---
title: "GM Says You Can Just Forget About a New Cadillac XLR"
date: "2025-05-12"
modified: "2025-05-12"
authors:
  - name: "Ronan Glon"
    job_title: "Contributing Writer"
    link: "https://www.thedrive.com/authors/ronan-glon"
url: "https://www.thedrive.com/news/gm-says-you-can-just-forget-about-a-new-cadillac-xlr"
categories:
  - "Cadillac News"
  - "News"
  - "News by Brand"
tags:
  - "Cadillac"
  - "Convertible"
  - "luxury"
  - "sports car"
---

# GM Says You Can Just Forget About a New Cadillac XLR

![2004 Cadillac XLR](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cadillac_xlr_2004_1.jpg>)
*\<em\>Cadillac\</em\>*

The 2004 [Cadillac](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/cadillac-news>) XLR brought the marque back to the convertible segment after a long absence. The roadster was based on the sixth-gen [Chevy Corvette](<https://www.thedrive.com/category/chevrolet-corvette>) to keep costs in check, and the link between the two sports cars has fueled speculation that a new, C8-based XLR could happen. Don't get your hopes up: General Motors president [Mark Reuss](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/25773/longtime-executive-mark-reuss-promoted-to-president-of-general-motors>) just doused cold water on the rumors detailing a second-gen XLR.

On paper, replicating the XLR recipe with modern ingredients would be relatively simple. The platform is already there: Cadillac could borrow the eighth-generation Corvette's mid-engined underpinnings from Chevrolet. Using the Corvette's platform would likely also require using [one of its engines](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/how-much-does-horsepower-matter-corvette-stingray-vs-e-ray-vs-z06-track-test>). We're guessing that not all of the parts would carry over, however. Cadillac's take would presumably place a bigger focus on luxury than on performance, so it would probably feature a softer suspension system, among other changes.

The idea of a new XLR isn't far-fetched, but General Motors says it's not happening—no ifs, ands, or buts.

"It was developed as a secondary car to the Corvette, on purpose. We would never do that," Reuss explained to [*CNBC*](<https://www.cnbc.com/2025/05/05/gm-general-motors-cadillac-luxury-brand.html>) in a lengthy interview spotted by [*Carscoops*](<https://www.carscoops.com/2025/05/this-is-why-cadillac-wont-build-a-modern-xlr/>). He added that the hypothetical second-gen XLR would end up sharing too many parts with the Corvette to fall in line with Cadillac's new strategy, which aims to achieve a higher degree of exclusivity than in the past to make the brand more desirable.

![2004 Cadillac XLR](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cadillac_xlr_196r.jpeg>)
*Cadillac*

![2004 Cadillac XLR](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cadillac_xlrr.jpg>)
*Cadillac*

![2004 Cadillac XLR](<https://www.thedrive.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/cadillac_xlr_18r.jpeg>)
*Cadillac*

This same strategy spawned the [Celestiq](<https://www.thedrive.com/news/the-2024-cadillac-celestiq-ev-will-be-the-most-expensive-cadillac-ever-built>), an EV that costs about $340,000 and doesn't have a twin (or even a distant cousin) in, say, the Chevy range. The gasoline-powered Escalade is an exception to this rule, as it's very clearly related to the Tahoe and the Suburban, but the truck-based underpinnings make it incredibly profitable. And, sometimes, the temptation of a nice, fat profit margin is difficult to resist.

While a new XLR is out of the product pipeline, Reuss told *CNBC* that there's space for "additional specialty, Cadillac-specific vehicles" like the Celestiq under the General Motors roof. He stopped short of revealing what segment the brand will target next, and when we might see such cars.

*Got tips? Send ’em to tips@thedrive.com*

## Author
Ronan is a contributing writer for The Drive. He draws on over 15 years of experience to cover breaking industry news, cool one-off builds, and anything in between. He began writing for The Drive in 2021 and stepped into his current role in 2024. His obsession with cars started when a relative gave him a Majorette die-cast shortly after his first birthday. It hasn't flickered since. Ronan lives in France; He swapped Utah's Rocky Mountains, where he grew up, for the Alps. He's an avid hiker, mountain biker, and musician. He also restores classic European cars and mopeds, including a 1978 Citroen 2CV that he's rebuilding from the ground up.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/ronanglon>)