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2004 Cadillac XLR - body of a Cadillac soul of a Corvette. For over fifty years no sports car has evoked passion like the American icon Corvette and no nameplate has suggested excellence more than Cadillac. The brand name Cadillac entered our vocabulary long ago as an adjective meaning the ultimate luxury and highest quality. If some one was to say, "this is the Cadillac of papers"; we all know that the person is communicating that this paper is of the highest quality. The 2004 Cadillac XLR is the marriage of a Corvette and Cadillac. Finally they got it right. Even though the XLR shares its hydroformed frame-rail construction and many components with the upcoming C6 Corvette this is not just a re-badged Corvette. From the ground up this luxury roadster is in a class by itself. The edgy blade like design, distinctively nouveau Cadillac, cuts through the clutter of look-alike sports cars and stands alone at the top of the automotive design world. It is the one roadster that looks as good with the top up as the top down. Some have called the top up design a chopped hot rod look. Everything about this distinctive design is a beautiful head turning interpretation of the direction Cadillac is heading with their cutting edge design. The 2004 XLR is a full experience in emerging technologies carrying on a long standing Cadillac tradition. Virtually every luxury feature available on the market comes standard; including laser guided adaptive cruise control and head-up display. Keeping your eyes focused on the road ahead, speed and other information is projected on the windshield. Adaptive cruise control lets you adjust the gap between you and the car in front if your target speed is set higher. Keep the key in your pocket because the keyless locks and start button knows your signal. The nine speaker 250-watt Bose sound system provides exhilarating entertainment even with the top down. A seven-inch color touch screen panel controls audio, DVD, navigation and driver information functions. Eucalyptus wood and aluminum trim accents the rich leather interior with both heated and cooled perforated seats. Stunning performance along the entire power band comes from the first rear wheel adaptation of the acclaimed Northstar 4.6 V-8 engine. With 320 horsepower and weighing in at a trim 3,647 pounds, the 2004 Cadillac XLR outperforms the Mercedes Benz 500, Lexus SC430 and Jaguar XK rocketing from zero to sixty in 5.8 seconds. Taming the road, Magnetic Ride Control provides electronically controlled, magnetic real time damping for outstanding comfort with true sports car handling. Traction Control, StabiliTrac vehicle stability enhancement system and Magnasteer variable effort steering provides full control at all times. Balanced 50/50 weight distribution contributes to superb handling. Luxury convertibles ruled the road in the days when the automobile was young. While the numbers have dwindled our desire for silent and climate controlled automotive environments have not tarnished the romance of the luxury convertible. The one-button retractable hard top is a marvel to watch. However with the hard top retracted, trunk space is an almost nonexistent 4.4 cubic feet. This 2004 Cadillac XLR excites me for it has the soul of the Corvette wrapped in Cadillac luxury. Assembled in Bowling Green, Kentucky, the styling, quality, engineering, performance, handling and comfort is world class. The only option is XM radio with all other features included in the $76,200 delivered price. Availability is very limited. Cadillac lived up to it's own name this time, for the 2004 XLR is truly the "Cadillac" of high performance roadsters.
2004 Cadillac XLR 2-door, Hardtop convertible
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©2003 - Stan Risener