2008 CADILLAC XLR-V 4.4 V8 6AT (449 HP)

Vehicle Overview

When General Motors introduced the Cadillac XLR on the market, it aimed high at the Mercedes’ SL customers, but the low sales ruined its dreams.

Cadillac introduced the XLR in 2003 as a luxurious, two-seat personal roadster. It was a mixed vehicle built on top of a Chevrolet Corvette chassis and a Northstar V-8 engine, and all assembled into a wedged-shaped bodywork with a power-retractable hard-top. It wasn’t a bad idea, but the six-figure price tag made the customers think twice.

In 2008, Cadillac made a final attempt to gain the market and introduced a facelifted version, which sported an upgraded front fascia. It featured a polished silver grille that resembled older Cadillacs. The car’s design was inspired by the F-117 Stealth Fighter jet airplane, and its body panels featured only the mandatory curves needed for the wheel arches and door panels. At the back, the carmaker shaped the taillights to match the rear fenders with narrow and tall LED lights. Under the bumper, the XLR-V featured four exhaust pipes similarly looking to those installed on the C5 Corvette.

Cadillac hand-crafted the XLR-V cabin. The leather-clad interior was designed to offer individual space for the two occupants. Its driver could open or close the roof in 13 seconds or less. GM offered an option for a touch-screen infotainment unit with a premium sound system on the center stack.

Under the hood, the carmaker installed a hand-built supercharged Northstar V-8 engine that pumped out more power than an SL500 but less than an SL55 AMG. Even though Cadillac said that it wouldn’t compete against Mercedes-Benz, the car’s shape and the price tag made it a direct competitor in front of its customers, and it lost.