2014 Cadillac ELR Officially Unveiled at 2013 Detroit Auto Show

The Cadillac of Chevy Volts has finally ditched the camo and suspense, and made its official debut today at the 2013 Detroit Auto Show.

Those looking for a more luxurious and stylish extended range electric vehicle will certainly be pleased with what Cadillac has to offer with the 2014 ELR. Looking very much like the Converj concept before it, the ELR is a low-compromise electric coupe, providing a total of 300 miles of range using the same 1.4L on-board gas-powered electric generator providing extra range to an electric motor that puts out more power than the Volt.

The ELR’s 207-hp and 295 lbs-ft output from its electric motor trumps the Volt’s output by 58-hp and 22-lbs-ft of torque. While that’s a nice boost in power, the overall range is down from the Volt’s by 3 miles in all electric mode and the ELR will got 82 miles further overall.

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While that loss of range likely comes as a result of the more powerful electric motor, the additional weight of the ELR is also a likely culprit.

The ELR is shorter, although the interior space isn’t affected too much. Front passengers will love the gorgeous leather wood and carbon fiber surfaces. Cadillac’s CUE infotainment system is also here, and the gauge cluster looks to be as customize-able as the Cadillac XTS. There’s also a standard Bose audio system with active noise cancellation, which features 10 speakers.

A few important features help set the ELR from its Volt cousin, including a function called Regen-on-demand, which allows the driver to use steering-wheel mounted paddle-shifters to initiate regenerative braking. Another important feature is Continuous Damping Control, which will allow the ELR to feel smooth and comfortable even with those big 20-inch rims.

The ELR features a battery that is .5 kWh bigger than the Volt’s, and takes slightly longer than the Chevy to charge up. Charge time with a 120v charger is about 12 hours, while with a 240v charger a full charge will occur in four and a half hours. Like the Volt, owners can schedule charges via the OnStar RemoteLink smartphone app.

There are sure to be minute differences between the driving dynamics of the Volt and the ELR, thanks the Cadillac will likely be more enjoyable to drive thanks to a sportier engine, fancier suspension and tighter steering.

The ELR also uses a suite of safety tech, including the vibrating Safety alert seat, forward collision alert and lane departure warning. Also expect available side blind zone alert with rear cross-traffic alert and full-speed-range adaptive cruise control.

The ELR will go into production near the end of 2013, with sales starting in 2014. Cadillac mentioned that China and Europe are expected to get the ELR as well North American markets.