LexFather

http://jalopnik.com/5139523/cadillac-xlr-is-dead

In GM's announcement today of production cuts was news the Cadillac XLR would be getting the axe. A sad end to the brightest side we've ever seen of platform prostitution.

IS-SV

Frankly I'm not surprised. I've seen a few around Silicon Valley, not my cup of tea.

MPLexus301

iTrader: (3)

No loss here, IMO. Sad that it will probably be a while before Cadillac ever builds another sports car though.

Faymester

Aww, I love the XLR (especially the XLR-V). I'm not suprised, but damn ...

mmarshall

To some extent, but not completely, it was overshadowed by the Corvette, whose basic platform it shared. But, of course, the XLR appealed to a different crowd than the Corvette, being targeted mostly at Mercedes and Jaguar convertibles. But the auto press, in reviews, often kept comparing it with the Corvette....though, despite the common basic platform and the fact that it also had a fiberglass body, it was a very different car. First, in base form, it used a much less powerful standard Northstar V8 than the Corvette's LS-series V8.......to get Corvette-type power, you had to move up to the absurdly expensive XLR-V (some of which approached $100,000 with markups). Second, its interior was far more plush than the Corvette's, and used better-quality materials (some auto mags called it GM's best interior to date). Third, unlike the Corvette, it was burdened by a power-hard-top that added weight and complexity. Fourth, even in XLR-V-trim, it couldn't handle like a Corvette.....it was more of a GT tourer than a standard sports car.....as shown by the fact that Mercedes and Jaguar were its primary competitors. The bottom line was that it was never a popular car in the marketplace, had European rivals that had more prestige and glamor, and, for the money, just didn't appeal to large numbers of Americans.

IS-SV

Yes another failed attempt at targeting Euro cars like Jag and Benz.

Most people here thought of it as a Caddy-bodied Vette.

LexBob2

I wonder if the XLR will retain any value as a collector/special interest car?

mmarshall

As you note, some 20 years ago we tried it with the Cadillac Allante and the Chrysler-Maserati TC. Both were flashy-looking cars, but poorly-built and prone to a lot of mechanical and electrical troubles.

IS-SV

Good question, maybe the Allante value today will be some rough indicator...

The low volume production is a plus, the boxy styling and Cadillac stigma are not pluses.

rcf8000

The XLR is just one of many examples of where GM threw money down the drain in recent years developing cars with little sales potential. I guess they figured if they charged SL-like prices for it people would consider it to be as good as an SL.

LexFather

The XLR never met sales goals. They stopped production for like 18 months or so. They could not sell these things. Teh concept looked much better. The interior didn't reflect the price. Huge opportunity missed here. Like the IS-C and G35 coupe concepts we got watered down BLAH

SLegacy99

A heavy roadster with no MT option. Crappy GM! Very crappy.

mmarshall

Well, as far as I know, most of its direct competitors from Mercedes and Jaguar didn't have an MT either.

LexFather

COrrect. The XLR was basically cool b/c it was "American" but offered nothing over the competition. The XLR-V having a price tag of 100k didn't help. There wasn't one thing I can think of this car was the "best" in.

Its not a poor car at all but it seems it was not given the chance to be "great".

SLegacy99

That doesnt make it right.