The 2004 model year is here, and the folks at General Motors’ luxury car division can’t wait to get selling. Cadillac introduces two all-new models in 2004 aimed at audiences not currently served by the American icon. “This is truly a historic time for Cadillac,” according to Mark LaNeve, Cadillac General Manager. “The complete Cadillac lineup for the 2004 model year is more compelling than at any time in the past 50 years.”
Cadillac held the honor of the top-selling luxury brand in the United States for several decades until the late 1990s when Mercedes-Benz maneuvered its way into the top spot only to be passed by Lexus a year later. In 2002, Cadillac found itself in fourth place among the luxury brands dotting the landscape. Now, new product is in place for Cadillac to legitimately pursue for bragging rights again.
One reason Cadillac found itself out of the top spot at the turn of the century; more companies invaded the playground. Old-school German players including Mercedes-Benz and BMW have increased their presence and sales in the United States over the past decade by opening manufacturing facilities on U.S. soil. In 1986 Japan’s top three automakers began introducing luxury divisions of their own in the U.S. when Honda debuted its Acura division. Nissan and Toyota followed shortly thereafter with Infiniti and Lexus divisions respectively. During the past five years the competition in the entry-luxury division (with pricing under $35,000) has grown exponentially with such players as Audi, Volvo, Lincoln, Saab and Jaguar all joining the party.
The two newest entries into the Cadillac lineup include the 2004 mid-size, car-based SRX sport utility vehicle, competing with the likes of the Lexus RX 330, and our test car of the week, the XLR roadster now arriving in limited quantities at dealers.
Rounding out the 2004 model year are the CTS entry luxury sedan, full-size DeVille and Seville sedans and three variants of the full-size Escalade sport utility vehicle: standard Escalade, extra long Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT combining traits of a SUV and pickup truck.
November in Chicago may not be the most prudent time of year to enjoy the niceties of a convertible, but journalists can’t be choosy. However, the XLR’s power hardtop design with built-in glass rear window and defroster is the welcome choice over less sturdy, soft-top models available.
Suffice it to say XLR does not qualify as an under $35,000 entry luxury vehicle. Its $76,200 price and limited production place it squarely into an image-based, inspirational vehicle; but what a vehicle. XLR is a two-seat, convertible with rear-wheel drive and V-8 power. It also includes a gaggle of electronic wizardry. The world’s largest automaker builds the new spirited roadster in Bowling Green, Kentucky where another notable sporty icon, the venerable Chevrolet Corvette got its start 50 years ago. General Motors builds the XLR from an all new performance car architecture developed during the last five years. The only other GM vehicle to share parts of the platform is the aforementioned Corvette.
The all-new XLR can trace its roots back to 1999. That year, Cadillac toured the Evoq concept roadster though the auto show circuit including the February Chicago Auto Show. One of the foremost Evoq and XLR authorities is Allan Kulbersh, Account Executive at Steve Foley Cadillac in Northbrook. During the 1999 Chicago Auto Show, Kulbersh worked the floor of the Evoq concept car display showcasing the vehicle to showgoers. The enthusiastic Kulbersh worked following auto shows to promote XLR’s arrival.
“The excitement Evoq brought to the table at the 1999 Chicago Auto Show allowed XLR production to go foreword,” Kulbersh said. “This car is hand-assembled enhancing quality assurances. Approximately two-and-a-half cars are built every hour.” Putting this number in perspective, General Motors builds approximately 60 Malibu sedans in an hour.
About the only option potential customers have to consider is XM Satellite radio requiring an upfront charge then a small monthly fee thereafter. The XLR includes all the usual luxury-type amenities (power windows, locks, mirrors; air conditioning coupled with automatic climate control, four-channel anti-lock brakes and power tilt steering wheel). Upscale standard features include heated and cooled power seats, in-dash navigation system and adaptive cruise control, which automatically keeps XLR at a safe distance from vehicles ahead (by automatically slowing XLR down) through a radar sensor.
Pay close attention to the owner’s manual or listen intently to the sales associate since many electronic gizmos have taken the place of familiar mechanical favorites. First and foremost, XLR has no exterior door handles. What it sports are electronic door pads which opens the door just by exerting finger pressure on an inside pad for a second or two. In fact, no traditional key is needed to open the two doors or start the engine. Keep in mind the electronic key fob must be within one meter of the car (or in the pocket of driver or passenger) in order for doors to open or to start the engine.
Once inside, the driver simply applies the foot brake while simultaneously pushing an illuminated dashboard toggle button (located where the ignition cylinder is traditionally found just right of the steering column) and the engine rumbles to life. Turning off the engine requires the deployment of the same toggle button. A similar system is found in the redesigned Lexus LS 430 sedan and a few assorted products from Nissan’s luxury Infiniti division. Both take a short time to master. Concerns arise if valet parking is part of your daily ritual since everyone who uses the vehicle must be educated about the new process.
The XLR posses no interior door handle either. To exit the vehicle the driver or passenger must push a square button found near the door’s elbow rest. As with most two-seaters, riders sit close to the ground.
The analog instrument panel features large, backlit, three-dimensional displays. Also standard is a heads up display projecting digital speed, radio frequency and turn signal flashers info with green illumination onto the front windshield above the steering wheel.
Lightly toned wood accents, which Cadillac badges “eucalyptus wood,” adorn the doors, steering wheel, shift knob and a retractable cover hiding dual in-line beverage holders. Side air bags are built into the seats. The rectangular automatic dual climate control center with defrost buttons is below the central navigation/entertainment. Several stereo system functions are built into the square touch screen that doubles as the mapping screen. The switch turning off the passenger-side air bag is located in the diminutive glove box.
Exterior wise, the 177.7-inch long XLR features a sharp-edge design, not curvy smooth corners found in conservative mid-size sedans. There is a notable similarity of vertically-integrated tail lights and headlights to the popular V-6 powered CTS entry luxury sedan Cadillac debuted early in the 2003 model year. Also carried over from the CTS and Escalade sport utility is the front grille design with centered Cadillac wreath inserted into long vertical slates forming a pointy nosed front. The long hood contrasts with a short trunk lid. This roadster rides on 18-inch tires attached to seven-spoke wheel covers both of which loom large under the diminutive body. These are Michelin run-flat tires, which provide more reaction time if something goes amiss. No spare is provided.
Drivers have the choice of six exterior colors, including the Satin Nickel tone of our test car. According to Kulbersh, this color is exclusive to XLR.
Watching the aluminum and magnesium power hard-top maneuver into the trunk region is quite a treat. In under 30 seconds, the roof lifts, contorts and cleanly gets swallowed into the trunk region after pushing and holding a button between the bucket seats. No handles need unlatching before, during or after.
Underhood power comes from an all-new, reengineered variable valve timing Northstar V-8 engine generating 320 horsepower. This is the first adaptation of the Northstar engine to a rear-wheel drive platform. The double overhead cam engine features four-valves per cylinder and helps the vehicle to travel from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.8 seconds. Premium unleaded fuel is recommended to fill the 18-gallon tank. Mileage estimates check in at 17 miles per gallon in the city and 25 m.p.g. highway, although during the test drive, our XLR with 6,000 odometer miles seemed to thirst for more fuel. The engine is mounted to a five-speed automatic transmission, but for driver’s craving more control, gears can be manually changed without a foot clutch by tapping the shift handle when in the manual control mode.
Several factors contribute to impressive handling. A relatively light 3,650-pounds coupled with V-8 power provide a powerful combination. The five-speed transmission is rear mounted contributing to a near 50/50 weight distribution desired by enthusiasts pushing cars to the limit. The rearward location also opens up room in the foot well of drivers and passengers. When tackling corners aggressively, XLR’s well balanced construction allows for minimum body sway keeping drivers in control. This is due, in part, to Magnetic Ride Control which utilizes electronically controlled magnetic fluid for quicker response time.
With the advent of technology comes the onslaught of some annoying high-tech peculiarities. After a week, the horn would sound a single honk and occasionally three successive honks after walking away from the vehicle after locking the car with the key fob. These are warning signals of some sort but I have yet to figure out what.
Other two-seat luxury roadsters for 2004 include the German-built Mercedes-Benz SL500 featuring a 5.0-liter V-8 generating 302 horsepower and an $88,500 starting price tag. The Japan-built two-seat Acura NSX roadster is powered by a V-6 engine generating 290 horsepower with an $89,000 starting price. Lexus also builds a hard-top convertible that seats four people (but the two in back better be pre-teens), the SC 430 with a 4.3-liter V-8 engine generating 300 horsepower and a $62,575 price tag.
Cadillac estimates 4,000 XLRs will be built for sale in the United States during the 2004 model year. Keep in mind many XLRs have been spoken for during the first year so supply is tight. |