Don’t want a Corvette? Cadillac made a convertible ‘Vette alternative years ago
The Chevrolet Corvette. Aside from being America’s original sports car, the low-slung Kentucky performance nameplate gets a bad rap for white New Balance sneakers, jean shorts, and an average owner age firmly in the senior citizen category. As a result, you might be looking for an alternative. Well, you might not need to look that hard, as Cadillac put together a convertible Corvette alternative years ago.
The Cadillac XLR follows the old-school Corvette formula: a V8, rear-wheel drive, and striking style
In 2003, the Chevrolet Corvette was nearing the end of its fifth-generation run. However, the Plastic Fantastic wasn’t alone in the segment for long. Cadillac rolled out its XLR, an angular V8-powered roadster with a folding metal hardtop.
Early iterations packed a 4.6L Northstar V8, a familiar engine for the brand at the time. Still, while many fans were excited to have a drop-top Corvette alternative with a V8, don’t expect the power output you’d get from a C5 of the period. Specifically, the naturally aspirated Northstar summoned around 320 horsepower. On the other hand, the standard, non-Z06 Corvette of the time produced 350 horsepower.
What’s more, the XLR was manufactured at the same Bowling Green, Kentucky location as the C5 Corvette. But, unlike the seemingly unstoppable tenure of the Chevy Corvette, the XLR was dead by 2009. Fortunately, however, the XLR got the volcanic treatment before its demise. However, used car hunters can find a typical example for around $15,000, depending on factors like trim, mileage, and location.
The XLR-V, borrowing the “V” treatment from other high-performance Caddies, packed a supercharged V8 instead of the naturally aspirated Northstar. The result? Cadillac’s Corvette alternative produced up to 443 horsepower. Of course, the figure was still a far cry from the C6 Z06’s massive 505-horsepower output.
Unfortunately, the XLR didn’t stick around for long. The automaker started producing it as a 2004 model-year vehicle. But by 2009, the XLR was extinct. Of course, the XLR is a bit divisive in its aesthetic. For some, the razor-sharp angles and creases were too geometric. The car lacked curves. However, for others, the hard lines of the XLR made it an instant classic.
