GM Axes Production of the Cadillac ELR

After just a few years on the market, the Cadillac ELR has reached the end of the line. General Motors ceased production of the plug-in hybrid coupe, which struggled with low sales numbers throughout its short lifetime.

Production of the ELR actually ended a few months ago and only about 100 units remain on dealer lots, Automotive News reports.

The ELR first entered the scene as the Cadillac Converj concept at the 2009 Detroit auto show before going into production and reaching showrooms in early 2014. The ELR’s styling was a close carbon copy to the sharp-looking concept and its interior was packed with quality materials and the automaker’s latest tech.

However, the ELR struggled for a number of reasons. For starters, the ELR was often criticized for its starting MSRP of $75,995, a fairly high price despite its premium materials and content. Additionally, it shared its platform with the first-generation Chevrolet Volt, which gave the ELR green cred (all-electric range of 37 miles), but not the performance one would expect from its sporty looks. Its electric powertrain initially put out 181 hp and 295 lb-ft of torque, which was enough to propel the coupe from 0 to 60 mph in just under 8 seconds.

For model year 2016, Cadillac slashed the ELR’s pricing by $10,000 to $65,995 and tweaked the electric drive system to produce more power than before (233 hp and 373 lb-ft). The boost in power dropped the ELR’s 0 to 60 mph time to an estimated 6.4 seconds. Despite those improvements, ELR sales totaled just 1,024 units last year, down from the 1,310 units sold in 2014.

Source: Automotive News (Subscription required)

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