Image 1 of 22
Image 2 of 22
Image 3 of 22
Image 4 of 22
Image 5 of 22
Image 6 of 22
Image 7 of 22
Image 8 of 22
Image 9 of 22
Image 10 of 22
Image 11 of 22
Image 12 of 22
Image 13 of 22
Image 14 of 22
Image 15 of 22
Image 16 of 22
Image 17 of 22
Image 18 of 22
Image 19 of 22
Image 20 of 22
Image 21 of 22
Image 22 of 22
-
This was the final act for the XLR, Cadillac’s rakish, high-performance roadster that first broke cover in 2004 with the poise of a European grand tourer and the arrogance of an American V8. The XLR combined Corvette’s performance roots with Cadillac’s new “Art and Science” design language, a sharp departure from its past. The spiritual offspring of the Cadillac Evoq concept, it was shepherded into existence by Cadillac Design Director Kip Wasenko and signed off by Vice-President of Global Design, Wayne Cherry.
Sleek, bold, and full of promise, it was built on the same Y-body platform as Chevrolet’s C6 Corvette and was a rolling declaration that Cadillac was no longer content to build couches on wheels for the Early Bird Special crowd. Fitted with a power-retractable hardtop that folded in less than 30 seconds, it opened up to reveal a first-class cabin that features Bulgari-designed gauges, which was appropriate for a car that was meant to challenge the best Europe had to offer. Buyers could even opt for a matching Bulgari Diagono watch to complete the look.
Under the long hood sat Cadillac’s Northstar V8, pushing out 320 horsepower through a smooth five-speed automatic. Yet Cadillac wasn’t content with merely playing in the luxury roadster league. In 2006, they dropped the XLR-V, a supercharged variant with 443 horsepower and a 0-60 mph time of 4.5 seconds capable of hunting for cars with M and AMG badges.
Despite the engineering talent and the luxury touches, the XLR didn’t meet its sales target, pegged at 5,000 units annually. The reality fell short. In 2005, Cadillac sold 3,730 XLRs, but by 2009, that number dropped to 787 of which 239 are high-performance XLR-Vs.
The XLR may not have toppled the SL, but it proved Cadillac could build a car that looked the part and had the performance to back it up. Sadly, it wasn’t enough to make the XLR a lasting success, but it demonstrated that Cadillac could still take on the world’s finest. -
Company
General MotorsMake
CadillacModel
XLR-V
Body Style
Roadster, 2 door, 2 pass.Body Manufacturer
General Motors Bowling Green Assembly
Model year
2009
Wheelbase
105.7 in
Length
177.7 inEngine
Dual Overhead-Cam, Supercharged V8, 4.4-liters (267-cid)
Horsepower
443 hp @ 6,400 rpm
Transmission
6-speed automatic transmissionOriginal Base Price
$104,215
Brand Production
109,092 model year
This Car Production
787 XLR’s / 239 V’s -
The NB Center XLR-V is supposed to be the last car off the assembly line. Its special status as the last of a rare breed means it has been babied since it first arrived with an eye toward preserving the car for many future generations.
This last example is finished in Black Cherry paint, a dark red that color shifts from black to a dark purplish-red. The all leather interior is Cashmere (beige) with Ebony (black) accents. The color combination manages to be rich and sporty simultaneously.
The car is a lively performer although the C6 Corvette chassis was a bit dated by the time this car arrived and perhaps not up to the standards that Cadillac sought to compete against the best Europe had to offer.
The car was a milestone in Cadillac’s metamorphosis from a producer of stodgy cars for a mature demographic to a company that was willing to flex its muscles and show off its appeal to a more hip clientele.