Spied: 2014 Cadillac ELR Caught In Los Angeles
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The fine folks at D3 (the Caddy Tuning firm) have sent along these photos of not one, but two Cadillac ELRs roaming the streets of Los Angeles. Captured at the intersection of Vermont Ave. and Sepulveda Blvd. in the community of Harbor City with no trail or support convoys, the camouflaged ELRs confirm that the upcoming Voltec-powered coupe will preserve the compact dimensions along with the sleek and aerodynamic style of the Converj concept and ELR show car. And since the ELR prototypes are wandering the streets of L.A. themselves, then it must mean that development is coming along quite well.
Other details seen in the spy shots include door-mounted wing mirrors (just like those found in the Volt) and a rear spoiler built into the decklid. Expect the ELR to launch sometime in 2013 (as a 2014 MY vehicle) featuring an improved Voltec powertrain resulting in a longer pure-electric and total ranges than the Volt, along with all the latest technology, such as what’s seen on the Cadillac XTS and ATS.
Hat tip to James at D3.
I like this shape already and it’s in Camo!
Still wouldn’t be able to afford one but at least it will look good seeing them on the road! Now if we could only change the bumper cover of the Volt to the Opel Ampera or whatever it’s called.
It has such a much more appealing front end!
I wonder if they’ll use that Twin Turbo 3.6L for the V-Series…..oh wait…….
i dunno. what is it with purpose-built electric/hybrids and their eco-egg shapes. i like the detailing and surfacing of the show car. but honestly in profile it’s just another egg. and that’s only reinforced when you see it in camo. all that standing out in the pics is the silhouette; and when all i see is the silhouette, all i see is an egg.
hopefully the body surfacing is as dramatic in the production model as in the show car.
my fingers are crossed that this car does well for GM. but for my money, Fisker and Tesla appear to be the only ones who understand that a purposed-built eco-friendly car doesn’t have to look like a gussied up penalty box.
It’s called aerodynamics. Reducing drag increases fuel economy, that’s kinda the point, right?
thank you captain obvious…yes we know aerodynamics has a play in the shape. but ya know what? at the speeds these cars will operate in and with proper lower rolling resistance tires, and a low friction drive train plus low weight; you’d be surprised how efficient a car operating under 100mph can be (in fact most aerodynamics don’t even become a major concern till 120+mph)
the art of efficiently controlling air traps and vortices around the car does not dictate that everything have a tear drop, Kamm-back tail. your average modern family car has around a .032 (many these days are under 30)
think about this; a 2004-2009 Toyota Prius subscribes to the eco-egg design philosophy and gets 0.26. a 1948 Tucker gets 0.27 (and it’s definitely not what one would call “visually” aerodynamic!!) and a 2010 R35 GT-R gets 0.27 as well.
both the Tucker and GT-R don’t get half the gas mileage of the Prius. heck the GT-R at 0.27 doesn’t get the same gas mileage (23mpg) as a 0.34c.e C-6 Corvette GS (26mpg) or Z06 @ 24mpg!
it’s not the shape so much as it’s the details.
i say make a good looking car first. then stuff a awesomely efficient drive-trian under it, and watch it take off.
make a “nerdy” early-adpotor’s dream, and watch it loose money…just saying.
The ELR is shaping up as a stunning road car! Can’t wait to see it without cameo..
Thanks for posting up. Great work guys!
JB