General Motors continues to expand its position as the Canadian leader in plug-in electric vehicle sales with the announcement that the new 2016 model year Cadillac ELR electrified luxury coupe will offer a host of upgrades, including boosts in acceleration, driving performance and connectivity.
“ELR’s combination of leading technology with remarkable design is unlike any other coupe in the luxury segment,” said Cadillac President Johan de Nysschen. “For the upcoming model year our engineers have upgraded ELR, enhancing its driving performance for buyers seeking uncompromising luxury with electrification technology.”
Distinguished by a new grille and Cadillac’s new crest, the ELR features the first application of extended-range electric vehicle technology by a full-line luxury automotive brand. Pricing for the 2016 ELR will be announced at a later date. The ELR will be eligible for provincial incentives from the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and British Columbia.
ELR continues to offer Regen on Demand, recipient of Green Car Journal’s 2014 Green Car Technology Award. Enhanced for the 2016 model to improve deceleration, Regen on Demand allows the driver to temporarily regenerate energy from the ELR’s momentum into electricity and store in the battery pack for later use.
The ELR offers a full driving range that combines pure electric driving and an efficient, range-extending 1.4L gasoline-powered engine-generator. It’s a combination that means most daily commutes will require zero gasoline with zero tailpipe emissions. Longer trips are free from electric-vehicle range anxiety because the ELR’s technology enables long-distance travel similar to vehicles powered only by a gasoline engine.
Using only the energy stored in the battery, the ELR will deliver an estimated range of about 60 kilometres (39 miles) of pure electric driving, depending on terrain, driving techniques and temperature, on a fully charged battery.
In addition to the 2016 ELR, Cadillac announced at the Shanghai Auto Show that it will expand its line-up by offering an available Plug-In Hybrid Electric (PHEV) propulsion system to its upcoming CT6 sedan. The new PHEV system is expected to more than double the fuel economy of the conventional powertrain offering. The CT6 PHEV takes advantage of the car’s advanced lightweight structure to create a unique formula for the prestige sedan. Full details on the CT6 in Canada will be released closer to the car’s introduction.