Detroit, Mich. - Since its inception in 2004, Cadillac's XLR has been a fresh face in the elite club of the world's finest luxury roadsters. Today Cadillac revealed the new 2009 edition of the XLR Roadster, featuring styling and model enhancements providing more dramatic design and technology.

Only the finest editions of Cadillac's retractable hardtop roadster will be offered in 2009: The luxurious XLR Platinum and the high-performance XLR-V. The XLR Platinum is equipped with a 320-horsepower (239 kW) 4.6L Northstar V-8 engine. The XLR-V, part of Cadillac's V-Series of high-performance models, is powered with a 443-horsepower (330 kW) 4.4L Supercharged Northstar V-8 engine.

The 2009 XLR includes a new front fascia, new rear fascia and new side fender vents. The revised design is inspired by the award-winning CTS sport sedan, delivering more detail and aggressiveness to Cadillac's roadster. The front fascia includes new fog lamps and specific upper and lower grilles for the Platinum and V-Series models. Also, both '09 models feature the distinctive hood with a raised center section that was previously exclusive to the V-Series.

"XLR has been a catalyst for the dramatic design and technology driving Cadillac's ongoing renaissance," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. "The enhanced 2009 model exemplifies the continued development of Cadillac's approach to design, performance and craftsmanship."

The ultra-luxury XLR Platinum model receives additional exterior identifiers, including a revised rear fascia with more pronounced new exhaust tips and a new 18-inch wheel design (painted wheel finish is standard; chrome is optional).

Inside, the '09 XLR lineup delivers more luxury and technology. Alcantara™ - a suede-like microfiber material - is used for the headliner material, in either Ebony or Cashmere color. Also new is hand-cut and sewn leather used on the upper instrument panel. This hand-stitched and wrapped leather lends tailored elegance to the cabin, representing Cadillac's new approach to modern and elegant interior craftsmanship.

The updated cabin includes new instrument cluster trim rings and graphics, new wood grain trims (Natural Olive Ash Burl for XLR Platinum and Black Olive Ash Burl for XLR-V) and new metal trims (Quartz for XLR Platinum and Bermuda for XLR-V.)

Advanced technology has always been a trademark of XLR, and that legacy continues in 2009. This includes Cadillac's acclaimed Magnetic Ride Control system and amenities such as Keyless Access with push-button start, DVD navigation and entertainment, heated and cooled seats, head-up display and heated steering wheel. XLR's advanced technologies also include Adaptive Forward Lighting that enables the headlamps to swivel in concert with vehicle steering, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

XLR is factory-equipped with OnStar 8.0 with Bluetooth capability. The next-generation OnStar 8.0 system (OnStar subscription is not required for Bluetooth) features enhanced hands-free voice commands, Turn by Turn navigation and Emap powered by MapQuest. This includes the industry-first Destination Download feature, in which directions can be downloaded from OnStar directly to the car's navigation system - eliminating the need to stop the car to manually enter a destination.

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Caught - Without Camouflage: 2009 Cadillac XLR!

Just In: We just caught the '09 XLR without even an inch of
camouflage - exposing the new front fascia - including a new
grille and restyled fog lamps. In addition, the XLR will be wearing a
bit more jewelry - in this case, it will be chrome vents on the
fenders.

Watch for an official debut of the 2009 XLR in the coming months.

And this time they didn't have to climb a tree to get it.

2009 Cadillac XLR V-Series

These 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

It took shimmying up a tree to get it, but we just nabbed our first spy photos of Cadillac's revamped 2009 XLR roadster. Based on the camouflage and the visible body panels, it appears that the updated XLR will qualify as more of a facelift rather than a fully redesigned vehicle. The February 10, 2008 issue of the Chicago Tribune reported that the reworked XLR will go public in July, but that report wasn't clear whether that date specified an unveiling or an on-sale date.

These new shots don't answer that question, but we can get closer to assessing the scope of the XLR's freshening. The camouflage covering the front and rear fascias hides the details, but it's probably safe to assume that the XLR will get some more, much-needed design nuance in line with the latest CTS—since the XLR is still saddled with the rather unpolished look of Cadillac's first-generation Art & Science design language. The retractable hardtop design looks unchanged, as do the doors and rear fenders. The front fenders, however, have an interesting strip of tape just in fore of the doors' front cut lines, suggesting that some type of fender vent could conceivably be in the works to match the rest of the Cadillac lineup.

Expect thorough mechanical upgrades, and an improved interior commensurate with the XLR's place as Cadillac's answer to the formidable Mercedes SL.