Cadillac XLR-V 2007
January 1, 2007
When Cadillac reinvented itself with an edgy new styling vocabulary, it chose to include a performance model unlike anything the company had ever produced: the XLR. The automaker hoped to lure Mercedes-Benz drivers into its showrooms, and Cadillac’s design-by-origami roadster—which shares a platform with the sixth-generation Corvette—has proven a credible challenger to the venerable SL500. The hardtop convertible features interesting technology such as completely keyless doors and ignition—a sensor on the fob unlocks the doors as the driver approaches and also enables the push-button ignition. Upping the performance ante, Cadillac recently unveiled the XLR-V, with a 443 hp supercharged V-8 capable of pushing the car to 60 mph in under five seconds. As with the other V-series Cadillacs, external modifications were kept to a minimum—the only clear evidence of the car’s increased performance envelope is a mesh grille and discreet V badges.
PRICE: $97,460
ENGINE: 4.4-liter supercharged V-8
TRANSMISSION: 6-speed semi-automatic
POWER: 443 hp at 6,400 rpm
TORQUE: 414 lbs ft at 3,900 rpm
CURB WEIGHT: 3,810 pounds
0-60 MPH: under 5 seconds
TOP SPEED: 155 mph
PROS: It is like a Corvette that you can drive every day
CONS: Not quite enough rubber on the road
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