Even though the $76,000 Cadillac ELR launched with low sales expectations, there was little interest in a tarted-up Chevy Volt that cost more than a Tesla Model S. Cadillac sought to rectify the issue by debuting a refreshed ELR at the LA Auto Show, but that car was conspicuously absent, with rumors suggesting the semi-autonomous Supercruise system was to blame.

That’s according to a report from GM Inside News, which says that engineers are working to iron out the kinks with the self-driving system, which initially tapped to debut on the upcoming Cadillac CT6 hybrid flagship. Apparently the new ELR will be a highly autonomous vehicle with the Supercruise system playing a major role in taking the driver out of the equation on long trips. So instead of focusing on the hybrid drivetrain it shares with the Volt, the ELR is instead going to try and bury the competition under a mountain of technology.

That’s not a terrible plan if you ask me, as the ELR is clearly not the Model S competitor Cadillac had been hoping for. Dealers have marked down the ELR as much as $20,000 in an effort to sell them, and it’s helped sales somewhat, though the car’s reputation is still that of a half-assed knockoff. But building an autonomous car isn’t exactly easy either, and some of the Supercruise features are proving more difficult to integrate than anticipated.

As a result, Cadillac executives haven’t been able to nail down a feature set for the next-gen ELR, and instead of rolling out a half-finished product, the company has wisely decided to delay the debut. The refreshed 2016 Chevy Volt is slated to debut in a little over a month at the North American International Auto Show, and it’s likely many of those improvements will find their way onto the new Cadillac ELR as well.

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Tags: autonomous car, Cadillac, Cadillac ELR, Elon Musk, Supercruise, Tesla Model S

About the Author

Christopher DeMorro A writer and gearhead who loves all things automotive, from hybrids to HEMIs, Chris can be found wrenching or writing- or esle, he’s running, because he’s one of those crazy people who gets enjoyment from running insane distances.

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