Cadillac ELR Pricing Set at $75,995

No Deep End as I think this is an Excellent Price for the Car. Awesome Green Creds with lovely body lines and a great interior. Excited to check it out once it is on the lot at the dealership. Brad my sales rep at my local Caddy shop told me they have 4 sold already and are expecting it to sell very well in the Seattle area just like Tesla has.

Win Win for GM!

I'm sure that's why Cadillac is limiting sales to major metros first.

Well... That is more expensive than I thought it would be.

Sorry to be undiplomatic, but LOL.

It's more than double the price of the Volt. It's $4,925 more than a base Model S, which starts at $71,070 including destination.

I'm not so sure about that price. That seems rather steep, all things considered. For around $68k after the tax credit, you have an impractical coupe with slightly more thrust than a Volt with a similar electric range. While it's not completely fair to compare it to a Tesla Model S, you receive a far more practical vehicle with performance to match its price tag, which according to Telsa, starts at $71k before the tax credit. And with an electric range of 208-265 miles and Tesla's rapidly expanding supercharger network, I'm not so sure range anxiety is a valid reason to want the ELR instead.

I also think its pretty telling that Tesla outsold the Volt through the first half of the year, despite its $30k premium.

I just finished a piece on our blogs examining the ELR pricing - The $75,995 Cadillac ELR Question

I just asked my wife if she had heard of a Tesla car and she said 'yes'.

'Where do you know of it from?'

'One got towed from the parking lot at work last week.'

'How did you know it was a Tesla'?

'It was a "Tesla" flatbed'.

'So you saw the car itself well enough, what would you guess it cost?'

'I dunno, $35K?'

'No, it's MSRP is $71K. Now that you know that, did you think it looked like a car that costs that much?'

'No! It looks like any other car out there, just a little bit larger.'

'Do you think any car is worth $71K?'

'No, but if I did spend that much money, I'd certainly want other people to notice my car.'

Now, she's not a car enthusiast, but I tend to agree with her; the Tesla, while looking nice, is rather generic. Out on the road, if I am paying attention, I notice the emblem in the grille, not the rest of the car. It really should have been more expressive/unique for an upstart independent.

Some angles of the shots of the ELR look really dynamic; if the car in person looks that good, it's going to drive a surprising amount of sales. Plus it's a 2-dr in a roiling sea of 4-drs. I think it'll do better than a lot of people think. It would be interesting to know what Cadillac is hoping to move (tho I in no way think they should say publicly).

With $5,000 off the Volt, GM needs to make profit somewhere for the platform. Even if GM sells one ELR for every 10 volts, it is some money in the pocket.

At that price this thing may sell in the dozens per month. Way too high, Cadillac couldn't sell a V8 convertible based off a Corvette at this price, they think they can sell an electric coupe based off a Volt at this price? This car will flop and possibly need $20k incentives to move them.

More money than brains, I'm afraid. It's a gorgeous little car, but there is no way to get around the fact that it is based on a Chevrolet product.

Although the Escalade hasn't been hurt by that.

WAY too much money.

More money than brains, I'm afraid. It's a gorgeous little car, but there is no way to get around the fact that it is based on a Chevrolet product.

Although the Escalade hasn't been hurt by that.

WAY too much money.

That is Cadillac's problem, the XTS, ELR and Escalade are based on a Chevy product. The Escalade gets away with it, but it is also the #2 seller in a class weak competitors; the Navigator, LX470 and Infiniti Q56 are based on a Ford/Toyota/Nissan product that is inferior to the Tahoe.

The Impala is based on the XTS, not the other way around.

I mean, this horse is an absolutely dry skeleton... BUT, to illustrate a point... look how much farther apart the haves are from the have-nots...

Cavalier ===> Cimarron

Volt ===> ELR

Both cases - weak powertrains

At least the ELR is a knockout in a different bodystyle

EXR with 2.0t and six speed manual would have been nice @ $40k

I mean, this horse is an absolutely dry skeleton... BUT, to illustrate a point... look how much farther apart the haves are from the have-nots...

Cavalier ===> Cimarron

Volt ===> ELR

Both cases - weak powertrains

At least the ELR is a knockout in a different bodystyle

EXR with 2.0t and six speed manual would have been nice @ $40k

So when can we expect your first drive of the ELR? I mean how else would you know it has a weak powertrain.

What are the software enhancements v. the Volt? Does it have a more powerful range extender? Please fill me in on that. Be cooler if there were.

What are the software enhancements v. the Volt? Does it have a more powerful range extender? Please fill me in on that. Be cooler if there were.

Back from my ELR article in January -

Under the ELR's skin is the same Voltec powertrain that is in the Chevrolet Volt. That means a 1.4L inline-four that acts as the generator, two electric motors, and the T-shaped, 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

So the ELR has the same 1.4L range extender as the Volt producing 63 horsepower.

As for software enhancements, again from January

Cadillac says the ELR will be a pleasure to drive thanks to stiffer body structure, electronically controlled, variable-rate dampers; and an available sport program that changes throttle response, steering effort and damper settings.

And from GM's Product Information page

The ELR’s Sport driving mode also contributes to its responsive driving experience, automatically reconfiguring the accelerator pedal response to provide quicker torque application and more sensitive feedback to driver inputs through altered suspension and steering settings.

My point is this. None of us here at C&G or anywhere else knows if the ELR will go like screaming banshee or a snail. Lets hold final judgement till some first drives start coming out.

Why would you want or need a more powerful range extender? That's not what provides the twisting force to the wheels at all. It could be a supercharged Stingray engine and the acceration ability of the ELR would be exactly the same.

Here's the thing. The Volt starts at $40k, this is a Volt underneath, so much of the major engineering for the powertrain was done with the Volt. It's certainly got the look of a proper Cadillac, and I could see them realistically starting it at $45-50k, but $75k seems like too much. Even with the new body, interior, and chassis enhancements, I can't see it being worth forty thousand dollars more than the Volt on which its based.

Although the Escalade hasn't been hurt by that.

That is a good point actually, although I don't know if the ELR will be embraced by celebrities the way the Escalade has been.

Maybe not East Coast, but it might find a niche on the West Coast. Anyway, the price seems ludicrous for what it is under the pretty face.

Why would you want or need a more powerful range extender? That's not what provides the twisting force to the wheels at all. It could be a supercharged Stingray engine and the acceration ability of the ELR would be exactly the same.

??? I thought we read that GM stated that the gas engine does directly power the wheels when it is needed. Unless I missed something published later.

Not at all for acceleration. Only in a very specific situation. When the vehicle is in regeneration mode and traveling above highway speeds (80 mph if I recall without looking it up). Nothing a big engine would really be a benefit to.

I am at a loss here. I just do not understand the ELR's pricing strategy.

Maybe not East Coast, but it might find a niche on the West Coast. Anyway, the price seems ludicrous for what it is under the pretty face.

Why would you want or need a more powerful range extender? That's not what provides the twisting force to the wheels at all. It could be a supercharged Stingray engine and the acceration ability of the ELR would be exactly the same.

??? I thought we read that GM stated that the gas engine does directly power the wheels when it is needed. Unless I missed something published later.

Here is my old article about the Volt Powertrain

The key point:

The main physical motivation for the Volt comes from a 142hp traction motor. An additional 73 hp can be added on from a second motor if the driver applies more than 80% throttle. If the driver applies 100% throttle with a full battery.... the gasoline engine is still sitting on the sidelines doing nothing. At normal driving speeds, the traction motor is more than enough to hustle the Volt around.

One of the benefits of electric motors is awesome low end torque. A well designed electric motor will have it's maximum amount of torque at zero rpm. Thus as an electric motor increases in RPM, it gradually loses it's torque output. At 70 mph, the Volt's traction motor is turning over 6,000 rpm. Volt's engineering team discovered that this wasn't a very energy efficient rpm to operate at. So at speeds above 70 mph, they couple the smaller, second motor, and reduce the rpm of the primary traction motor. This gains the Volt about 1 to 2 miles of electric only range at 70+ mph.

So where does the controversy lie? It's in the arrangement of the electric motors. That smaller motor mentioned above is usually the generator when the Volt is in regeneration mode. Since you're going nowhere if the battery is drained, the gas engine kicks in to recharge the battery, only if you're going over 70mph, the generator is already in use propelling the car. So the gasoline engine assists the secondary motor which is assisting the primary motor. It's this physical connection to what essentially a dual use component that is sending the likes of Edmunds and Jalopnik into a froth, but in reality gives the Volt a 15% increase in efficiency.

Thanks for posting this again. It's very enthralling, at least for me.

I can't see it being worth forty thousand dollars more than the Volt on which its based.

Exactly. Or $20,000 more than a Corvette Stingray or $25,000 more than a loaded ATS. If the ELR has an options list it will be over $80,000!

Available in like 4 or 5 unexciting colors, with a choice of two wheel finishes. Not exactly "bespoke", is it?

It's not going to be $75K other than on paper.
Same scenario with the Damiler s-class; on paper it starts at $92K, but with an average of $15K in options, it still sells for $85K on average! Between dealer & OEM incentives/deals, MB is knocking $15-20 grand off the price. The ELR is not $80K; MSRP - Fed credit is $68K. Deals will knock that down a bit.
C'mon you guys, you know how car pricing goes, or should by now. Cars seldom EVER sell at sticker. I never saw such tunnel vision on an MSRP before.
Ratchet back on the hyperbole.

The dealers will probably tack on an extra $10k in 'market adjustment', so yes, it probably won't sell for MSRP...

It's not going to be $75K other than on paper.

Same scenario with the Damiler s-class; on paper it starts at $92K, but with an average of $15K in options, it still sells for $85K on average! Between dealer & OEM incentives/deals, MB is knocking $15-20 grand off the price. The ELR is not $80K; MSRP - Fed credit is $68K. Deals will knock that down a bit.

C'mon you guys, you know how car pricing goes, or should by now. Cars seldom EVER sell at sticker. I never saw such tunnel vision on an MSRP before.

Ratchet back on the hyperbole.

New S-classes are going for $10K above sticker around here. But you're right, as the vehicle ages, discounts become commonplace.

It's not going to be $75K other than on paper.

Same scenario with the Damiler s-class; on paper it starts at $92K, but with an average of $15K in options, it still sells for $85K on average! Between dealer & OEM incentives/deals, MB is knocking $15-20 grand off the price. The ELR is not $80K; MSRP - Fed credit is $68K. Deals will knock that down a bit.

C'mon you guys, you know how car pricing goes, or should by now. Cars seldom EVER sell at sticker. I never saw such tunnel vision on an MSRP before.

Ratchet back on the hyperbole.

New S-classes are going for $10K above sticker around here. But you're right, as the vehicle ages, discounts become commonplace.

I would imagine so. Mercedes never really discounted the S-class, even in it's 7th model year of the previous generation, the manufacturer incentives were pretty low. Dealers may discount, but dealers discount every car. This ELR won't sell, it is nearing Porsche 911 money and it ain't gonna perform like a 911.

Yeah, if I had that kind of money, I'd much rather call 911.

Yeah, if I had that kind of money, I'd much rather call 911.

Yeah, I think I'd probably be looking Boxster S or Cayman....or for a sedan/coupe, a CTS-v. I just can't see spending that much for a 4cyl.

Yeah, emergency call "jokes" aside, it would be a Cayman for me... or, in a perfect world... an El Miraj with a gasoline V8 engine.

It's not going to be $75K other than on paper.

Same scenario with the Damiler s-class; on paper it starts at $92K, but with an average of $15K in options, it still sells for $85K on average! Between dealer & OEM incentives/deals, MB is knocking $15-20 grand off the price. The ELR is not $80K; MSRP - Fed credit is $68K. Deals will knock that down a bit.

C'mon you guys, you know how car pricing goes, or should by now. Cars seldom EVER sell at sticker. I never saw such tunnel vision on an MSRP before.

Ratchet back on the hyperbole.

New S-classes are going for $10K above sticker around here. But you're right, as the vehicle ages, discounts become commonplace.

I would imagine so. Mercedes never really discounted the S-class, even in it's 7th model year of the previous generation, the manufacturer incentives were pretty low. Dealers may discount, but dealers discount every car. This ELR won't sell, it is nearing Porsche 911 money and it ain't gonna perform like a 911.

Well, of course you are incorrect here. Average transaction price is $85K for a car that commonly stickers for solidly over $100K. Doesn't matter where the money off is sourced from. Look it up.

And the BMW 6-series coupe goes for Porsche 911 money, doesn't perform like it, yet (some) folk still buy that. ELR & 911 aren't going to be cross-shopped.

This is not mercedes/bmw, where every car is pushed & whored to sell 100,000 units annually. Cadillac is not gunning for mainstream, mass-production, every-5th-car-on-the-road commonality.

It's not going to be $75K other than on paper.

Same scenario with the Damiler s-class; on paper it starts at $92K, but with an average of $15K in options, it still sells for $85K on average! Between dealer & OEM incentives/deals, MB is knocking $15-20 grand off the price. The ELR is not $80K; MSRP - Fed credit is $68K. Deals will knock that down a bit.

C'mon you guys, you know how car pricing goes, or should by now. Cars seldom EVER sell at sticker. I never saw such tunnel vision on an MSRP before.

Ratchet back on the hyperbole.

New S-classes are going for $10K above sticker around here. But you're right, as the vehicle ages, discounts become commonplace.

I would imagine so. Mercedes never really discounted the S-class, even in it's 7th model year of the previous generation, the manufacturer incentives were pretty low. Dealers may discount, but dealers discount every car. This ELR won't sell, it is nearing Porsche 911 money and it ain't gonna perform like a 911.

Well, of course you are incorrect here. Average transaction price is $85K for a car that commonly stickers for solidly over $100K. Doesn't matter where the money off is sourced from. Look it up.

And the BMW 6-series coupe goes for Porsche 911 money, doesn't perform like it, yet (some) folk still buy that. ELR & 911 aren't going to be cross-shopped.

This is not mercedes/bmw, where every car is pushed & whored to sell 100,000 units annually. Cadillac is not gunning for mainstream, mass-production, every-5th-car-on-the-road commonality.

Yeah, but the 6-series isn't based on a Cruze.

Do you believe anyone is going to look at an ELR and believe that? Remember, 80% of bmw 1-series buyers thought the car they BOUGHT was FWD.

Do you believe anyone is going to look at an ELR and believe that? Remember, 80% of bmw 1-series buyers thought the car they BOUGHT was FWD.

Anyone who knows how to use Google will find out it's a $75K Volt.

Hard to believe GM product planners didn't foresee the universally negative reactions to the car at this price.

Sure; "journalism" for the most part revolves around incessant regurgitation of other sources, and it only takes 1 wag....

You would think that if so many folk used google to car shop, the corporate-released stat I posted above your's would be impossible....

Who cares what it's based on as long as the platform is solid? Only the touchy feely bits matter. Someone with the means and desire for an ELR is not going to refuse to buy one because it is distantly related to the Cobalt.

Every company, BMW, MB, AUDI, Lexus uses Low end product platforms from their cousins.

As Drew states, if all the visual bits and internal touch and feel bits are the proper top of the line best of the best, no one will give a rats ass about the genetic work of where the power train started it's roots at.

^ Right. I don't recall reading incessant ranting by audi A5 owners that their engine is sourced from a $16K VW. I assume they have access to Google, too.

^ Right. I don't recall reading incessant ranting by audi A5 owners that their engine is sourced from a $16K VW. I assume they have access to Google, too.

Correction Balthy, even the A8 uses the 2.0L Turbo engine from VW.

For GM it is badge engineering, but for VW group is called innovation in usage of synergy of brands for the purpose of proliferation of efficient low cost manufacturing to improve shareholders' values.

If the platform doesn't matter, why not build the Corvette of a Cruze platform and charge $75,000 for it. If they built a Corvette of a lower GM platform or put a combo 4-cylinder/electric motor in it there would be outrage in the streets. Even talk of a turbo V6 Corvette was sacrilege. Yet if Cadillac makes their most expensive car a 2-seat sports car based off a Chevy costing less than half as much, it is okay. Maybe Cadillac should charge $150,000 for the new Escalade while they are at it.

If the platform doesn't matter, why not build the Corvette of a Cruze platform and charge $75,000 for it. If they built a Corvette of a lower GM platform or put a combo 4-cylinder/electric motor in it there would be outrage in the streets. Even talk of a turbo V6 Corvette was sacrilege. Yet if Cadillac makes their most expensive car a 2-seat sports car based off a Chevy costing less than half as much, it is okay. Maybe Cadillac should charge $150,000 for the new Escalade while they are at it.

You seem to smoke so much crack of the German variety that all you can do is make silly comments. Corvette could never be done off the Cruze platform as Cruze was never engineered for the performance Corvette does, etc. As others have already stated, same engines and Platforms are used in the name of synergy. But this is not OK for American Auto Companies to do?

If the platform doesn't matter, why not build the Corvette of a Cruze platform and charge $75,000 for it. If they built a Corvette of a lower GM platform or put a combo 4-cylinder/electric motor in it there would be outrage in the streets. Even talk of a turbo V6 Corvette was sacrilege. Yet if Cadillac makes their most expensive car a 2-seat sports car based off a Chevy costing less than half as much, it is okay. Maybe Cadillac should charge $150,000 for the new Escalade while they are at it.

Why is it ok for Audi to build their sports car, the TT, off a VW platform?

It is all about intent. The ELR is not intended to be a sports car, ever. For the vehicle it is intended to be, the Delta platform is quite capable. You forget that the Cobalt SS was beating BMWs around the 'Ring when it first came out. That platform, a full revision behind today's version, was able to handle the job.. I see no reason why it couldn't handle the job of a E-REV at Cadillac as long as all the touchy feely bits have been upgraded accordingly...and they have.

I'm surprised you don't like the ELR though, it has a suede headliner, and that is what makes the E-class so much better than the old CTS.... or so you've told us.

If Cadillac ever did a 2 seat roadster, I expect them to use the Corvette Stingray platform. Why wouldn't they use one of the best sports cars out there as a starting point to build a Cadillac Sports car.

If the platform doesn't matter, why not build the Corvette of a Cruze platform and charge $75,000 for it. If they built a Corvette of a lower GM platform or put a combo 4-cylinder/electric motor in it there would be outrage in the streets. Even talk of a turbo V6 Corvette was sacrilege. Yet if Cadillac makes their most expensive car a 2-seat sports car based off a Chevy costing less than half as much, it is okay. Maybe Cadillac should charge $150,000 for the new Escalade while they are at it.

Why is it ok for Audi to build their sports car, the TT, off a VW platform?

And it is a FWD platform car with a transverse layout seeking Corvette pricing with power of a midsize sedan. So good!

If the platform doesn't matter, why not build the Corvette of a Cruze platform and charge $75,000 for it. If they built a Corvette of a lower GM platform or put a combo 4-cylinder/electric motor in it there would be outrage in the streets. Even talk of a turbo V6 Corvette was sacrilege. Yet if Cadillac makes their most expensive car a 2-seat sports car based off a Chevy costing less than half as much, it is okay. Maybe Cadillac should charge $150,000 for the new Escalade while they are at it.

Why is it ok for Audi to build their sports car, the TT, off a VW platform?

And it is a FWD platform car with a transverse layout seeking Corvette pricing with power of a midsize sedan. So good!

And the ELR is FWD w/ a transverse 4cyl...pretty lowly for that price point...

If the platform doesn't matter, why not build the Corvette of a Cruze platform and charge $75,000 for it. If they built a Corvette of a lower GM platform or put a combo 4-cylinder/electric motor in it there would be outrage in the streets. Even talk of a turbo V6 Corvette was sacrilege. Yet if Cadillac makes their most expensive car a 2-seat sports car based off a Chevy costing less than half as much, it is okay. Maybe Cadillac should charge $150,000 for the new Escalade while they are at it.

Why is it ok for Audi to build their sports car, the TT, off a VW platform?

And it is a FWD platform car with a transverse layout seeking Corvette pricing with power of a midsize sedan. So good!

And the ELR is FWD w/ a transverse 4cyl...pretty lowly for that price point...

Is anyone here denying that claim? Before you put the tin-foil hat on, read the argument. If GM gets lashed for that ELR, so should VW, which is as much as a badge engineering call-girl as GM is.

If the platform doesn't matter, why not build the Corvette of a Cruze platform and charge $75,000 for it. If they built a Corvette of a lower GM platform or put a combo 4-cylinder/electric motor in it there would be outrage in the streets. Even talk of a turbo V6 Corvette was sacrilege. Yet if Cadillac makes their most expensive car a 2-seat sports car based off a Chevy costing less than half as much, it is okay. Maybe Cadillac should charge $150,000 for the new Escalade while they are at it.

Why is it ok for Audi to build their sports car, the TT, off a VW platform?

And it is a FWD platform car with a transverse layout seeking Corvette pricing with power of a midsize sedan. So good!

And the ELR is FWD w/ a transverse 4cyl...pretty lowly for that price point...

Telsa Model S is transverse as well. Oopsie

Pretty soon, the ELR might even be a transverse 3 cylinder.... but that isn't the point. There really is no "value" to the orientation of the engine in a non-sporting model.

If the platform doesn't matter, why not build the Corvette of a Cruze platform and charge $75,000 for it. If they built a Corvette of a lower GM platform or put a combo 4-cylinder/electric motor in it there would be outrage in the streets. Even talk of a turbo V6 Corvette was sacrilege. Yet if Cadillac makes their most expensive car a 2-seat sports car based off a Chevy costing less than half as much, it is okay. Maybe Cadillac should charge $150,000 for the new Escalade while they are at it.

Why is it ok for Audi to build their sports car, the TT, off a VW platform?

It is all about intent. The ELR is not intended to be a sports car, ever. For the vehicle it is intended to be, the Delta platform is quite capable. You forget that the Cobalt SS was beating BMWs around the 'Ring when it first came out. That platform, a full revision behind today's version, was able to handle the job.. I see no reason why it couldn't handle the job of a E-REV at Cadillac as long as all the touchy feely bits have been upgraded accordingly...and they have.

The Audi TT isn't very good and doesn't sell very well either. It also costs $40,000, not $75,000. You can get away with a $20,000 or $25,000 car chassis on a $40,000 car because everyone does it. Every Acura and Lincoln, the Lexus ES350, Buicks, the Cadillac XTS even, it is pretty common place to take family sedan underpinnings and make an entry-lux model because buyers at that price point aren't looking for performance and luxury.

I am aware that the ELR isn't supposed to be sporty, but it is mechanically a Volt, they can tweak it but it isn't going to drive all that different. So you are then asking people to pay $76,000 for a 2 seat car with Hyundai Elantra level performance, the interior on the ELR better be Rolls Royce worthy or the price tag doesn't match up. To be $76,000, this should be the best Cadillac they make, and it is probably the worse, how is this ELR $40,000 better than an ATS or $30,000 better than a CTS?