 - 10/16/2013 12:15:26 AM

+2 Boost

I love caddy's and have two of them right now. I wouldn't get that car for $75K. It only has a 35mile range while in electric mode and it is slow. The Tesla is fast and offers a normal driving range. Although I am sure there will be great lease specials on this car...so maybe I will get one!

Caddy has to be better than the other auto makers. Right now they are putting out cars that are almost as good and almost as expensive as BMW. Caddy needs to be world class, think Audi Anything/MB S Class world class. Caddy still has the "American Car" stigma from the past to deal with so they have to be better for less.

autobroker - 10/16/2013 8:36:52 AM

+3 Boost

MAJOR FAIL! Cadillac and GM has some major nerve asking that much for this car. It's insulting. They are trying to maximize their profits saying you may be about to get as much as $7500 in tax credits so they are trying to play mind games having you think you are paying $67,500. The reality is they should price aggressively because of the fact of the Volt failure in sales goals, and also, they are spreading the cost of R&D and shared components across both models, so they should make it competitively priced not priced in the stratosphere. I get that they launched the Volt first because of the cost of the program, they needed to reach the masses and get volume sales to recoup their costs. But pricing the Cadillac as it is is not the way to recoup costs by screwing the potential buyer. The angles of this car is smoke and mirrors also. It's strange from the front. The A pillar goes into the fender half way down the wheel well and the headlight goes up half way up the wheel well. It's a small car, and to get that kind of economy in range is a joke. $50,000 max MSRP and they would get people to look. More than that, and watch GM scramble and offer huge incentives. Turns one off in going into a GM showroom just because of this blatant price gouging. I posted on another thread this is the modern day Cimmaron to the Cavalier and GM hasn't learned their lesson.

ParadoX - 10/16/2013 9:43:08 AM

+2 Boost

The base model S is cheaper, and performs better in every regard. This Caddy is dead on arrival.

randy3023 - 10/16/2013 11:49:11 AM

+1 Boost

Heads need to ROLL at GM for this disaster.

The question is, will they? GM management are infamously adept at shielding themselves from having to suffer the consequences of their market failures.

nguyenvuminh - 10/16/2013 1:00:30 PM

+1 Boost

I'll be the first one to admit I'm not a Cadillac fan. HOWEVER, I really like the ELR's exterior design. But like many here, I don't think it will sell at $75K. That's unfortunate because it really is good looking and deserve a better chance in the market place.

NeoReaper - 10/16/2013 6:16:06 PM

+2 Boost

this vehicle is all sorts of STUPID... everytime the american car industry looks liek its beginning to understand the market, dumb shit like this happens...

vdiv - 10/17/2013 11:22:22 AM

0 Boost

Sounds like a lot of disappointed souls.

Well, for starters GM never intended to sell many ELRs and they said it will be a limited release from the beginning. They (Bob Lutz) also said that the car will cost about double the Volt so this is also not a surprise to those who paid any attention. Third, just because they plan on listing it at $75k+ does not mean they will be selling it at $75k+ I can easily see a $10k to $20k off this time around next year when the dealerships are really itching to get rid of them collecting dust in the showroom.

I think it is nice that GM bothered and a few people will be happy to have one.

KWHPWR - 10/17/2013 5:41:22 PM

+2 Boost

Your conclusions about the Volt are interesting to me. I bought a Volt last month. I traded in my Infiniti FX45. My total fuel costs went from $300/month to $60 month. The savings makes my car payment.

That is a gamechanger.

My new Volt cost me $26,500 factoring in the incentive. That's less than a friend of mine paid for his new Honda Accord, but he's not getting 100+ mpg.

GM's technology investment will pay off for them in the future. They are selling the only Series Hybrid, which is clearly more efficient than any other hybrid technology. And the R&D has helped them develop the Spark and the ELR.

Yeah, the ELR is not cheap. But my experience with Cadillacs is that none of them are cheap. You get what you pay for.

aussie2u - 10/17/2013 11:39:03 PM

+1 Boost

I concur that even though Cadillac lists this new ELR at $75,000, that's meant to reinforce the "value" consumers are receiving when street pricing becomes many many thousands less. There is also something to be said for exclusivity and maybe that's a side appeal here. The Beverly Hills crowd loves to boulevard cruise in the latest unique bling machine and this one is green. GM might be smart in trying to cash in on that appeal, no matter how small that audience is. At the end of the day though, this goes down as a shining example of leftover DOE loan money that needed to be spent.

SuperTurtlePlus - 10/17/2013 11:53:35 PM

+1 Boost

I've got a novel idea: How about actually test driving an ELR Before condemning it first? You make an effort to point out how similar it is to the Volt, implying that it's little more than a reskinned Volt.

I am not sure I buy that, if only because I would actually agree with you, and could see no reason to justify its $75 K price tag.

Which is why I am willing to wait for a road test to see where it's value lies.

MattDarringer - 10/19/2013 11:48:06 AM

0 Boost

There is literally no reason the Chevy Volt should be a $45K car nor the Cadillac version a $75K car. The Cadillac ELR is essentially a Cruze with batteries bolted in with Cadillac sheet metal. This needed to be priced BELOW the ATS as their ENTRY LEVEL product. The Volt is a terribly unrefined drive and given that this is a restyled Volt, there is no way to make a turd into a premium product.