Refreshed XLR?

[ZHDesign57]

Originally Posted by JJSoCrazy

I have actually spoke with one of the lead designers for Cadillac and she stated that the new XLR when remade will have a mid-engine and be the best luxury/hardtop conv/and performance coupe out there. This will arrive when the new Vette arrives.

I have heard that the base Corvette will be Front engined with a coupe and convertible, and that the next ZR1 will probably be Mid-engined.

The XLR would fit in fine if it were mid-engined.

Read Motor Trend's article "Corvette Manifesto"...I think GM took some advice from Chip Foose and Jay Leno...or maybe this is Wallace's plan altogether...

Has it been posted that next gen Solstice is moving to development with next gen Vette and XLR on some type of kappa/alpha mix and built in Bowling Green? It would make sense for the Alpha Caddy sedan to have an affordable (read that as 60K rather than 100K) convertible, and the Camaro moving to Alpha for gen 6 to share Vette parts; if there is a Pontiac at that point, then the small G sedan could pair with the Solstice in a similar relationship like the Caddy pair

A Kappa and Alpha mix sounds interesting... Wow and maybe the next gen Solstice will be like a Pontiac version of the Corvette...

[NoNameDenton]

Smaller two seater Caddy, in the size of the BMW Z4 would be nice

[megeebee]

I could have sworn that I read of a facelift of the XLR coming for 2009. Probably the new CTS-grille, facias, some interior enhancenments, that sort of thing.

[TuffG929]

The Corvette-based XLR was supposed to be Cadillac's flagship. So how come we'd rather have the new CTS-V, and why did Eli choose the upcoming Escalade Hybrid as his Super Bowl MVP prize? If the rumors are to be believed, Cadillac hopes to correct that with an updated version of the top-of-the-line roadster this summer...

More

[TuffG929]

Looks like Autoblog used our faulty source.

[Robert G]

Autoblog 2/12/08: http://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/12/r...d-xlr-in-july/

...
The production XLR made quite a splash with its EVOQ-ative, edgy styling at the 2003 Detroit show, and it's been on the road essentially unchanged since its introduction in 2004, which would make it just about due for a facelift. We'd expect a revised XLR – and accompanying facelift for the supercharged XLR-V (above) – to get a bigger mouth as the most prominent of the styling updates.

[WishIhadatruck]

It is definitely due for an update.

[PAULSTS1]

Originally Posted by nadepalma

Interesting news. With the Vette getting some nice updates in this model year, it seemed likely that the XLR would (hopefully) get some much needed attention.

I too hope that they do update it. The XLR deserves more attention from the buying public than it gets, but certainly it is understood that it needs an better interior for the money.

I also wonder if they shouldn't offer it with a fixed-roof and make the convertible-hardtop optional? Afterall, that hard-top has to add weight, cost, complexity, no? Why not make it a option and try to shift more units?

If they could offer a fixed-roof model with a revised interior and chop $8K or $10K off the pricetag, it would create a true "Grand Tourer" for the marque and maybe create more showroom traffic.

Just my two cents.

Unfortunately Nadepalma, that's all it's worth! The XLR is a high performance/luxury Grand Tourismo car, not an addition to the CTS line. Engineering a fixed hardtop and changing production on a limited as it is automobile, would actually add more costs!

What has to be done is interior updates must be addressed, and the car has to be better market positioned, not as a alternative to the SL550, it's failed miserably at this, but as a luxo sports alternative, period! Cadillac needs to make the car more visible as a background in other commercials, in dealership shots. The customers for an XLR are individual non-conformist types they want the exclusivity of being one person in the neighborhood with one, and don't mind paying the price. The buyers just have to find a way into a Cadillac Dealership. This is the definitive issue, floor traffic, and the customers finding an inviting and up to date product.

[zacknolden@hotm]

Originally Posted by Lawnchair8

Does anyone know if the next XLR-V will get the LSA?

I just can't say! It's not easy XLR-V can be unpredictable at times
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Autopartswarehouse is Autopartswarehouse

[J Man]

Originally Posted by JJSoCrazy

I have actually spoke with one of the lead designers for Cadillac and she stated that the new XLR when remade will have a mid-engine and be the best luxury/hardtop conv/and performance coupe out there. This will arrive when the new Vette arrives.

Only bad part is that it wil cast more than my house.

[CobaltSScrazy]

yeah when? in 2014?

eyeroll...

CobaltSS

[lucy]

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I was wondering how Cadillac expected XLR to remain relevant with a new Jag and SL already out, not to mention things like the DB9

[jlmartin99]

Originally Posted by lucy

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I was wondering how Cadillac expected XLR to remain relevant with a new Jag and SL already out, not to mention things like the DB9

Hi Lucy,

Before you read my comments regarding some of my comparative evaluations between Cadillac’s XLR and Mercedes-Benz’s SL550, it is worth saying, both of these luxury performance roadsters are world class and depending on your luxury sports car requirements either could be your purchase choice. For my requirements, Cadillac’s XLR ranks #1 for purchase easily over Mercedes Benz’s SL550.

In my comments on Cadillac’s XLR and Mercedes-Benz’s SL550, I will address my key reasons why Cadillac’s XLR has a commanding purchase preference for my requirements in the luxury performance roadster segment.

Let’s start with the basics, some of Cadillac’s XLR most advance technologies begin at a very fundamental level with chassis and body design. Cadillac’s XLR utilizes GM’s patented Performance Car Architecture, a pair of hydroformed rails with structural center tunnel, along with advance compound composites used in the XLR balsa floor construction and body panels. Additionally, extensive use of light metal alloys in aluminum and magnesium are designed into the XLR’s cockpit, suspension and roof. The key advantages of Cadillac’s XLR chassis and body design is, it is one of the most rigid, lightest high styled luxury performance roadsters existing in the world today, delivering one of the very best broad ranging dynamic driving experiences available.

Another real life advantage of advance compound composite body panels are their durability and dent resistance properties when compared to steel or aluminum. In contrast, Mercedes-Benz’s SL550 unitized steel chassis and body panels create a superb rigid design. However, a SL550 similar optioned to Cadillac’s XLR, weighs in as the heaviest of the group and Cadillac’s XLR is the lightest by 400-600 pounds. In fact for comparison, Mercedes-Benz’s SL550 optioned similar to Cadillac’s XLR weighs more than Cadillac’s STS V8. On this design criterion alone, many would consider Cadillac’s XLR a superior design over Mercedes-Benz’s SL550.

An additional key design benefit for the XLR other than weight savings is in Cadillac’s design decision to use advance compound composites for the XLR body panels. Cadillac’s XLR exterior design is simply breathtaking. In fact, some of the exterior styling of the Cadillac XLR is so exotic in their crisps lines, it would be virtually impossible to perform this in metal.

When one does a visual walk around of Cadillac’s XLR and you see its gorgeous lines are uninterrupted, not even door handles intrude on the XLR exterior styling, it does create a formidable impression. GM’s engineers integrated all antennas within the composite body panels, again enhancing the exterior clean styling and modern design. In contrast, Mercedes-Benz’s SL550 displays traditional door handles and power antenna mast with satellite radio antenna that exemplifies its more classic look in exterior design. In comparison to Cadillac’s XLR exterior design, the SL simply does not reach a level of exotic design in my view. Instead, the SL exterior design strikes me as a beautiful, sleek Mercedes-Benz coupe, not an exotic luxury sports car. Cadillac’s XLR exterior lines set a standard in contemporary exterior design and for my requirements; Cadillac’s XLR achieves a level of exotic style and design and is my first preference over any comparable luxury performance roadster.

Lets transition to Cadillac’s interior, Cadillac designers and engineers have achieved an interior design in the XLR that exemplifies modern understated sophistication. This modern theme continues from the XLR’s exterior styling into its design of its interior. The XLR interior looks like no other, it is fresh and contemporary in its style with a mix of authentic soft and rich materials designed in such a way to enable a complex array of features and advance technology to feel simple and serene in its operation. No other luxury performance roadster so vividly creates such a wonderful experience with its understated graceful interior design as Cadillac’s XLR.

Another design benefit, Cadillac’s XLR comes fully optioned which offered their designers and engineers a clear advantage by designing Cadillac’s XLR full complement of features and advance technology into the XLR’s exterior and interior without compromise. This is one of the key interior design advantages of Cadillac's XLR over the Mercedes-Benz’s SL550 that I evaluated. When you compare Mercedes-Benz's SL for example, the standard features with Cadillac's XLR are optional with Mercedes-Benz's SL550. This is not a problem per say, but as you add the optional features to the SL, some are integrated very well and others drastically change the appearance of the interior's operational controls and switch work, creating a more complex feel and in some cases, it has an add-on appearance, feeling like an afterthought in its design. When I evaluated these performance luxury roadsters, Cadillac’s interior design is the most modern interpretation with minimal buttons and switchgear with some of the highest level of advance technology and features.

Let’s continue on with advance technologies where Cadillac’s XLR strikes a powerful contrast to Mercedes-Benz SL550 in systems integration. Incorporating the world’s most advance technologies into useful and easy to use luxury, performance and safety features is one of the key indicators of superior engineering and the ultimate recognition of excellent design. And in my evaluation of Cadillac's XLR and Mercedes-Benz's SL550, both are world class in this regard. However that said, there are differences in Cadillac’s design approach versus Mercedes-Benz. In my case, again Cadillac’s XLR is my preference over Mercedes–Benz’s SL550.

Some of the key applied technologies that enable an authoritative design for Cadillac’s XLR are in its advance body and chassis technologies with MRC (Magnetic Ride Control), Magnasteer and Stabilitrak systems integration. Advance Telematics designed by OnStar offering some of the most innovative features on the market today. Image information technology in the color Head Up Display (reconfigurable four color display), Driver Information and LCD Touch Screen Displays. Infotainment systems with its incorporation of Cadillac’s XLR advance seat design which utilizes Bose’s Personnel Surround Sound with True Space technology formulated to the XLR’s specific acoustic environment. These seats incorporate ceramic materials to offer another exclusive technology of cooled versus ventilated seats. And a real enrichment to some of these advance features in comparison to Mercedes-Benz’s SL550, is that some are exclusive in how Cadillac’s designers and engineers integrated them seamlessly into the XLR.

And the result, Cadillac’s XLR displays a painstaking, highly integrated, easy to operate intuitive design in contrast to Mercedes-Benz’s SL550 more complex looking, old world styled design that can be complicated in its operation and does not integrate its features well as it should in my view. This is where Cadillac’s XLR interior design excels in that Cadillac’s XLR has some of the most advance features available in this segment, but its interior remains an inviting experience that is pure in its uncomplicated modern design elegance.

I have mentioned before, for my requirements, Cadillac’s XLR is my #1 purchase choice over Mercedes-Benz’s SL550. In fact, based on my most recent comparative evaluation, Jaguar’s XK Coupe (with Aston Martin’s Vantage coupe as my preferred exotic sports car) has replaced Mercedes-Benz’s SL550 as my #2 purchase choice from a style and design perspective. Mercedes-Benz’s SL550 is the least attractive to my tastes and with their 2009 styling updates; Mercedes-Benz's SL550 is no longer on my final purchase list.

In my examination, Cadillac’s designers, engineers and builders have created a stellar luxury performance roadster in the XLR that is exotic in its design.

JLM

[asrapid]

Originally Posted by lucy

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I was wondering how Cadillac expected XLR to remain relevant with a new Jag and SL already out, not to mention things like the DB9

They don't. There won't be new gen. XLR and XLR will soon fall even more behind competition. Just look at the engine. Now it has 325 hp but soon xk will get new 5.0 l V8 and competition has more powerfull engine now. Even The V version which should be something like AMG for mercedes or M to Bmw is behind in power now.
DB9 is different league which cadillac XLR can't even touch.
Cadillac should developed new XLR with Ultra V8. But they didn't and they probably won't. So XLR will soon be gone.

[jlmartin99]

Originally Posted by asrapid

They don't. There won't be new gen. XLR and XLR will soon fall even more behind competition. Just look at the engine. Now it has 325 hp but soon xk will get new 5.0 l V8 and competition has more powerfull engine now. Even The V version which should be something like AMG for mercedes or M to Bmw is behind in power now.
DB9 is different league which cadillac XLR can't even touch.
Cadillac should developed new XLR with Ultra V8. But they didn't and they probably won't. So XLR will soon be gone.

Hi asrapid,

For luxury buyer's versus auto reviewers or critics, Cadillac's XLR/XLR-V is competitive with Mercedes-Benz's SL550/SL63 AMG and Jaguar XK/XKR for example. Aston Martin's DB9 is an exotic GT and I would agree Cadillac's XLR-V is not in this segment and the same can be said for Mercedes-Benz's SL63 or Jaguar's XKR are not as well.

In my evaluation Cadillac's V Series in 2009 offers models that are competitive if you go out and test drive. I think, for auto enthusiasts that read reviews and specifications, certainly could come to a variety of opinions. However, from my experience with AMG , M,R and Cadillac V Series, all were simply exhilarating to drive. That said, there are design approach differences from these luxury brands and I found that to be the key element as to which approach best meets your requirements as a luxury high performance buyer. For my requirements Cadillac's V Series and Mercedes Benz's AMG fit my purchase requirements the best, with Cadillac CTS-V, STS-V and XLR-V for 2009 models evaluated to be the overall best design.

JLM