Cadillac Xlr test drive since 2008.

Dear "stool"

Cadillac XLR gives two opposite sensations at the same time - luxury and the slightest flaws in the asphalt
 
A man named Anatoly, who was on the occasion in the passenger seat, scored after the first start from the traffic light. He, you see, had breakfast tightly and diversely, and now all this exquisite food has turned into one large cutlet, which stuck to the spine and begins to ask out. No, dear colleague, there will be no compromises - for too long I have been waiting for the opportunity to try this American car, I have little time for this - only a few hours, and the conditions too unsuitable for the test drive - the city of Detroit and its environs. Well, the fact that Anatoly after forty minutes was ahead of schedule from XLR with a green man, this is the costs of the profession, and all claims to Cadillac engineers.
 
The skin does not soften, Bose does not drown out
 
Americans are able to make sportsmen. Not such as Italians, British, Germans or Japanese, but they can. Ford Mustang, Dodge Viper, Chevrolet Corvette are very fast, but other cars. Special. The motor must certainly be a huge volume in order to shoot a car from the lower classes, the appearance is obliged to indicate the owner's extraordinary, and the equipment and decoration of the salon constantly remind him that the money was not wasted. But in this American clip, Cadillac Xlr is worth, one might say, apart. The point here is not only the cost - the initial retail price of $ 77,295 on the US market looks just monstrously high, they are not used to such numbers behind the ocean. And the matter is also in the uniqueness of the model.
 
Start with the exterior. Perhaps someone will correct me, but, in my opinion, Cadillac XLR is the first sports car in which the High-Tech style would have appeared with such absolbility. It is worked out against the rules - no roundness, only sharp lines and faces, as if contrary to the oncoming wind. It does not creep under the air (although the aerodynamics are quite at the level), it seems to cut it out in the most arrogant way. Of course, this is a new corporate identity that distinguishes the entire fresh line of Cadillac, but in XLR it seems to have reached the climax and is especially impressive. Of course, in order to purchase such a car, you must have a certain courage and think accordingly. It seems to me that there will be mainly owners of this middle-aged coupe-successful businessmen or top managers who have already established themselves in life and are not afraid to challenge traditions, but not yet tired of experiments and the rapid of being. Moreover, when it comes to European buyers.
 
Too immodest for a double car with a hard folding top of the dimensions - this is also a feature that shows contempt for stereotypes. But the same immodesty allows you to feel inside, as in an expensive carriage. The convenience of landing (and after all the car is only 1280 mm in height) and the luxury of the interior is quite in the spirit of the brand. The range of seats adjustments is unusually large for the sports car, as it is quite noticeable and the distance to the passenger. If you do not limit the interior of the roof, just by clicking on the button, then you can feel like in a chic limousine. Especially if you do not go quickly. In addition, there are a spacious luggage compartment with a volume of 125 to 329 liters (depending on the position of the roof), and the volumetric coffee between the seats.
 
Almost everything that is adjusted in the XLR is equipped with servo drives. Almost all electronic systems known today, such as ESP, are present in it. Including a system for changing the rigidity of suspensions, albeit in small limits. The quality of finishing materials can hardly cause even a sophisticated European. And the assembly quality is confirmed not only by visual sensations, but also by independent research, such as the J.D. rating. Power. Genuine leather, which is sheathed, including a small steering wheel and an automatic transmission, magnificent dressing. The tunnel sharing the driver and passenger pleases with eucalyptus - in a word, real luxury. Moreover, with taste. From the general context, even the aluminum central console is not knocked out - after all, there is no way to do without metal in a sports car. The console has a large color monitor that displays everything that is required - from the route laid by the navigation system to information about the work of the audio center. By the way, Bose engineers created it specifically for this Cadillac model, and they succeeded a lot in that - the sound is very high quality. Another thing is that if you try to block them a well -fed (and configured) roar of the motor at high speeds, there is a risk of losing hearing. This car is still made not to enjoy the music lover, but to quench the passion of a quick drive lover. That is why the skin does not soften contact with the road, and Bose should not argue with the engine and exhaust system.
 
There is contact!
 
I had to ride different cars, even faster. And I came to a banal, in general, conclusion: the point is not so much in the numbers of accelerated dynamics, but in the sensations that the car is able to give. Cadillac XLR guarantees an unforgettable impressions - there would be a driver's desire. He is ready not only to accelerate rapidly, but to jump forward, with a slip and smoke from under the rear drive wheels, despite the electronic collars. Even the activated Stabilitrak system allows drifts under certain conditions than it is very pleasant to use. Although, in principle, to disrupt XLR in the skid is very difficult, especially on a dry canvas - it is pressed against the road with burdocks of widely arranged wheels, like a rink for laying asphalt.
 
The nature of the suspensions could be concluded on the first phrases - they are very stringent, at high speeds and in steep turns - almost tooth -free ones, forcing them to feel the slightest flaws under the wheels with the whole body. But therefore, the behavior of a sports car is absolutely predictable in any situation, because he can be completely trusted. The steering is at a very high level: the steering wheel is acute, with good feedback, although with slow flanification and allows the hands to relax. Automatic gearbox - with the possibility of manual switching, of course - perhaps cannot upset the response time to the driver’s commands. In addition, it adapts to the driving style, and obediently goes on one to two gears down when it is required even without impulsion.
 
Honestly, to the end, as I would like, I could not test XLR - well, there are no mountain serpentines, nor narrow winding paths under Detroit. And this time it was not possible to get to the GM training ground. Well, you have to go to Europe, or wait until this sports car enters the Russian market.
 
Why don't they like Cadillac
 
Here, in the editorial office, we somehow talked about the legendary brand, and came to the following conclusion: Cadillac cars were underestimated by the Russian consumer. In marketing, we, of course, are not specialists, but I still risk expressing some of our common considerations.
 
So, visiting us, we would primarily bring to the Russian market, despite the costs and obviously low volumes of potential sales, namely Cadillac XLR. We would have spent on advertising (it is generally some frail and episodic according to Cadillac models), and on promotional races, arranging something like racing near the Kremlin wall. When accumulating the people, and not in the golf club, where they usually come to Bentley. To create and then with all means to strengthen the image of the brand. First - the second number of the program - using Escalade, and then persistently offer models SRS, STS, CTS and BLS.
 
Yes, it would not yet be bad to clearly decide on the positioning of the brand and offer the appropriate service. However, this is another topic
 
Text: Oleg Osipov
 
 

Source: Newspaper "Automobile Izvestia"