While it may be roughly a full year before buyers can get their hands
on the 2014 Cadillac ELR, General Motors has been conducting final
testing on the range-extended electric car, this time up in Michigan’s
Upper Peninsula.
This round of testing was to evaluate the ELR’s handling prowess in
winter weather conditions and to complete chassis testing. While the ELR
may share much of its underpinnings and powertrain with the Chevrolet Volt, Cadillac’s electrified coupe uses a more sophisticated suspension
setup with GM’s HiPer Strut front setup to help quell torque steer and a
continuous damping control to smooth out the ELR’s ride.
Part of the reason for testing in the U.P. was to finesse the sporty character Cadillac’s engineers wanted to imbue in the ELR. ELR vehicle performance engineer Joshua Auden notes that his team wanted to create “a balance
between making the car stable for the customer, but also still fun to
drive in all situations.”
As a refresher, the 2014 Cadillac ELR
is the production incarnation of the 2009 Converj concept. Below the
sinewy lines, the coupe is powered by a combination of an electric
motor, 1.4-liter gas engine, and lithium-ion battery pack, which adds up
to 207 hp and 400 lb-ft of
torque
.
Cadillac estimates an eight-second 0-to-60-mph time, an electric range
of about 35 miles, and a full gas/electric range of over 300 miles.
Pricing has yet to be announced, but don’t be surprised to see the ELR’s
price tag crest $70,000 once it goes on sale early next year.
Courtesy of Automobile Magazine
