General Motors announced Wednesday plans to create a production version of the Cadillac Converj Concept, which first appeared at the 2009 Detroit Auto Show. The vehicle is GM’s second extended-range electric vehicle — but its first within the luxury market — and will be called the Cadillac ELR.
The Cadillac ELR features the gasoline-electric Voltec drivetrain, a lithium ion battery and a four-cylinder generator, the technology behind GM’s other extended-range electric vehicle, the Chevy Volt.
GM’s announcement doesn’t provide specific details about the car’s price, specs or release date, but early reports speculate that the car will go into production in 2013 as a 2014 model.
Based on what we know, though, it sounds like it will be an upgraded Chevy Volt masked in a sleek Cadillac design.
“Like other milestone Cadillac models of the past, the ELR will offer something not otherwise present — the combination of electric propulsion with striking design and the fun of luxury coupe driving,” says Don Butler, vice president of Cadillac Marketing.
Cadillac is likely to face competition from car manufacturer BMW, which announced its own extended-range electric vehicles earlier this year. And Volkswagen also plans to roll out a luxury plug-in hybrid vehicle in 2013 — granted, production will be capped at 100 for starters, and the price will probably be much higher than that of BMW and Cadillac.
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