2008 Cadillac XLR-V

From front to rear, top to bottom, with its top up and especially with its top down, the 2008 Cadillac XLR-V demands to be noticed. Cadillac designed its luxury roadster to compete with the best of the high-powered roadsters from Europe, and the American-bred XLR-V rises ably to the occasion.

Confident in the XLR-V's current look and performance, Cadillac made only a few upgrades to the 2008 model. The automaker added a heated steering wheel to the list of standard features, and offers the XLR-V in a new color, Elektra Blue, as well as with new optional chrome wheels.

Beyond that, the XLR-V retains all the features from the 2007 model, including its  443-horsepower, 4.4-liter, supercharged Northstar V8, which makes the XLR-V the fastest vehicle in the Cadillac stable. It also retains its sculpted hood, its low, wide stance, its attractively angular lines, and its clean and elegant front end featuring a wire-mesh grille.

Hand-wrapped leather surfaces, suede-fabric seat inserts, and Zingana wood appointments give the interior an upscale feel, although some critics note that the XLR-V's two-seat, two-passenger interior configuration can feel cramped at times. Trunk space is also limited, especially with the top down. Some also note that the XLR-V's steering isn't as responsive as expected for a car in this league.

However, the XLR-V does not lack for features designed to improve handling, stability, and balance, including a StabiliTrak electronic vehicle stability enhancement system, Magnasteer rack-and-pinion steering, and performance-tuned Magnetic Ride Control. In addition, the XLR-V's six-speed Hydra-matic automatic transmission provides smooth shifting.

Overall, the 2007 received XLR-V high marks from many drivers and critics, and no doubt those high marks will carry over to the 2008 model.