Yet another entry from Cadillac to show the world it’s serious about competing with the top European and Japanese luxury brands. The two-seat Cadillac XLR roadster is the company’s flagship vehicle. Though it shares the same platform as the current Corvette, the XLR variant is not a simple case of corporate badge engineering. This caddy is more of a country cruising machine than a sports hot rod. This Caddy is a bit of a candy-ass with a softer and more comfortable ride. The XLR also uses a tamer 4/6-liter, 320-horsepower V8 engine rather than the Vette’s edgier 6/2-liter, 436-hp V8 engine.
The XLR makes good use of lightweight parts, such as aluminum suspension pieces, that keeps the XLR’s weight pretty reasonable. The super-duper Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension system does a great job of automatically adjusting the suspension for ride smoothness. With all of this taken together, you get smooth and responsive maneuvers. The combination of bold, angular styling outside and distinctive eucalyptus-wood cockpit accents gives the XLR a sophisticated presence. Further, the XLR’s power retractable hardtop roof allows the comfort and security of a coupe when the top is raised. Whenever you pull back the hard top, then you should have a Cadillac windscreen.
As impressive as it is, the Cadillac XLR roadster is not quite the “standard of the world” — far from it. Though its styling and Cadillac badge will appeal to those looking to roll up to the valet in something different from the status quo, the XLR comes up short in terms of maximum performance. The interior is especially disappointing when compared to its similarly priced rivals from Germany and Great Britain. Furthermore, the XLR doesn’t really offer that much more than a fully loaded Corvette, which is about $20,000 cheaper and 116-hp more powerful.
The XLR certainly have plenty of speed, but the top-end may still come out short for some enthusiasts. The acceleration is notable, but still underneath what one hopes for in this sort of rod. The XLR has a soft underpining, causing the vehicle to roll in curves and nosedive under fast breaking. Even though this car is fitted with adaptive suspension with split-second control, the XLR is still not up to the handling performance of its European and Japanese rivals. The XLR is best on the open highway, when it can really stretch its legs and unwind. If you ever want to talk on your cell phone, then you better get a Cadillac windscreen.
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When the author isn’t driving her XLR around town, she’s a fan of psychic reviews, the Seattle HCG Diet Center, and the Cadillac XLR windscreen windblocker wind deflector.
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