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Cadillac Says No to Performance ELR-V

Introduced in 2004, the Cadillac CTS-V was the manufacturer’s answer to the BMW M3 sedan, the Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG and the Audi RS6.
2014 Cadillac ELR 1 photo
Photo: Cadillac
The souped up CTS is in for redesign for the 2016 model year, when it will join the upcoming ATS-V. Both of them make sense in today’s market, but should Cadillac add new performance models to its lineup? Maybe an XTS-V or an SRX-V?

But how about an ELR-V? Would it make sense considering that the new coupe costs more than $75,000 as it is? We wouldn’t back one if we were Cadillac, but it appears that the folks over at Driving the Nation thought it would be a good idea to ask Mark Reuss about a performance plug-in hybrid with magnetic ride control.

“Good question, can’t really answer that,” Reuss replied, adding that magnetic ride control would use a lot of power to generate the same effect seen on the other cars and would diminish the coupe’s range. Although we won’t see an ELR-V, Ruess added that GM will “expand the tuning envelope” of the hybrid. Whatever that means...

In GM dealerships since mid-December 2013, the 2014 Cadillac ELR is priced from $75,000 and comes with an electric motor that generates 207 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. The 1.4-liter gasoline engine fitted as a range extender enables to coupe to travel 345 miles.

According to an earlier report, nearly half of Cadillac showrooms have declined to sell the 2014 ELR, quoting high costs for tool, training and other requirements.

Only 99 units were sold during the first two months of the year.

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About the author: Ciprian Florea
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Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer.
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