XLR: A freshening is scheduled for the 2009 model year; a redesign is planned for the 2011 model year.

The XLR roadster has taken a starring role in Cadillac’s new emphasis on dramatic styling and serious performance. Now the XLR Platinum maximizes the elegance of Cadillac’s entry into the elite club of luxury roadsters.

XLR Platinum features exclusive 15-spoke, 18-inch wheels, with a brighter chrome finish for the grille and an exclusive Liquid Amethyst exterior color and exclusive Platinum badge.

Inside, the XLR Platinum features appointments such as authentic olive ash burl wood and a Cashmere interior color. The instrument panel “upper,” and door trim feature hand cut, sewn and wrapped leather. Other cabin appointments include olive ash burl wood inserts on the steering wheel and luxurious Alcantara suede headliner, visors and pillars, and additional Platinum badging on the sill plate.

The Cadillac XLR Platinum will be available in the first quarter of 2007.

Recent reports have indicated that Cadillac will be launching a redesigned version of their XLR roadster in the summer of 2009. Sporting an updated exterior and interior, the new model hopes to carry the momentum created by the new CTS and CTS-V.

Largely neglected since its 2004 debut, the current XLR has only seen the introduction of a V-series and minor interior updates. With the introduction of Jaguar’s XK models and with freshened Mercedes SL’s on the way, the XLR was starting to feel behind the times.

The current XLR uses a 4.6L Northstar V8 which produces 320 and enables the car to go from 0-60mph in 5.8 seconds, while the XLR-V uses a 4.4L supercharged engine that is rated at 443hp and knocks 1.2 seconds off the standard version’s 0-60 time. GM’s recent announcement that it has stopped development of new Northstar engines means that the XLR could adopt engines used in the Corvette for the first time.

The Cadillac XLR was first introduced to the market in 2003 following its debut at the Detroit Motor Show, ever since then the sales performance of the retractable hardtop roadster have been consistently disappointing and we would hardly be surprised to see the American premium brand's second attempt into the roadster market fall flat on their face, just as the Allanté did.

In keeping with automotive tradition, the XLR will get a mid-life update for the 2009 model year, the base model will be abolished leaving just the Platinum and the high-performance XLR-V models available for the market. The Platinum's 4.6L Northstar V-8 engine and XLR-V's 4.4L Supercharged Northstar V-8 engine have been left untouched but the designers have revisited the styling of the roadster.

Inspired by the multi-award winning CTS sedan, the XLR gets completely new front and rear fascias as well as new side fender vents resulting in a much more aggressive stance. The cabin area also receives a touch up with new striking wood and metal trims along.

"XLR has been a catalyst for the dramatic design and technology driving Cadillac's ongoing renaissance," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. "The enhanced 2009 model exemplifies the continued development of Cadillac's approach to design, performance and craftsmanship."

Since its inception in 2004, Cadillac's XLR has been a fresh face in the elite club of the world's finest luxury roadsters. Today Cadillac revealed the new 2009 edition of the XLR Roadster, featuring styling and model enhancements providing more dramatic design and technology.

Only the finest editions of Cadillac's retractable hardtop roadster will be offered in 2009: The luxurious XLR Platinum and the high-performance XLR-V. The XLR Platinum is equipped with a 320-horsepower (239 kW) 4.6L Northstar V-8 engine. The XLR-V, part of Cadillac's V-Series of high-performance models, is powered with a 443-horsepower (330 kW) 4.4L Supercharged Northstar V-8 engine.

The 2009 XLR includes a new front fascia, new rear fascia and new side fender vents. The revised design is inspired by the award-winning CTS sport sedan, delivering more detail and aggressiveness to Cadillac's roadster. The front fascia includes new fog lamps and specific upper and lower grilles for the Platinum and V-Series models. Also, both '09 models feature the distinctive hood with a raised center section that was previously exclusive to the V-Series.

"XLR has been a catalyst for the dramatic design and technology driving Cadillac's ongoing renaissance," said Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. "The enhanced 2009 model exemplifies the continued development of Cadillac's approach to design, performance and craftsmanship."

The ultra-luxury XLR Platinum model receives additional exterior identifiers, including a revised rear fascia with more pronounced new exhaust tips and a new 18-inch wheel design (painted wheel finish is standard; chrome is optional).

Inside, the '09 XLR lineup delivers more luxury and technology. Alcantara™ - a suede-like microfiber material - is used for the headliner material, in either Ebony or Cashmere color. Also new is hand-cut and sewn leather used on the upper instrument panel. This hand-stitched and wrapped leather lends tailored elegance to the cabin, representing Cadillac's new approach to modern and elegant interior craftsmanship.

The updated cabin includes new instrument cluster trim rings and graphics, new wood grain trims (Natural Olive Ash Burl for XLR Platinum and Black Olive Ash Burl for XLR-V) and new metal trims (Quartz for XLR Platinum and Bermuda for XLR-V.)

Advanced technology has always been a trademark of XLR, and that legacy continues in 2009. This includes Cadillac's acclaimed Magnetic Ride Control system and amenities such as Keyless Access with push-button start, DVD navigation and entertainment, heated and cooled seats, head-up display and heated steering wheel. XLR's advanced technologies also include Adaptive Forward Lighting that enables the headlamps to swivel in concert with vehicle steering, and Adaptive Cruise Control.

XLR is factory-equipped with OnStar 8.0 with Bluetooth capability. The next-generation OnStar 8.0 system (OnStar subscription is not required for Bluetooth) features enhanced hands-free voice commands, Turn by Turn navigation and Emap powered by MapQuest. This includes the industry-first Destination Download feature, in which directions can be downloaded from OnStar directly to the car's navigation system - eliminating the need to stop the car to manually enter a destination.

Two automakers, Cadillac and Honda, announced today that production of their high-performance roadsters will come to a close during 2009. Cadillac says that production of the Chevrolet Corvette-based XLR will cease in March or April and Honda confirmed earlier reports that 2009 will be the last model year for the slow-selling S2000.

The Bowling Green, Kentucky-built XLR’s production cessation means that about 40 workers will lose their jobs. Cadillac sold just 1,250 XLRs last year, the model’s fifth year, even though it had been subject to a minor facelift.

“Obviously, it’s difficult when a plant loses a product,” plant manager Paul Graham told the Bowling Green Daily News. “We want to continue to grow our volume as much as we can. So it’s been difficult.”

The S2000, which was introduced in 1999, had been intended as a limited-run model, but Honda says it continued production due to demand. Still, the automaker barely sold 2,500 S2000s in the U.S. last year, well down from prior years. Overall, Honda sold about 65,000 S2000s in the U.S.

“The S2000 is a sports car designed by enthusiasts for enthusiasts,” Honda executive vice president John Mendel said in a press release. “It raised the bar for all future roadsters, and it’s already considered a classic by many Honda fans.”