First Impression: Cadillac XLR/ Cadillac XLR-V

Cadillac had a reputation for making cars that old people drive. GM wanted to attract a younger crowd to Cadillac. Cadillac came out with the SUV Escalade, the sport sedan CTS/CTS-V, and a roadster XLR. Cadillac made the XLR from 2003 to 2009, a total of 15548 XLRs were produced. The XLR was intended to be the flagship for the Cadillac brand and was based on the Chevrolet Corvette's Y-platform. The XLR featured a retractable aluminum rooftop. Cadillac made a high performance version called the XLR-V.

I recently saw a Cadillac XLR at the July edition of Houston Cars and Coffee. I also see them from time to time on the Houston roads. It is a beautiful car. I love the styling of the car. This is not a car for old people. It is a good alternative to the Mercedes-Benz SL Class and the BMW Z Roadster/M Roadster. The XLR-V looks just like the XLR, except for what is under the hood.

The XLR is powered by a 4.6L V8 that produces 320 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The XLR goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds and reaches a top speed of 155 mph. Prices for the 2009 XLR started at $86,215. The XLR-V is powered by a supercharged 4.4L V8 that produces 443 hp and 414 lb-ft of torque. The XLR-B goes from 0 to 60 mph in 4.7 seconds and reaches a top speed of 155 mph. The XLR-V cost $100,000 in 2009. The XLR and XLR-V are quick, have a decent top speed, and a little pricey. The XLR-V is one of the most expensive cars to come from GM.

The Cadillac XLR and XLR-V were reviewed by Motorweek. The XLR is seen in CSI, Takers, and The Mentalist. The XLR-V is featured in Sons of Anarchy, Shark, and Clarkson: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.  The XLR is playable in Asphalt: Urban GT, Project Gotham Racing 2, Midnight Club 3: DUB Edition, and Driver: San Francisco. The XLR-V is playable in Asphalt 2: Urban GT, Test Drive Unlimited, Project Gotham Racing 3, and Midnight Club: Los Angeles.

Final Thoughts: The XLR went unnoticed by the public. People thought the car was for old people since it was a Cadillac. But Cadillac has recently been making cars for the younger car owners. Old people do drive Cadillacs, but I rarely see an old person driving an Escalade or XLR. It is a shame this car was overlook because it is quick and beautiful. The car is expensive though, but it is still a nice alternative to the BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SL Class.

CarJunkie
Photo taken from a camera phone