Kudos for Caddy's Eco-Conscious Coupe

By Tom Mack

You must admit the main meal of a performance coupe with a side order of lithium-ion batteries is a bit of an oxymoron. But if the thought of reducing your car’s carbon footprint is something you’d relish then this news is bound to spark your interest.
   
Green Car Journal today awarded the Cadillac ELR electrified luxury coupe its 2014 Green Car Technology Award for its Regen on Demand system, which allows the driver to use paddle shifters on the steering wheel to temporarily regenerate energy and store it as electricity in the battery pack for later use.

Photo:Newspress.com

The award was announced today at The Washington Auto Show in D.C.

“Regen on Demand is one of the key systems enabling the Cadillac ELR to merge performance with efficiency in a dynamic new way,” said Jim Vurpillat, director of emerging markets at Cadillac. “Putting regenerative braking at the driver’s fingertips supports the ELR’s 340-mile (550 km) total driving range while also adding a fun-to-drive element to the premium luxury coupe.”

Traditional performance vehicles allow drivers to upshift and downshift the mechanical transmission through steering wheel-mounted paddles. The ELR’s Regen on Demand feature is unique to it and builds on the GM division’s performance-bred heritage.
The exclusive feature has cleverly evolved a common electric-drive efficiency system into an intriguing feature that adds a new dimension to the driving experience, the publication noted in making the presentation. Ever-increasing efficiency is crucial to our driving future, yet efficiency itself is not an attraction for a great many car buyers. This is an inspired example of how technology can increase efficiency while connecting with a driver, enhancing driving dynamics along the way.

Beyond the exclusive Regen on Demand system, the ELR comes equipped with standard advanced technology features such as Cadillac CUE with Navigation, light-emitting diode, or LED, front and rear exterior lighting, Lane Departure Warning, Forward Collision Alert, and the Safety Alert Seat.

The ELR interior features handcrafted leather complemented by authentic wood grain and chrome trim. Powering the coupe is a combination of pure electric drive and an efficient, range-extending 1.4-litre gasoline-powered electric generator. A T-shaped, 16.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is located along the centerline of the vehicle, between the front and rear wheels to make the most of weight distribution. The pack supplies energy to an advanced electric drive unit to propel the vehicle.

Malibu Joins 5-Star Safety Ranks

Chevrolet’s 2014 Malibu midsize sedan has received the highest possible 5-star Overall Vehicle Score for safety as part of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s New Car Assessment Program.
   

Photo: Newspress.com

“Safety is an increasingly important consideration for new vehicle buyers, especially for those in the midsize segment,” said Gay Kent, General Motors general director of Vehicle Safety and Crashworthiness. “The customer is at the centre of our day-to-day operations and when we design vehicles, it’s their safety that we have in mind.”

Safety technologies featured on the Malibu include an ultra-high-strength steel safety cage, rollover protection and 10 standard airbags including knee airbags for both driver and front passenger.

In addition to these passive safety features, several other available active safety technologies, such as Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning, can assist in avoiding a collision. Side Blind Zone Alert uses sensors to warn drivers of vehicles entering their blind spot on either side. The pairing of Rear Cross Traffic Alert, new to Malibu for 2014, and rear vision camera can make backing out onto busy streets a less-stressful affair.

Every Malibu comes with OnStar service standard for the first six months. In the event of a collision, OnStar Advisors can contact the vehicle even if occupants cannot respond.