alfy28

not sure how these drive, but always like the look of them. well here is the end of the xlr..

http://www.worldcarfans.com/9090127....-cancelled-too

"
The end of the line is near for the Cadillac XLR. General Motors has decided to end production of the car in an effort to save money.

Declining sales was cited as a main reason for the convertible's demise. Sales dropped nearly 28 per-cent in 2008 when compared with a year earlier. Only about 1,250 new XLRs hit the highways last year.

Other automakers are facing similar life-or-death choices with their most exclusive and niche market vehicles. Honda has already announced a halt in production of the Honda S2000, while cutting development on the NSX. At the same time, revenue losses have hit automakers so hard, they are in the process of reevaluated their entire approach to marketing, including auto show attendance.

The news is particularly painful in Bowling Green, Kentucky, where a GM plant builds the car alongside the Corvette. The XLR and and Chevrolet Corvette share the same platform, with Cadillac's hard-top convertible getting a different set of V8-engine choices. Purchasers of the car have the option of buying an XLR with a 4.6-liter 320 hp, 310 ft-lb unit, or a 443 hp 414 ft-lb supercharged 4.4-liter model. As production wraps up this spring, 40 workers there will likely be laid off, according to plant manager Paul Graham.

“Obviously, it’s difficult when a plant loses a product,” Graham said in an interview with a local newspaper. “We want to continue to grow our volume as much as we can. So it’s been difficult.”

Introduced at the 1999 NAIAS as the Cadillac Evoq concept, the Cadillac XLR production model first saw light in 2003. At that time, the base model was priced at $76,000. In just five years, the base price has climbed over $10,000, with a supercharged version selling for over $105,000.

GM's Bowling Green plant has been closed, and will remain that way until February 23, due to the company's financial problems. 154 workers there, including the 40 staff members dedicated to the XLR, will be laid off by March 1.

“Everyone in the plant wants to do what we can to build great vehicles. No one’s feeling good about it,” Graham said.
"

reaper1

It's getting bad out there . Car making is not the business to be in right now .

By the way that is a very nice looking car but not for that price.

ndhoffma

One expensive corvette :p


Its too bad all the cool and fast cars get axed when money is tight

DailyDriver2k5

Wow this is really sad... The XLR was a nice Caddy, unfortunately it got the short end of the stick with the Corvettes cheap interior. Its ok for the Vette but when a car that has a luxury name behind it, the materials should be world class. That price tag of 105k did it in too for the V models.

For another 15-20k your in SL55 AMG territory offering you a load of goodies that the Caddy didn't offer. Great looking cars, you will be missed but never forgotten!

So who's next on the chopping block?

alfy28

wow like reaper said, that is just overpriced. btw foose did a nice job on that car.

DailyDriver2k5

Even 70k was too much for the base model that came with 300+ HP.THe XLR should of been 40-50k tops, with the V models at 65-70k. Caddy would have sold them like hot cakes.

alfy28

ouch 70K? i never looked into the price of these cars. but wow that sure is expensive. especially if you are a GM man, you either pick the over priced xlr or a vette.

DailyDriver2k5

And thats what i never understood, at 70k you got bottom basement materials for the interior. A Mazda Miata MX-5 had more of a luxurious interior than the base or V models of the XLR. Its was unacceptable.

Most people got sticker shocked for so little , they would just opt for a convertable vette for thousands less yet offered more for the base price of 52k than the base price of a XLR.

reaper1

For that amount I would go .... Z06 or Viper , not Cadi . Im talking about 60 70,000 range .