Cadillac’s Converj concept, unveiled in early 2009 during the height of the global financial crisis, was meant to be a way of sexing up the extended-range electric car technology offered in the much more mundane Chevrolet Volt, whose platform it borrowed. The concept had an extreme, futuristic design that looked unlike anything else in Cadillac lineup, so the confirmation of production came as quite a surprise.
What was even more surprising, though, was that the production version, the ELR, had a design that was almost as daring as the original concept. And there was some decent performance too, with the original version offering up 207 horsepower and 295 foot-pounds of instantaneous torque.
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But then Cadillac announced a $75k starting price and pretty much all interest dried up overnight. In response, Cadillac upped power and dropped pricing but it didn’t help. Just 2,407 examples have been sold since sales started in late 2013.
Now, it seems, the ELR won’t be replaced when the current model runs its course, most likely sometime in 2018.
Though Cadillac chief Johan de Nysschen has previously hinted at a successor, his latest comments suggest otherwise.
“I plan to continue admiring it as one of the most beautiful cars on four wheels” de Nysschen told Automotive News (subscription required). “But we don't plan further investment.”
Given the limited appeal of coupes, the move makes sense, especially when you consider Cadillac has much more pressing issues such as addressing its lack of SUVs.
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