Cadillac unveils its 2016 ELR coupe

Cadillac has revealed its new 2016 ELR coupe. The ELR coupe gains a thrust in performance and improvements in handling and connectivity, while retaining most of its design. The only cosmetic changes on the ELR are the modified grille and Cadillac’s new wreathless badge.

The carmaker has made software updates to its battery system, improving power and torque by a claimed 25 percent to 215bhp in Tour mode and 233bhp in Sport mode, and the torque to 51.6kgm. The range has increased to about 60km, which increases to 530km when the 1.4-litre gasoline-powered engine is combined to the electric motor. The battery takes around five hours to charge using a 240V source.

With the modified Sports mode on, which combines the engine and electric power, it sprints from 0-100kph in 6.4 seconds – 1.5 seconds quicker than the previous model. Cadillac also promises a higher top speed of 209kph in Sport and Hold modes with the optional Performance Package, and 171kph in regular mode.

The Performance Package comes with several features including 20-inch summer performance tires, front four-piston Brembo brake calipers with 13.6-inch front vented rotors and 12.4-inch rear vented rotors. Besides the new sports steering wheel, it also gets recalibrated Continuous Damping Control and electric power steering systems.

The ELR coupe also gets the following steering and suspension upgrades such as revised calibration of the HiPer Strut front suspension, increased front spring rates and a stiffer rear axle, stiffer bushings for the front lower control arms, cradle mounts and Watts link in the rear suspension, revised calibrations for the Continuous Damping Control system, front Damper Rebound Spring, new steering calibration tuned to complement the revised chassis and suspension systems and revised brake hardware and system calibration for improved application feel.

Moving inside, it gets three USB ports, 8-inch configurable instrument and driver information displays. The previously optional Driver Assistance Package that included side blind zone alert, rear cross traffic alert and Intellibeam headlamps, now come as standard, while the ELR also gets GM’s OnStar with 4G LTE and standard built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot with a "three-month/three-gigabyte data trial, whichever comes first". In addition, passengers can charger their phones wirelessly through the new magnetic inductive charge spot.