2006 Cadillac XLR New Car Buyer's Guide

What's New for the 2006 Cadillac XLR?
Taking a page from the company's popular tagline, the 2006 Cadillac XLR strengthens its ability to "Break Through" dark corners of both street and radio by adding an Adaptive Forward Lighting System and XM satellite radio as standard features. For owners seeking more thrills than the standard 4.6-liter V8, get ready for a power rush when the XLR-V arrives later this year. Packing a force-fed, 4.4-liter, supercharged Northstar V8 engine with 443 horsepower and 414 lb.-ft. of torque, the XLR-V is sure to turn heads and burn rubber quicker than its normally aspirated sibling.

Advantages of the 2006 Cadillac XLR:

• Romp 'em, stomp 'em powertrain
• Quality interior materials
• Retracting hardtop design
• Cutting-edge feature content
• Competitive price

Objections to the 2006 Cadillac XLR:

• Cadillac brand name doesn't play well at this price
• Less useable trunk space with top folded than Mercedes-Benz SL500

Editor's Advice:
Like the look of the 2006 Cadillac XLR? Willing to gamble on the brand's historically rapid depreciation? It's your call. Long-term prospects for the XLR are murky, however. After an initial burst of popularity, demand has leveled off, making it easier to find one on a dealer lot. However, if the Cadillac XLR proves to be a hit, the brand will regain plenty of the ground it has lost over the past several decades and GM will be encouraged to build more high-tech machinery like this.