The primary charm of the V-series version of the Cadillac XLR roadster for most of its buyers will undoubtedly be its ability to do 0-100 kmh in about five seconds, but Jim Taylor wants you to know there's more to it than that.
(The marketing you see for the V-rated Cadillacs promises sub-five times, but that's for 0 to 60 mph, which is 3.5 kmh below 100 kmh, so it will take a little longer to get there.)
Taylor is the Peterborough, Ontario, native who is now the general manager of Cadillac, so he should know whereof he speaks. At least we should hope so.
But before we get to that other stuff, a look at what the XLR-V model can actually do in terms of covering ground quickly.
In this model, Cadillac uses the newest member of the Northstar engine family, the DOHC 4.4-liter V-8 outfitted with a positive displacement intercooled supercharger that delivers the highest horsepower rating of any production Cadillac engine ever. It's attached to a six-speed automatic shifter.
Called the Northstar V-8 SC (for supercharged), this engine produces 440 hp at 6,400 rpm and 425 lb-ft torque at 3,600 rpm, though at the moment both figures are estimates. When the official numbers are released, however, it's extremely unlikely they'll be any lower and a good chance they'll be higher. What's really important about the engine's power is that it delivers 90 percent of its peak torque between 2,200 and 6,000 rpm,
which should cover virtually every mm of a North American car's daily duties.
Taylor points out that the Northstar V-8 SC is about more than just power and torque. ''The DOHC engine includes variable valve timing that enables outstanding top-end performance while maintaining the expected refinement and quality associated with a luxury marque,'' he promises.
Furthermore, ''the refined shift feel is enabled by careful electronic calibration of both the engine and transmission. During shifts, power is instantaneously lowered, then ramped back up carefully to make gear changes virtually unnoticeable.''
That gear-changing will be handled by the 6L80 transmission, which Taylor says is one of the most technologically advanced automatic transmissions in the industry, using clutch-to-clutch operation and an advanced integrated 32-bit transmission controller to deliver smooth and precise shifts. In addition, a wide 6.04:1 overall ratio spread enhances performance and fuel economy.
The 6L80 also incorporates a host of advanced driving enhancement features, Taylor explains, including advanced Performance Algorithm Shifting (PAS), Performance Algorithm Liftfoot (PAL), and Driver Shift Control (DSC).
PAS lets the electronic transmission controller override the automatic gear selection during closed-throttle, high lateral-acceleration maneuvers, rapidly downshifting with the release of the torque converter clutch for smooth powering up when the throttle is reopened.
PAL minimizes transmission upshifts during closed throttle driving and cornering to maintain the correct gear and alleviate ''busyness.''
Driver Shift Control allows the driver to shift gears manually via the gearshift lever.
 |
| (photo: General Motors) |
Taylor is the Peterborough, Ontario, native who is now the general manager of Cadillac, so he should know whereof he speaks. At least we should hope so.
But before we get to that other stuff, a look at what the XLR-V model can actually do in terms of covering ground quickly.
In this model, Cadillac uses the newest member of the Northstar engine family, the DOHC 4.4-liter V-8 outfitted with a positive displacement intercooled supercharger that delivers the highest horsepower rating of any production Cadillac engine ever. It's attached to a six-speed automatic shifter.
Called the Northstar V-8 SC (for supercharged), this engine produces 440 hp at 6,400 rpm and 425 lb-ft torque at 3,600 rpm, though at the moment both figures are estimates. When the official numbers are released, however, it's extremely unlikely they'll be any lower and a good chance they'll be higher. What's really important about the engine's power is that it delivers 90 percent of its peak torque between 2,200 and 6,000 rpm,
 |
| (photo: General Motors) |
Taylor points out that the Northstar V-8 SC is about more than just power and torque. ''The DOHC engine includes variable valve timing that enables outstanding top-end performance while maintaining the expected refinement and quality associated with a luxury marque,'' he promises.
Furthermore, ''the refined shift feel is enabled by careful electronic calibration of both the engine and transmission. During shifts, power is instantaneously lowered, then ramped back up carefully to make gear changes virtually unnoticeable.''
That gear-changing will be handled by the 6L80 transmission, which Taylor says is one of the most technologically advanced automatic transmissions in the industry, using clutch-to-clutch operation and an advanced integrated 32-bit transmission controller to deliver smooth and precise shifts. In addition, a wide 6.04:1 overall ratio spread enhances performance and fuel economy.
The 6L80 also incorporates a host of advanced driving enhancement features, Taylor explains, including advanced Performance Algorithm Shifting (PAS), Performance Algorithm Liftfoot (PAL), and Driver Shift Control (DSC).
 |
| (photo: General Motors) |
PAL minimizes transmission upshifts during closed throttle driving and cornering to maintain the correct gear and alleviate ''busyness.''
Driver Shift Control allows the driver to shift gears manually via the gearshift lever.