Jalopnik
We were the first to show you shots of the new 2009 Cadillac XLR, now we've taken a jump to ludicrous speed with the first photographic evidence of the 2009 Cadillac XLR-V. The new hotness from Cadillac is getting the same wire-mesh grille we expect from the V-Series, and what looks to be a gigantic Cadillac badge smack-dab in the center of it. And oh yes, did we mention the "supercharged" logo on the side of the new stylin' Caddy? The only question is whether that super-ed-up engine will be the 4.4-liter Northstar V8 (443 HP) or the 6.2-liter LSA V8 (550 HP). Which do you think it should get? Hit the jump for the full spy report from Brenda Priddy's spy photographer and frequent Jalopnik contributor Chris Doane.
2009 Cadillac XLR V-SeriesThese close-up pictures are of the 2009 Cadillac XLR V-Series. The refreshed XLR V-Series gets moderate changes to the front and rear. We can spot a wire-mesh grill with the big Cadillac badge through the camouflage. We also noticed the big fender vent covered up by the black tape - which is all new , although we're guessing it's a lot like the fender vent on the Provoq concept.
My photographer says "...it may very well continue with the 4.4L, supercharged, Northstar V8 good for 443hp. However there may be somewhat of a chance it will get the LSA motor. This is the motor found in the 2009 CTSv. The LSA is the 6.2L, supercharged, small block V8. It is good for 550hp and 550ftlbs in the upcoming CTSv. Whatever it had, it was crazy fast and had a really raucous exhaust note..."
And, in regards to "catching" this prototype, my photographer observed the following: "This guy was serious about getting away. At one point he got ahead of me and hid behind a 7-11. He thought I didn't see him go back there, but I did. While he was back there, he called up someone and 5 minutes later, there was a bright yellow Mazda RX-8 running interference for him and shadowing my every move while talking to the guy in the XLRv on the cell phone and telling him where I was at..."
They're not making our job easy!!
Photo Credit: Chris Doane for Brenda Priddy & Company
Comments
The real question is, will it sell? I live in a rather ritzy South Florida area and I've only seen like 4 of these on the road. For comparison, I see a Bentley ever 2 or 3 months.
My question is this-what's with the early 90s Ford Escort/Mercury Tracer wagon in front of it?
It seems a little wierd they would cover the front and back, but not tape over the supercharger emblem?
Sometimes I think the photographers get jerked around my the OEMs just to build brand excitement. Its starting to turn into "Automotive Paparazzi"
That is a copyrighted term, any use of it must be approved.
Camo-drivers are getting all Israeli-intelligence with their reindeer games!
The rules of engagement have changed.
@Rob P: Would the initials for this ritzy area happen to be BR?
And as far as the car goes, I'd love to see it with the 6.2 beast. Not that it'd be my next car anyway, but still.
It needs the LS9,but what doesn't?
@AllenK:
Truer words were never spoken. It's always been my firm belief that there is no problem with any car that can't be fixed with a supercharger/turbo.
Which engine should it have, or which will it get?
The answer to the first question is obvious. Unfortunately, the answer to the second is most likely obvious. And different.
Wonder if it's available in orange?
Probably the LSA...the XLR's swan song.
The owner of our company has an XLR, he parks it right in front of the front entrance. It's one of 2 or 3 where I live and to me it's not that exciting. I don't see this thing selling well, its just kinda...meh
I see a few around here. If they do a CTS style face it could be a much better looking car.
Its disguise has a certain Amos & Andy quality to it.
@AllenK:
That, my friend, is a simple yet profound truth, put in the form of a question.
@smokeydog001: Or P***y Magnet Yellow?
@bluecoupe: When Caddy introduced they said from the get go that they we not worried about sales that this was more of a Halo car.
Uhh...the bigger one.
It's a damn nice halo car, too.
it better be over 500 hp to stay competitive.
but in all seriousness. who would buy this over a ZR1 which is the same price.. interior almost the same.. but the ZR1 is one of the fastest cars in the world
@TattooedMess(iah):
No, I'm on the other coast.
These engineer types are such pricks when they are on the road. I live in BG and they tooled thru my neighborhood before the XLR was launched, so I followed them and they parked on the street. When I got out to snap some pix, they quickly pulled the cars onto private property behind a fence.
Asshats.
One of their women-folk came out and yelled at me! I just stood in the street and smiled.
@Lounatic: I understand that but it doesn't change that it's meh to me. Isn't a halo car supposed to generate interest in a brand? If people aren't that interested in your halo car then how interested can they be in the brand? As a halo car I don't think it gets the job done, the CTS and CTS-V (imho) generate more interest than the XLR.
@GoingLikeSixty:
That's not really true...most of them are good guys. Just a bad apple every now and then. Like any group of people.
The guy in the XLR wasn't a jerk at all.
@BSAKat:
The same can also be said of duct tape,bondo, and zipties.
Check the resale value of these sometime. You too could drive one if you'll take a pre-owned one. Not many people do.
since traditionally the xlr-v has been more powerful than the cts-v, my guess is that its the lsa 6.2 supercharged in it.
@bluecoupe: Just remember when it was introduced as a "halo car" in 2004, the CTS was just a CTS. Now that the new CTS is here, I am sure they will up the ante when the '09 XLR is introduced. The current XLR-V is good for 443hp so I would imagine the new one would be good for 475 to 500hp. Caddy doesnt seem to be sitting on their asses when it comes to horsepower these days.
@Chris Doane: Yes, he was, I was there. You weren't. And the guy calling somebody to run interference to stop you? hiding behind a 7-11? What's the point? Take the car on a public road and expect privacy?
I failed to mention this was on a Labor Day weekend, so they thought they would have privacy driving with a convoy - with their lights on - led by Porsche, Vette, two XLR's - and other Porsche?
Look! But don't take pictures.
Jerks.
* Assuming it does get the 6.2 SuperCharge, which to take?
I mean the ZR1 in only available in hard top.
AND the Caddi is WAY more comfortable inside.
If its engineered on the Nurnburgring as well, Im tempted to go for the Caddi!
You guys?
@GoingLikeSixty:
I was referring to the guy in the XLRv that *I* shot.
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