Regardless of what you know about its origins, the Cadillac XLR is not just a Cadillac Corvette.  It’s true that this big, two-place sedan shares platforms (and an assembly line) with Chevrolet’s legendary sports car, but the wide-track stance and the woof from the exhaust are the only things that are the same.

This high-tech grand tourer for two is a direct attack on German luxocruisers like the Mercedes SL, and it underscores Cadillac’s intent to remain a powerful force in the luxury market.  Like the SL, the XLR has a retractable hardtop, V8 power and more electronic gadgets than you can shake a stick at, from heated and cooled seats to a head-up display.

Cadillac is careful not to mention the ‘Vette in any of the XLR’s promotional materials, but this roadster’s proportions make the relationship clear.  Influenced by the Evoq show car of 1999, the XLR is the most extreme example yet of Cadillac’s flat-surfaced, edgy design.  No cookie cutter roadster, this; the XLR is a flying doorstop.  With super-coupe competitors from Mercedes and BMW angling for a more organic look, the sheer, wide-hipped lines of the XLR really stand out.  Run-flat tires eliminate the need for a spare, which is a good thing considering the size of those 18″ wheels.  Vertical headlights and taillamps that wrap into the top of the decklid ensure that the light signature is just as distinctive at night.  Best of all for Cadillac fans, the wild design retains an unmistakable family look.

Not content to just stop with the design, the dream-makers at Cadillac have equipped the XLR to impress as well.   First and foremost is the retractable hardtop, which transforms the XLR from two-place coupe to convertible in about thirty seconds.  Top-up and top-down, the XLR is really two different cars.  With the roof in place, it’s luxurious transport for two; with the roof stowed in the trunk the woof from the exhaust comes in, and it becomes a more aggressive roadster.  We think it looks best with the squarish top folded, making the big-wheeled, slab-sided design stand out at the curb.  Unfortunately the top eats up about half of the trunk space when it’s down, so pack carefully.

Inside, the XLR is equal parts Stealth fighter and country club.  Space-age add-ons like keyless entry, adaptive cruise control and a touch-screen controlled DVD navigation system are draped in leather and eucalyptus wood, and the satiny aluminum center console stack is a nice touch too.  The analog clock is an elegant unit designed in part by luxury Italian watchmaker Bvlgari.  The technology is the real story inside, though.  The keyless entry goes a step beyond the average key fob, as it’s intelligent.  The car recognizes the presence of the key in the driver’s pocket, and unlocks automatically.  The key doesn’t need to be inserted into the ignition to start the car, either.  Good luck finding the door handles, by the way, because there aren’t any.  The doors are opened by solenoids whose activation buttons are tucked away in recesses in the body.  Once you’ve finished impressing your friends with that trick, get them out on the freeway to experience the Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC).  Cadillac’s latest toy works similarly to the intelligent cruise control systems offered by Lexus and Infiniti, and uses radar to detect cars in front.  If there’s nothing in the XLR’s path, it maintains a set speed, but should a slow-moving car blunder into the way, ACC can slow down and maintain a set following distance.  ACC won’t stop the car if you’re about to drive it into a brick wall, however.  That’s where the head-up display comes in, projecting speed and important driver information onto the lower portion of the windshield.  And not only is there XM satellite radio, a DVD navigation system and a six-disc CD changer, but when the XLR is parked it will play DVDs on the navigation screen.

Under the skin, the four-corner double wishbone suspension is backed up by a Magnetic Ride system that even some hard-core car guys have trouble understanding.  In a nutshell, sensors at the wheels measure wheel motion and adjust the shock damping using a fast-reacting magnetic fluid.  What is means is that the XLR rides smoothly and tautly over most road surfaces, and keeps the tires in contact with the road over rough surfaces, a common bugaboo for sports cars.  As for things that are easier to understand, the transmission is rear-mounted, to improve the XLR’s front-to-rear balance and add cabin legroom.  Big four-wheel disc brakes with standard ABS bring the XLR to confident stops from the triple-digit speeds it’s capable of.

On the road, it’s not as memorable as one might expect a car in this class to be.  The woof of the exhaust is similar to the Corvette’s, but it’s provided by Cadillac’s familiar Northstar V8.  This is the first time Cadillac’s 32-valve V8 has been used in a rear-wheel drive car.  Variable valve timing and electronic throttle control ensure smooth power delivery, vital considering the XLR’s 320-horse powerplant.  Acceleration is brisk, and it should be since the XLR is actually the lightest car in its class, weighing in at less than even the visually smaller Lexus SC430.  A five-speed automatic transmission is the only gearbox offered, and the XLR is a big, refined wedge at speed.  There’s a bit more wind buffeting in the cabin than we’d like, and it’s less viscerally engaging than it looks, but the XLR is a solid performer.

With the European and Japanese luxury coupes and roadsters better than they’ve ever been, the first American entry into this market in a long while has its work cut out for it.  We think the XLR is up to the task.  Pricing starts at $75,385, but this droptop isn’t the least bit overpriced.

Specifications:
All specs are for the 2004 Cadillac XLR.
Length:         177.7 in.
Width:            72.3 in.
Height:            50.4 in.
Wheelbase:        105.7 in.
Curb weight:        3647 lb.
Cargo space:        11.6 cu.ft. (top up); 4.4 cu.ft (top folded)
Base price:        $75,385
Price as tested:        $76,200
Engine:         4.6 liter DOHC 32-valve V8
Drivetrain:         five-speed automatic, rear-wheel drive
Horsepower:         320 @ 6400
Torque:         310 @ 4400
Fuel capacity:        18.0 gal.
Fuel economy:        17/25

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