Cadillac ELR luxury electric car finally comes out of the shadows and shows itself to the public at the 2013 Detroit Motor Show. Some cars like the Tesla Roadster showed us you don’t have to compromise on speed to go green, now the ELR argues that you don’t have to compromise on luxury.

Caddy ELR really is a luxurious bit of kit featuring cut-and-sew accented leather  incorporating sueded microfiber, chrome, wood and available carbon fiber finishes throughout. It also comes with a premium Bose 10-channel audio system with active noise cancellation as standard.

The design is pretty much identical to the Converj concept and features Cadillac’s typical sharp lines and chrome work. It is good, not just for an electric car, but a compact luxury coupe. The car rides on 20-inch wheels, optimized for efficiency and ride comfort.

As for the technicalities, the ELR is based on the Chevrolet Volt, which means it is an extended range electric vehicle. It comes with exclusive Regen on Demand and selectable drive modes that enhance driving and make the most of efficiency. Regen is regenerative braking, they are just trying to make it sound fancy. On feature that is fancy is the programmable charging schedules and downloadable energy efficiency report, which sends notifications to your smartphone.

The ELR also gets a fair share of high-tech systems, including HiPer Strut front suspension, compound-crank with Watts link rear suspension and Continuous Damping Control. Safety is provided by Safety Alert Seat, Forward Collision Alert and Lane Departure Warning, along with available Side Blind Zone Alert with Rear Cross-Traffic Alert and full-speed-range adaptive cruise control.