The 2014 Cadillac ELR plug-in hybrid will go on sale in January with a sticker price of $75,995, including destination charges.
The lofty sticker -- it's more than twice that of the Chevrolet Volt, which shares the same underpinnings and powertrain -- suggests that GM plans to produce the coupe in small numbers to give it an air of exclusivity.
"We're only going to make so many," Bob Ferguson, senior vice president of global Cadillac, told Automotive News in August. "I actually think you're going to see a scramble for that vehicle."
Net pricing after a $7,500 federal tax credit will be $68,495, General Motors said today. Production is scheduled to begin at GM's Detroit-Hamtramck plant late this year.
The ELR will be sold through a nationwide network of roughly 500 Cadillac dealerships certified to sell and service the coupe. Cadillac has about 940 U.S. dealerships.
Buyers and prospective customers also will have their own "ELR Concierge Representative" trained in "white glove customer care" via a phone call, GM said. Reps will be able to help with information on battery care, home charging, service scheduling and other issues.
Prices for electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids have been under pressure amid weaker-than-expected consumer demand.
GM in August reduced the price of the Volt by $5,000, to $34,995 including destination, following similar price cuts for the Nissan Leaf and Ford Focus Electric.
Ferguson in August said he views the success of EV maker Tesla as a sign that pricing is firmer for electrified vehicles in the luxury segment than it is among mainstream brands.
The ELR is the second application of GM's Voltec technology, the powertrain that debuted in the Volt in late 2010. GM is targeting a different, more affluent buyer with the coupe's bold, angular styling and bespoke interior.
The cabin is plush with soft-touch materials, real wood accents and available carbon-fiber trim. The steering wheel is wrapped in leather and suede. The console storage and cupholder area is accessed via an "auto glide" electronic cover.
The coupe is 2 inches wider than the Volt and sports 20-inch wheels and Cadillac's signature vertical, blade-like headlamps and taillamps.
The powertrain is nearly identical to that of the Volt. The ELR will produce 295 pounds-feet of torque. GM added continuous damping control to improve the ride on rough surfaces.
Ferguson said this week that GM will take a targeted marketing approach to the ELR.
"I think it will take some more prescriptive marketing, reaching individual consumers," Ferguson said after the unveiling of the 2015 Escalade in New York Monday. "I don't think we'll sell a lot of ELRs through mass advertising."
IHS Automotive expects U.S. sales of just 2,100 units next year and 2,700 in 2015.
