Concern for the environment has long been at odds with automotive enthusiasm. Let’s face it. Our rides rely on fuel extracted from the earth—at a cost. And the fuel’s combustion produces emissions that impact human health. But technology marches forward.
The latest electric and hybrid vehicles are no longer in harsh opposition to the thrill of classic performance and design.
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When the history of 21st-century car fandom is written, the Cadillac ELR might finally get well-deserved recognition as a pioneering battery-powered clean-running luxury machine. Before the ELR achieves classic status and prices take flight, savvy buyers should consider owning one of the rare original Caddy plug-ins, like the beautiful example recently offered on eBay.
Plug Into a New Reality
The Cadillac ELR isn’t just your typical Prius-like hybrid. Instead, the ELR is a PHEV, a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle. General Motors marketed the ELR and Chevrolet Volt as extended-range electric vehicles, a term that never caught on. Regardless, that setup allows you to charge your car and run it for a distance strictly on electric power. In this case, the ELR could manage around 37 miles of range in all-electric mode. That allows short-distance commuters to avoid the pumps for weeks, if not months.
Like any hybrid, of course, the ELR also runs on gasoline. The 1.4-liter four-cylinder that charged the batteries is efficient, so after those 37 miles come and go, you can travel hundreds of more miles before refueling. According to period reviews, highway mileage is an impressive 40 miles per gallon. Try that with a Cadillac Eldorado - opens in new window or tab. powered by a 500ci V-8.
Unfortunately, buyers were not quite ready for a compact Cadillac plug-in hybrid coupe in 2014. It was based on the similar Chevrolet Volt, but was offered at double the price (about $82,000). Reports vary, but only about 3,000 rolled off GM’s Hamtramck assembly line between 2014 and 2016.
The limited production numbers are a plus for enthusiasts seeking a future classic. Rarity equates to higher value. And in a world where a trip to the pumps is a painful experience, transitioning to a fuel-efficient classic is a bright idea.
The Electrified Standard of the World
The ELR recently offered on eBay for $20,000 is nearly showroom fresh, with fewer than 45,000 miles on the odometer. The futuristic styling was perhaps the most daring of Cadillac’s Art and Science design era of the early 2000s. It looks like a well-chiseled cheese wedge cast in gleaming black sheet metal. It’s stunning.
While the Cadillac ELR may not have been a smash sales success, Cadillac hasn’t given up on luxury electric vehicles. The fully electric Cadillac Lyriq was recently released to much acclaim.
The gorgeous all-electric 2024 Lyriq SUV - opens in new window or tab. has a driving range of 312 miles of range. That was a fantasy in 2014 when the ELR was introduced. But all future high-performance sleek EVs will trace their origins to the fun and funky Cadillac plug-in hybrid coupe from the 2010s.
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