News: Second-Gen Cadillac XLR Rendered, Not Gonna Happen Too Soon

[Rob]

Cadillac's chief engineer, Dave Leone recently hinted that along with the upcoming 2015 Cadillac ATS-V, 2016 Cadillac CTS-V and an all-new flagship Cadillac called the "LTS" by the automotive media, a new convertible Cadillac is a possibility.

He wasn't clear if the new convertible would be based off of the ATS or CTS, but whatever it platform it would based off of, we probably wouldn't see it until 2016.

Photoshop wizard Remco Meulendijk took the time to render what this new convertible could look like based upon the Cadillac XLR and built on the current C7 Corvette Stingray chassis.

So what do you think?

 

[XLRATING]

I think the original XLR will always reign supreme in my mind, but that's just me. To each their own!

 

[mtrocket]

From this rendering, looks like it's probably going to be a soft top; not real interested, I think one thing the XLR had going for it was the hard top convertible look.
We heard rumors about this in Bozeman when we stopped to see the White Diamond and the Neiman Marcus editions. All I know is that there is going to be a big announcement by Cadillac on September 25...

 

[ald42]

I think the original XLR will always reign supreme in my mind, but that's just me. To each their own!

I agree!!! Al

 

[05 GRAND DADDY]

If it would look something like this it looks very similar to body styles of our XLR's of course there is no front photo so who knows and it's no really what Cadillac may even be designing !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Dan & Wendy
"05 GRAND DADDY"

 

[Eslic1]

I like it a lot BUT....

It's HOT but I'm afraid in order for me to be on board 100% they're gonna have to lose the soft top... It's HARD TOP or nothing at all for me. (There should never be a soft top XLR)

Cadillac's chief engineer, Dave Leone recently hinted that along with the upcoming 2015 Cadillac ATS-V, 2016 Cadillac CTS-V and an all-new flagship Cadillac called the "LTS" by the automotive media, a new convertible Cadillac is a possibility.

He wasn't clear if the new convertible would be based off of the ATS or CTS, but whatever it platform it would based off of, we probably wouldn't see it until 2016.

Photoshop wizard Remco Meulendijk took the time to render what this new convertible could look like based upon the Cadillac XLR and built on the current C7 Corvette Stingray chassis.

So what do you think?

 

[ccclarke]

A major ingredient of the eye-catching visual recipe of the XLR's exterior design cues are the sharp angles that become more rounded as you approach the car. The XLR seems to morph its shape in a subtle way. The exterior design seems to have a little of everything which might explain it's visual attraction. The more you look, the more you see without being overcome by distracting clutter. The design itself is over a decade old and still turns heads. Few cars can be so visually appealing over time without looking dated.

The soft top shown in this reincarnation of this XLR breaks up the sharp contours of the exterior more than necessary. Besides, other than the soft top, this render (from what is depicted) doesn't bring anything uniquely stylish or new to the XLR. I'm skeptical a forthcoming version of the XLR would look so similar to the model discontinued over five years ago.

Is GM (and more importantly, the buying public) ready for an updated version of the XLR? I don't think so, but I sure would like to be wrong. The edgiest Cadillac being built (the ELR) has suffered from dismal sales during it's first year and there's rampant speculation it may not survive past 2015. With less than 600 ELR's sold (as of July) the ELR is a marketing failure. Like the XLR, it is overpriced, and suffers from poor advertising. Early adopters (who paid full price) are dismayed at the price reductions currently underway to move the idle cars sitting on dealer's lots. These dealerships will be hard-pressed to order 2015 models.

GM did the right thing consolidating it's platforms (and dropping Pontiac) to field fewer models. By concentrating on making substantial improvements to a smaller number of models, they've turned sales around and the brand image has been enhanced. Interiors are on par with many European luxury brands, but it takes years to entice the buying public to alter their perceptions of an auto maker, even with great cars.

That being said, Cadillac should have a sporty, two-seater to rival the Mercedes SL series, which has been perfected over decades. If it's priced right, ($50-60K) loaded with cutting edge features, and a unique style, an XLR could work. But it won't be easy, and GM has not demonstrated it can sustain such a vehicle. The Allante and XLR are proof of that.

Another important factor affecting luxury car sales is the state of the US economy. It is far from where it needs to be, but people who have been holding onto their cars for the last eight years are ready for something new, and sales are showing that. Cadillac as a brand is doing much better, which is a good sign for continued development efforts and new models.

CUE is in the doldrums with upgrades trailing vague promises. Cadillac could do a much better job of communicating CUE progress and feature requests by establishing a useful and feedback-driven customer website specifically devoted to it. This is inadequate: Cadillac | Cadillac User Experience Overview Instead, most of the information online is fueled by rumors and half-truths. Maybe GM has a big improvement push with exciting enhancements coming to CUE, but if so, they aren't telling anyone about it in a meaningful way. Examining Apple's buzz methodology for marketing couldn't hurt. Apple is consistently able to successfully hype a product over a year before launch, (without really giving too much away) and can hardly keep up with demand once they release it. Note to GM: Study the really successful advertising strategies and emulate them. This sounds overly simple, but they have yet to successfully implement such a philosophy. GM succeeds in spite of itself.


But I digress; back to the XLR. Dave Leone knows how to get a great car built; he's proven his production prowess more than once. Setting a realistic price point, and marketing a vehicle in such a way that makes potential buyers dream of picturing one in their garage is best left to people as capable at what they do as he is. Marketing is just as important as design and manufacturing. "If you build it they will come" only works in the movies.

CC

 

[caddyalltheway]

2nd gen XLR

Well said. If your going to compete against the flagship SL, you have got to beat it in every way to change the mindset of this community. If that is a softtop planned, the 2nd gen XLR is already off to a bad start. When I tell someone I own an XLR-V the response I get is "Wow, that's built from a corvette". We know Corvette has the winning formula and respect in its segment but this new XLR needs to be distinct enough from the corvette in order for this Cadillac to compete in its segment other than being just "an expensive corvette". I think people want to buy American they just need a pretty darn good reason especially in the sub-$100k price point.