It seems strange to say a car 2 years in the future is getting a new engine, so to be more specific, the concept car, off of which the 2014 Cadillac ELR is based, will be receiving a new engine. The 2014 Cadillac ELR is the brands first plug-in electric vehicle, and as such, needs to be a super-offering of styling, luxury and performance with a higher level of features and performance than the Chevy Volt that it is based off of. The range extended electric sports coupe was first shown in 2009 as the Cadillac Converj, and was approved last summer for production.

Since the Cadillac ELR will surely have a leather interior and other luxury features such as superior sound deadening, it will weigh more than the Chevy Volt. The Voltec powertrain and lithium-ion battery pack, electric motor, and gasoline driven engine doesn’t scale that well from the Volt. Media is suggesting that the 2014 Cadillac ELR electric car will have a more powerful range extender derived from the newer Ecotec four cylinder engine to deliver higher continuous power to the drive wheels. The Cadillac ELR may also have a larger battery pack for more stored energy. To keep the weight gain as low as possible, the ELR will use more lightweight materials and some aluminum body panels.