By Alex Nunez on August 17, 2011 in
Two years ago at the Detroit Auto Show, Cadillac unveiled a beautiful concept coupe called the Converj. It was one of the hits of the show, and it got a lot of attention thanks to its use of the same extended-range electric vehicle architecture as the Chevrolet Volt. And then, nothing happened. General Motors was in deep financial trouble, eventually went bankrupt, and it seemed that the Converj would never become a production vehicle. Until today.
GM has announced that the car has received the green-light for production. It'll be called the Cadillac ELR when it eventually shows up in dealerships, and the Volt's architecture once again forms the basis for it, meaning the ELR will be an electric car that also has an on-board four-cylinder engine to serve as a generator for the electric drivetrain once the battery is exhausted.
GM says that development has only just begun on the new electro-Caddy, so there are no specs to speak of yet, nor is release timing available. What we do know is that we've driven the Chevy Volt, and the technology behind it is remarkable -- good power, excellent efficiency, and very quiet operation. Those factors should all translate very well to a luxury car, and importantly (to GM's accountants, that is), a lavishly equipped electric luxo-coupe should command a price that ensures profitability.
It was only a matter of time before we saw General Motors expand its Voltec technology beyond Chevrolet. And here we are: a Cadillac flagship for the electric drivetrain. A good-looking one at that.
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