When General Motors decided to make a Cadillac based around the Chevrolet Corvette, the idea was there, but the execution could be described by some as less than admirable. The XLR was a bit of a flop, but the concept of a front-engine, V8 Cadillac sportscar still appeals to us, which brings us to this extremely well done rendering from RM Design.
In this rendering, the Cadillac XLR appears to have adopted some of the sharper, more youthful edges of the C7 Corvette. It also has the long, vertical taillights seen on other Cadillacs and appears to have also adopted a similar headlight design to that of the 2014 CTS sedan. We think it’s handsome to say the very least, even if the idea of a new XLR is a bit ridiculous considering the sales disappointment the previous car was.
Is the idea of a new Corvette-based Cadillac sportscar really all that outlandish though? When Motor Trend dropped the bombshell that the C8 Corvette may be mid-engine, they also mentioned a Cadillac sportscar that would be based on the new Corvette. The difference between the two cars would be likened to that of the Lamborghini Gallardo and Audi R8. Those two cars share much of the same parts, but the Lamborghini is much sportier like the Corvette, while the Audi appeals to the more mature buyer who wants a comfier grand touring car, like the XLR.
It’s hard to say just how likely the arrival of a new XLR is, but so far, we’ve had no indication apart from the Motor Trend report that the new luxurious GT car is on its way. Let us know if you’d like to see a next-gen XLR from GM and what powertrain and other options you’d like to see on the car in the comments below.
Comments
IMO, GM should go ahead and do another attempt for the XLR successor. If anyone on here remember, it took GM a third time to do an entry-level car right which was the first generation CTS which made Cadillac cool. It was not a perfect car but either you love or hate the style, it made Cadillac cool and competitive. The final and real attempt which is a credible first feat is the ATS. The ATS is not complete yet because we will have a V-Series, a coupe and possibly a convertible.
If GM and Cadillac made the ATS, CTS, Escalade, XTS and ELR excellent vehicles like they are now, the XLR most likely will be an excellent vehicle for the high-end buyer.
Future engines I would love to see is a hybrid, TT-V6, TT-V8 and V series with a 10 Speed transmission.
And later on like in a decade GM can build a mid-engine halo Cadillac unless they considering to do so sooner.
How about electric axles front and rear from the Spark EV and a mid car power pack of some type? GM has all the tools. 800 lb/ft of torque 😎
The XLR is dead and Pontiac is still dead too.
There will be a time for something like this but right now Cadillac has other pressing needs to get their sedans and CUV models you know the ones that make money right and build a reputation to where people will come and over pay for a two seater car with pleasure.
Nice story in the newest Autoweek with the small group of XLR fans.
Keep in mind in all the years it was built it only sold 15,000 units.
This is a case of if you want to do it right let them do it in a time that they can do it right with profits interest from the market leading sedans.
You have to walk before you can run.
Cadillac already has two strikes in the 2 seat market they can not afford strike 3. The next one has to be a hit.
Beyond that sell well or poorly or was a failure; XLR to me; was the most beautiful and exciting american roadster in the last 25 years. After Viper RT-10
I just saw one at an exhibition in the city of Bilbao (Spain), a wonderful show on 4 wheels.
This car did not work why was manufactured at the worst time financially and popularly before the GM bankruptcy
But for me it was the best Cadillac that GM manufactured a long time
Regards from Spain
please go forward with a new XLR !
Why not do an XLR? Cadillac is light years ahead of where it was a decade ago…and that’s a compliment. Same with today’s Corvette. Now GM finally has an appropriate platform on which to place the XLR. Furthermore, GM could even keep C7 humming for the XLR exclusively when the C8 is due and that would milk even more revenue out of the C7 and further differentiate the XLR and C8, assuming the C8 will be mid-engined.
“Furthermore, GM could even keep C7 humming for the XLR exclusively when the C8 is due and that would milk even more revenue out of the C7 and further differentiate the XLR and C8”
Not a chance. A hypothetical XLR would deserve either a bespoke platform, or be the first to use a new platform that would be shared with the rest of GM.
Considering that the first XLR was built on a then 20 year old Y-body, giving a new XLR a now 30 year old platform while the C8 gets a new platform would do nothing but show that GM doesn’t think Cadillac is worthy of their newest platforms; that all they are worth is old hand-me-downs from Chevrolet.
I would like to see the XLR make a comeback but I don’t think it would have much success. I think the new Corvette would take most of the XLRs sales. Just doesn’t seem too logical right now.
As stated earlier, the XLR was a nice idea on paper, but it’s not difficult to see why it was a flop. To me, its biggest issue was timing of release: it was released at a time when Cadillac was known for building relatively affordable luxury vehicles. Not to mention the mostly negative criticism of this car’s handling and interior quality, which was far from its German rivals. At the end of the day, the XLR was said to have been less of a Corvette for more money. Yes it had a much nicer interior, along with some nice tech features, but it was less powerful and didn’t handle as well as even the car it was based on.
If Cadillac is to revisit the idea of a luxury coupe, it should feature its own platform and powertrain options. I’m certain GM can modify its excellent Alpha and/or Omega platform to underpin a genuine luxury coupe for Cadillac to call its own. With the upcoming Camaro utilizing the Alpha platform, it’d be ideal for Cadillac to engineer a large coupe, something along the lines of the Elmiraj concept. Or they could simply use the Alpha platform to build a lightweight two-seater. The CTS’s platform should work, as it’ll provide good interior spacing with only two seats.
I took a track test drive of the XLR at a special Cadillac “event” years ago. As a Corvette owner at the time, I could not understand why the XLR handled like a bloated beast and was far less powerful for so many thousands of dollars more than the Corvette on which it was based. Since that time, GM has only made the Corvette more powerful, more responsive, more comfortable in ride and ergonomics. Recent articles in the automotive press have cited figures showing that the popularity of luxury coupes and two-seaters — but not sports cars — is waning. What does GM need with another Caddy that cannot find a market? Unless the design is something strikingly beautiful, luxurious, and distinctive (Elmiraj, Ciel), doesn’t the CTS-V fill this niche for those who don’t want the Corvette experience?
Looks good from this angle, now I just need to see the frontend.
Beautiful car!! But I think at this point it may just eat into corvette sales, as soon as the lts and other models come out and Cadillacs reputation is established then a car like this May eat into European sales
The rendering looks nice, however, the XLR has to be MORE if it were to be reincarnated. The styling has to go further than this. It’s needs it’s own identity and complete disassociation from the C7 (though stunning). It has to be re-imagined altogether.
Hmmm, having owned two XLR’s, the next, if there is one, has to be nothing short of world-class amazing.
If Cadillac was to return to this segment the need to do a small roadster touring car much like the smaller BMW roadster. Keep it at a price where you can get more people into and not bleed into Vette territory as it would be a different kind of roadster in size and mission.
As you earn a rep for a well styled and enjoyable driving car then you can look to so something more expensive and people will trust you to spend more money.
I envision a car like the lower end BMW roadster that would be available for $49K and make it so someone could enjoy the drive but also take a weekend of luggage with them up the PCH.
Another $100 roadster is not what they need right now. They first need to earn the right to sell one and expect people to buy it.
As we have seen before with the XLR V it may be a good car but just because you build it does not mean the buyers will come.
A moderate redesign with a rag top? A rag top? Why cheapen the Cadillac XLR by putting it in the class of a vette. The XLR V should have been allowed to bury the vette. The Cien should have been the dawn of a new Cadillac division. Huge miss by gm. Cadillac XLR, forward design and class. vette stingray moderate change with taillight styling from the camero, the camero. Remember that the XLR started out as a concept vehicle that set styling cues that are still in use at Cadillac. Your XLR is not forward looking nor is it setting any new design cues, sorry.
watch out for junk parts from the east coast !!! flooded out crap
The return of the XLR would be a plus for Cadillac. If for no other reason, why let the high end imports have all the fun? Cadillac already has a reputation for quality and styling, why not show that off with performance as well? Imagine blowing the doors off Porsche, Mercedes, etc… with style, grace and a well deserved “Eat My Dust”! However, to add insult to injury to those imports, make it affordable. Starting around 50K with options up to 150K, like supercharging. Talk about putting Cadillac on the performance map, it’s time!
Bring it back and make it better! I truly want one. Almost bought one in 2010, but it was used and I do not buy used cars.
First, caddilac should make a Z4 type of car. That would be called the ALR with coupe and convertible versions. The ALR V would be powered by a 3.0l Twin turbo v6 with 404hp and it would abliterate any SLK. The XLR would continue as a front engine vehicle, as the c8 progresses. XLR V- LT5.