With the release of the production version of the Cadillac ELR at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit this past week, General Motors proved that the resurgence of the American automotive industry continues. Cadillac has stayed faithful to the 2009 Converj concept car that inspired the ELR, deserving high praise. Audi came close to this when they introduced the production version of the TT. However, with respect to the Cadillac ELR, it is a rare instance where the shipping car looks better than the concept car.
GM also deserves credit for moving into the luxury Extended Range Electric Vehicle luxury niche before other large-scale luxury vehicle manufacturers. They are introducing new driving affordances unique to this type of vehicle, such as steering wheel-mounted paddles that allow drivers to induce regenerative braking on demand. While we will have to wait and see how the ELR performs, on paper, things look promising. And if you are a fan of Cadillac's "Art and Science" aesthetics, on the showroom floor, things are looking great.
