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2009 Cadillac XLR V With 450HP 4.4 V8 Engine

turbox submitted on 06/26/2008 Official AutoSpies Timestamp: 1:20 PM
from: ucarmagazine.com

[24] user comments | category: New Cars

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Tags: 2009, Cadillac, XLR, V, 450HP, 4.4, V8, Engine

Tag Links: 2009, Cadillac, XLR, V, 450HP, 4.4, V8, Engine

2009 Cadillac XLR V With 450HP 4.4 V8 Engine

Ever since its arrival in the exclusive world of luxury roadsters in 2004, the Cadillac XLR has been a valued member of this elite club. This is certainly true of the version available in Europe, propelled by the powerful 4.4-litre Supercharged Northstar V8 engine (330 kW / 450 hp) from the famed Cadillac V-series. For model year 2009, the XLR-V has been technologically refined, and the design has been fine-tuned in a number of important respects.

The most obvious refinements can be seen at the front and rear of the car, where a clear family likeness to the prize-winning CTS sports sedan can now be discerned. At the front, new fog lamps are an eye-catching feature, as is the two-piece grille. The redesigned air intakes along the car’s flanks also bring out the family links. The result is an appearance that is more powerful, that matches the capabilities of this luxury, high-performance roadster perfectly.

The interior has been upgraded with new luxury upholstery materials and new technology. Alcantara® is used for the upholstery, with a choice between Ebony and Cashmere as the color. Another new feature is the hand-cut, hand-sewn leather that is used to clad the instrument panel, in line with the new Cadillac approach in which modern, elegant craftsmanship is central.

New trim rings around the graphic displays in the instrument cluster, new wood types for the finishing (Black Olive Ash Burl) and new metal accents (Bermuda) complete the interior upgrade.

As a technology flagship, the XLR-V again boasts the most advanced safety- and comfort-enhancing technologies in its 2009 model year. These naturally include the renowned Cadillac Magnetic Ride Control system, Keyless Access with push button start, DVD navigation and entertainment system, seats that can be heated or cooled, head-up display and a heated steering wheel.

The new Cadillac XLR-V will be available from dealers from this autumn. The price will be announced in due course.

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DROOPYSAKK - 6/26/2008 1:39:00 PM

+1 Boost

why bother make this car, whoever would buy it, will get a SL in a second over this car

reply to this comment

09CTSVforMe - 6/26/2008 2:57:38 PM

+8 Boost

Your statement proves itself wrong. Whoever would buy it WOULD buy it, not an SL. Did you realize you were negating your intended point so efficiently? I guess 4 boosters didn't! lol

HSCenterconsole - 6/26/2008 1:51:00 PM

-3 Boost

From the article:
"Ever since its arrival in the exclusive world of luxury roadsters in 2004, the Cadillac XLR has been a valued member of this elite club. "

Talk about PR spin. More like overlooked and forgotten member of an elite club dominated by the SL.

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BMW4me4ever - 6/26/2008 2:10:08 PMView My AgentSpace

+4 Boost

what elite club is that? Have you driven one of these cars after it is a few years old? It is horrible. It rattles like someone put marbles hidden throughout the body. For $80k why not spend another $10k and get a real roadster, 2009 MB SL550.

reply to this comment

09CTSVforMe - 6/26/2008 3:02:40 PM

+3 Boost

Maybe they are meaning elite in the rarity use of the term. I won't disagree with your aging statements because I have not driven one, but frankly I see SL's all over, and when they were newly out, I thought they were one of the nicest looking cars ever. Now, though...an XLR is a much rarer animal and catches the eye much more. At least I think so...

I'll go the other way with your "why not"...for $80k, why not save $25k and buy the Corvette that belongs on that chassis?

markanthony0419 - 6/26/2008 3:57:08 PM

+2 Boost

if you can get me a brand new sl550 for 90k please show me and bring it to me. the new sl starts at 96k and thats empty.

bmwdrvr - 6/26/2008 4:17:34 PM

+2 Boost

good luck with getting a brand new Sl550 with the equipment the XLR has on it for 90,000....thats impossible unless your getting 10-20 grand off...i mean lets be for reala 650i will take you to 90,000 easy with the XLR equipment if not more and it starts much less...the SL starts at 96 grand tack on what it needs to compare to the XLR and you are talking well over 100,000 either way the XLR is a huge amount less expensive than a comparable SL....it just time for its new cycle to get here and asap

jeffy210 - 6/26/2008 2:49:15 PM

+2 Boost

I can't attest to drive quality, but in the looks dept I think it has really nice appeal. It has a nice chiseled look that let's the color highlight it's angles. I think this is something (as much as I like it) the SL has been lacking as of late.

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NARunner - 6/26/2008 3:28:07 PMView My AgentSpace

+2 Boost

09CTSVforMe,

I like Cadillac, I think most of their products are great and the turnaround they have made in the last 5-7 years is quite amazing, but how can you defend this car so vehemently? They priced this car right out of the market and didn't pick a direction with it. Is it a sports car version of the XLR? If so, then it is underpowered. A base SL is only about 50 ponies (now, 60 with the new model) shy of it and for the same price you could buy an M6 with more juice and more sports car feel. I feel like Cadillac only went halfway with this car, but they are still charging an "all the way" price tag.

I like the looks of it, but I can't justify dropping six figures on it.

The upcoming CTS-V is a different story, however...I would take one of those in a second.

reply to this comment

bmwdrvr - 6/26/2008 4:19:53 PM

+1 Boost

well the problem is in 2004 it was very competitive it even beat alot of its competition but the Xk was redone in 07 the Sl for 08 and with so many other cars in between 04-08 getting great improvemnts it no longer gets the rave reveiws it once did, its just time for a new model and asap...

09CTSVforMe - 6/26/2008 4:38:11 PM

+1 Boost

NAR, if you think THAT is vehement brand defending, you should read my posts in the CTS-V threads! : )

I really was only defending it in its rarity because I see so few of them that they still catch my eye.

I can think of many cars that would get my $70-100k WAY before the XLR, including a Corvette, a Viper, a CTS plus a Lotus Exige, and well...lots of cars. I mean, even the Bulgari guages looked pretty plain. It just didn't stand out from the elite crowd, except in looks & rarity.

I think it was mostly a good move by Cadillac to use an existing chassis & plant (Corvette) to introduce people to the idea of a $100,000 Cadillac, and that's about it. Now, if they put out a Cien or a Sixteen for $120-150k ***and do the car right*** people will say "now THAT'S a six-figure Caddy." and be ok with it. (not that that market is growing like the last decade anymore)

Bored - 6/26/2008 5:21:02 PM

+1 Boost

Well said, NAR and 09CTS.
It's was a great start with XLR-V, but it's WAAAAAAAAY underpowered for nearly 100K. Hopefully, the build quality will have improved 110% with the 2009 model so it's not rattling after a few years of ownership.

nsmatt - 6/26/2008 7:31:38 PM

0 Boost

I really don't like this car, at all. I honestly don't like Cadillac in general.

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AgentOrange - 6/26/2008 8:16:57 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

XLRs are great cars, just way too gawd-damned expensive...

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damikco - 6/26/2008 8:37:04 PMView My AgentSpace

0 Boost

Botttom line it is a fairly good car.

reply to this comment

1BadMan - 6/26/2008 8:54:36 PM

+1 Boost

One of the worst selling cars of 2007. And it is still not that good looking. The SL is the apex car in the segment and rightfully so. All you have to do is ask yourself "do I want a Cadillac or a Benz"? Get the SL and call it a day.

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MunichRob - 6/26/2008 11:09:25 PMView My AgentSpace

+3 Boost

5 years ago I would've taken the SL over the XLR & "Call it a day." However the XLR is now the XLR-V equipped with an engine that would eat the SL for dinner, not to mention at a price I believe undercuts or matches that of the base SL 550. Plus this car is really rare compared to the Camry like number crunching SL!

I've always had a soft spot for the XLR as it's usually my get-away rental when I'm down in Florida.

From my experience with it I'd say I love everything about it but its interior, really this is a great car with a major flaw no one can look past.

reply to this comment

IS3andME - 6/27/2008 12:29:59 AM

+2 Boost

I know a dude who has a Sl55 and a XLR-V, he loves both and had the Caddy before the Merc, and everytime I talk to him, he doesn't voice any complaints on the Caddy. Both are in Black, the Caddy looks like a batmobile...

reply to this comment

Tonee - 6/27/2008 1:32:25 AM

+1 Boost

Actually the SL550 is on par if not ahead when it comes to standard equipment. When it comes to comparing with with the XLR, the only non-standard equipment lacking is the keyless start (as to why Mercedes stills has this as an option on ALL their vehicles not wearing a "600" or "65 AMG" badge when cars 3x's less expensive carries it standard baffles me!). I would choose the SL over the XLR any day. Oh and fyi, the XLR-V will list for at least $100k, and thats not factoring in the gas-guzzler tax. So I guess
Mercedes has the better deal @ $98,075 including gas-guzzler tax, less hp but who cares its a Benz. Case dismissed!

reply to this comment

bmwdrvr - 6/27/2008 11:20:12 AM

+2 Boost

wrong, wrong, wrong.........an SL550 which technically competes with the XLR standard with the same equipment before destination, and gas guzzler is sitting at about 109,000, compared to about 85,000 for an XLR while the fully loaded XLR-V at about 100,000 even is still some 9,000 cheaper than the SL550 is there even a reason to compare its price to the AMG version...at about 133,000 before options.....im not saying the XLR is the better choice in fact in this price range I wouldnt buy either but to say the Sl is cheaper than the XLR is just plain rediculous......do some research into that one.....right your Case is dismissed....."for falsifying evidence" lol