Drew Dowdell

As the Volt already drives and handles way better than an Elantra, I would imagine that an ELR with hyper-strut and a more aggressive sport-mode would be even further away from the Elantra. You seem to think the entire world drives in 0-60 times. It must be amazing to you that I can get around and keep up with, or even exceed, prevailing traffic in this city in a car with a 0-60 in the 15 second range. And yet, I manage it without fuss all the time. BTW, the ELR has 4 seats and the interior is worthy of a $75k Rolls.

e-Assist does well in the right application. 25 city and 36+mpg highway in something as big and heavy as an LaX is not bad for a base model. The problems is those applications are limited. I might have worked ok in the Theta CUVs and in the Regal/Malibu if they used a smaller engine.

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.

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.

To be fair to Fiat, Mini has been at it for 12 years longer.

can I hear some cheers for diesel?

I think the "move up" works more for mainstream brands. I could see someone starting with a Sonic then moving to a Cruze or Malibu, or to the Equinox when the 1st kid comes along and then Traverse when the second kid arrives. No one moves from a 3er to a 5er just because they had a kid.

Are they losing them or are they buying the same model over and over?

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.

Ocn got it before I did.. and I can confirm the different transmission gearing. The Eco Cruze models have a taller 6th gear.

??? 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:

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.

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.

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

I expect Motorola to change the way Android phones are marketed. There isn't a model of theirs out now that I'd want, but if Google makes the right changes there, they could be on the list next time. As far as backing up pics, I put dropbox on my phone and have the pictures automatically upload when I'm on wifi.

What did you lose? I didn't notice anything lost on my S4

Agreed... they were softball questions really... but she still came off as a ditz

I bought NovaLauncher years ago as a replacement for SenseUI from HTC... I use that instead of Touchwiz now on my Samsung. Eventually, I'm getting I'll root my phone and put stock Android on the phone instead.

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

October 11, 2013 Drew Dowdell Managing Editor - CheersandGears.com Cadillac released pricing today for the upcoming ELR due to go on sale in January 2014 in major metropolitan areas nationwide. Base MSRP will start at $75,995 including the destination charge. Cadillac is anticipating IRS certification of a federal tax credit of up to $7,500. As the ELR shares propulsion technology with the Chevrolet Volt, additional tax credits or rebates may be available at the state level. Many of the technologies released in the 2014 Cadillac CTS and 2015 Cadillac Escalade appear in the ELR. The ELR will come standard with Cadillac CUE with Navigation, LED front and rear exterior lighting, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, and the Safety Alert Seat. Exclusive to the ELR is a Regen-on-Demand feature that allows the driver to have greater control of battery regeneration using the momentum of the vehicle via the steering-wheel paddles. Click Picture to Enlarge While official EPA certification is not yet available, the Cadillac ELR's driving range is well over 300 miles. Using only battery power, the initial range is 35 miles before regeneration starts. EV range is dependent on terrain, driving style, and outside temperature. Cadillac Press Release on Page 2 Drew Dowdell is Managing Editor of CheersandGears.com and can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter as @cheersngears 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. Cadillac has been a leading luxury auto brand since 1902. Today Cadillac is growing globally, driven by an expanding product portfolio featuring dramatic design and technology. More information on Cadillac appears at www.cadillac.com. Cadillac's media website with information, images and video can be found at media.cadillac.com. # # # CONTACT: Brian Corbett Cadillac Communications 586-612-6569 [email protected] View full article