I have had a few less than obvious (or sometimes just plain weird) Picks of the Day while writing here at the Journal. Today is a car that, while it might seem the weirdest, is also a very interesting car and one that represents a time when manufacturers were struggling to make cars more efficient. It is also the car that was the first true luxury hybrid car to come from one of the oldest American manufacturers.
My Pick of the Day is a 2014 Cadillac ELR offered by a dealer in Morgantown, Pennsylvania.
Cadillac first unveiled the concept car for the ELR as the Converj Concept at the 2009 North American Auto Show in Detroit. The car was a huge hit with the press due to the concepts behind the powertrain and the striking styling, and it was scheduled for production shortly after but timing is everything and the GM bankruptcy and restructuring caused the cancellation of the model. After many arguments within GM, the Converj was finally scheduled for production in August of 2011, which many guess was due to the legendary Bob Lutz. The new car was named the ELR and went on sale as a 2014 model.
Cadillac stated that the, “The 2014 ELR luxury coupe blends dramatic design and industry-leading extended-range technology to deliver a driving experience that is sporty and environmentally friendly.”
They went on to state that, “The ELR delivers on the promise of the Converj Concept on which it is based. The exterior establishes a new, progressive proportion for the brand while the interior introduces a new design theme that will define future Cadillac models, emphasizing modern elegance, technology and precisely crafted details.”
Both of these are bold statements, but I actually got to drive the 2014 ELR at its launch and my take away is that these are amazing cars that not only deliver on what Cadillac intended but also have striking interior design elements that we are just now seeing in other cars from the brand.
So why is this a collector car? Well the ELR was built during a time concerned with diminishing oil resources and, while by today’s standards has a silly all-electric range of only 35 miles, this is a plug-in hybrid and the total range of the ELR is more than 400 miles. In addition the styling is simply amazing, the materials used in the interior are the best Cadillac had ever put into a modern car, and the ELR is extremely rare with a total of only 2,958 cars built in 2014 and 2016. No, that is not a typo, they skipped 2015.
The seller describes this 2014 ELR as being basically a brand new car, with a total of only 850 miles from new and is still covered by its original factory/manufacturers warranty until 1/21/2024.
The exterior of this car is finished in Crystal Red Tint coat said to be in showroom condition. They add that this car utilized the latest technology of the day, including LED tail and head lights, large 20-inch ultra-bright, polished two-tone wheels are wrapped by 245/40R20’s on all 4 corners.
The interior is just as good as the exterior. It features two tone cashmere leather, including all surfaces leather covered. It even has an Alcantara headliner, one of my single favorite interior options on any car. Other options include power windows, power locks, power mirrors, and power door actuators. The dash is a still-modern looking display screen where the CUE system controls various functionality of the interior settings and contains a navigation system and back up camera. Other features include Bluetooth connectivity for your phone. Just like the rest of the interior, the carpeting is flawless.
So basically, you have the opportunity here to buy a brand new Cadillac ELR. I maintain that the ELR is quickly becoming a real collector car due to its rarity and, quite frankly, just how great a car it is. This is a collector car for those who are thinking towards the future as Cadillac was when they designed it.
The asking price for this stunning example of a first year Cadillac ELR is $64,900, and while that might seem a bit high, take a look at the prices for an ELR with high mileage and then you will get the picture. These cars are on the rise and the time to buy one that is this perfect is now.
To view this listing on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.
Nice one! I like the bucket seats in the back. Haven’t seen that very often.
Beautiful car