Cadillac ELR

When Cadillac unveiled the Converj concept car at the 2009 Detroit Motor Show they got a distinctly positive response. In fact, so well received was the concept that Cadillac have now announced that it will go into production. The new car will drop the Converj title in favor of a three-letter name which is more inline with Cadillac’s current naming strategy. The name ELR was chosen to indicate the car’s hybrid electric drivetrain.

The Cadillac ELR will feature an electric propulsion system made up of a T-shaped lithium ion battery, an electric drive unit, and a four-cylinder engine-generator. It uses electricity as its primary source to drive the car without using gasoline or producing tailpipe emissions. When the battery’s energy is low, the ELR switches to extended-range mode to enable driving for hundreds of additional miles. Basically you can think of the ELR as Cadillac’s version of the Chevrolet Volt.

Don Butler, vice president-Cadillac Marketing, spoke of the ELR’s origins. “The concept generated instant enthusiasm. Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past, the ELR will offer something not otherwise present -  the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving.”

Ed Welburn, GM’s vice president of Global Design stated that the Cadillac ELR was designed to fuse the desirability of a grand touring coupe with the economic and environmental benefits of a hybrid vehicle. Commenting on the styling he stated: “There’s no mistaking it for anything but a Cadillac, an aggressive, forward-leaning profile and proportion showcases a uniquely shaped, modern vision of a personal luxury 2+2″

As yet, Cadillac haven’t released any specific details on the ELR’s engineering, performance, pricing or when it’ll be in showrooms.