Yet another entry from Cadillac to show the world it's serious about competing with the top European and Japanese luxury brands. The sporty XLR is what Cadillac wants people to think of, when envisioning this namebadge. 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 like a land yacht than a nimble little sports car. 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 use of light weight parts pretty aggressively, so this car is lighter on its feet then some might suspect. In addition, the standard Magnetic Ride Control adaptive suspension system automatically firms up or softens the suspension based on driving conditions. This ensures generally smooth and responsive maneuvers. When you put together the edgy, angular styling outside the body and the wood accent inside the interior, you do get a rich looking car. The XLR's hard top is retractable, providing the best between the secure hard top and cruising with the top down. Whenever you put the top down, you should already have in place a Cadillac windscreen.
The Cadillac XLR is a good-to-great car, but it's not the "standard of the world" as GM likes to proclaim it as. . If you're looking at the XLR, then you might as well be looking at the Corvette, which costs $20K less and provides 116 more horse power.
The XLR is certainly a fast car, but, well, it's just not sports car fast. Acceleration, though certainly quick, is not as forceful as its corporate cousin. 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. On the open highway, the roadster hits its stride, delivering an undisturbed ride with effortless tracking. Remember, if you go top down, then you should also go with 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.
