The
Cadillac XLR is a luxury
roadster sold by the
Cadillac and is assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky. It is based on the same Y-body platform as the Chevrolet Corvette. The
XLR uses the Cadillac Northstar engine rather than the GM LS2 engine found in the Corvette. The
XLR also has its own unique styling, interior, and suspension, and has a power-retractable aluminum hardtop. The engine is
Cadillac's 4.6 L Northstar tuned for 320 hp, mated as of the 2007 model year to a 6-speed automatic transmission.
Cadillac introduced the XLR at the 2003 Detroit Motor Show, and it entered production in the 2004 model year. Prior to production the XLR appeared as the Evoq in auto shows. According to Cadillac, 3,730 were sold in the United States in all of 2005.
Designed for both performance and luxury, the
XLR comes with heated and cooled leather seats, wood interior trim, 18 inch alloy wheels, and side airbags. Navigation, audio, and DVD are all displayed via a 7-inch dashboard screen, and Remote Keyless Access is included. All of these features are standard.
The
XLR is the second roadster offered by
Cadillac in recent years. The first was the
Cadillac Allanté, produced from 1987 to 1993.
The
XLR was nominated for the North American Car of the Year award for 2004.
