Exterior
Cadillac says stealth fighters inspired the XLR, which serves as "a contemporary expression of Cadillac's heritage of landmark design and advanced technology." Linear lines display hints of the marque's history. The strong grille also suggests the past, but with a modern expression. The XLR's vertical headlights are part of Cadillac's current design philosophy.
The roadster's weight distribution is virtually 50/50, helped by the rear-mounted transmission. Cadillac says the XLR's steel hydroformed frame rails couple with an aluminum cockpit structure and balsa-cored composite flooring to provide "rigidity without bulk." Run-flat tires eliminate the need for a spare tire.
Built on a 105.7-inch wheelbase, the XLR is 177.7 inches long overall. Retracting the hardtop takes less than 30 seconds. Made of aluminum and magnesium, the top structure features composite exterior panels, a heated glass back window and glass rear-quarter windows.
See also:
How the System Works
The SBZA symbol lights up in the side mirrors when the system detects a vehicle
in the side blind zone, indicating it may be unsafe to change lanes. Before making
a lane change, check the SBZA dis ...
Instrument Panel Illumination Control
(Instrument Panel Brightness): This
feature controls the brightness of the instrument panel lights and is located next
to the exterior lamps control.
Push the knob to extend out and then it ca ...
Exterior Lamps Off Reminder
If a door is open, a reminder chime sounds when the headlamps or parking lamps
are manually turned on and the key is out of the ignition. To turn off the chime,
turn the headlamp switch to off or ...