From 2003 to 2011, the Cadillac XLR was built at the same Bowling Green assembly plant as the Corvette, sharing General Motors’ Y platform, hydroformed frame, and composite bodywork construction technology.
Could General Motors be planning to bring back the XLR, based on the wildly successful mid-engine C8 Corvette?
Definitely not, says the man who should know, GM President Mark Reuss.
In a recent interview with CNBC, Reuss squashed any such notion by saying a new XLR wouldn’t mesh with Cadillac’s current brand strategy. While current Cadillacs do share platforms with other GM vehicles, the company’s top-of-the-line brand aims to make its own mark with bold designs, special interiors, and other changes.
Reuss explains that the first-and-only generation of the XLR was developed as a “secondary car” to the C6 Corvette and “we would never do that” now, he said in the interview. A second-gen XLR would share too much with the Corvette platform.
The XLR was introduced in 2003 at the North American International Auto Show as a halo car for Cadillac and, while an interesting car with its own personality, never really took off sales-wise – reaching a peak of 3,730 in its third year of production and ultimately winding up with a total production of 15,460 cars.
No need for such an inspirational car these days, what with the pending production of the new Cadillac Celestiq, the hand-built ultra-luxury model that will be the most expensive car ever sold by General Motors at an estimated $340,000.
Source:
CarScoops.com
Photo: jlord8 / Instagram
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That rendering is horrible…looks like they borrowed Mustang headlights and first-gen Acura NSX side intakes.
It´s a cool car. Therefore, GM will not produce it. Again and like always, another great concept car that Cadillac will not produce. And then the directors at GM ask themselves why can´t they compete properly with MB, Audi or BMW.
To be honest, I actually like the look better than the Corvette.
I agree that Cadillac should not utilize the C8 platform. They need their own bespoke one with a matching price tag. While I would not pay $340K for a Celestiq, I would pay that for a mid-engine supercar that either homologates the DPi-V.R or their future F1 engine.
I agree with JE. It’s so very much something that needed to happen, that GM will fumble the ball again.
This isn’t difficult. Delete the E Ray and Zora off the Corvette moniker. Create a new body styling for the C8 in Cadillac trim (something GM has done countless times before, eg Solstice/Sky). (Even the AI render looks worlds better than Chevy version). Keep the ride refined and comfortable, not track focused.
That makes it simple. If you want a C8 that is cheaper, more track or driving focused, and NVH isn’t as big of a consideration–then the Corvette is what you buy. If you want a C8 that is more grand touring focused and offers luxury while keeping dominant levels of performance–you get an XLR.
The cost would be modest. XLR could share interior with the CT5. But it’s feasible, sensible, and cost effective–which means GM won’t do it.
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