Category Archives: XLR

Initial Cadillac XLR Hptuners Scanner setup

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Tonight I setup my test laptop with HP Tuners in the 2007 Cadillac XLR to see if it would all play together — with some success.

xlr first test 1 gear max hp

I used the scanner profile that is setup for my 2008 STS-V,  which makes for good comparison but perhaps higher scales than the XLR needs.  The XLR was well heat soaked, and it was warm here in Texas still even though evening time.  Intake air was 95 F outside, 100 F coming into the engine, and 135 F in the manifold.   Plano is at 600 ft elevation above sea level.

What I see in this initial scan is a) it works at all and b) the XLR PCM calculated that the engine output was around 301 hp in 1st gear at 5734 rpm. It stayed around 300 hp from there to when it shifted.   The XLR LH2 V8 is rated at 320 hp at 6400 rpm under ideal test conditions at sea level, 70 F etc.

xlr first test 1 gear max torque

Max first gear calculated torque was 290 lb ft at 4572 RPM.  The LH2 is rated at 315 lb ft of torque at 4400 rpm under SAE test conditions.

320 hp LH2 Rear-wheel Drive Variant

320 hp LH2 Rear-wheel Drive Variant

On first blush, I am pleased that I got the test gear working, and the HP tuners can talk to the XLR,and I can capture data and post it.  Now I can study what it means lol.

XLR first scan

This is a graph created from a data export from hptuners vcm scanner of the delivered torque, and derived calculated hp.

 

Convertible Cadillacs – Street Side Classics

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Today I went by Street Side Classics in Fort Worth to see the wide variety of Cadillacs they have on hand — convertibles from the 60s, 70s, 90s, and 00s.

They have main showroom, then a nice warehouse full of interesting cars.  This 2009 XLR Platinum was the first Cadillac we ran across there.

There was an Allante there, I believe an 87 with removable hard top in place:

Next was a set of 68s with a 64 near by:

 

 

 

 

 

We had a great time looking at all the Cadillacs, and other cars.  The shopping trip helped me along in my thinking about what type of Cadillac convertible I want for my weekend car.

 

 

 

The most economical Cadillac since 1984…

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After debating the fuel economy of the 3.6L Cadillac SRX versus her competitors, I wondered what the most economical recent Cadillac was.  The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes comparative miles per gallon for a variety of models since 1984 at fueleconomy.gov.  Because the test model changes from time to time, the charts for all years are kept up to date to the current test specs.  The original window sticker values for each model using the test at the time are also available.

2012 Cadillac CTS

For the 2012 models, the Cadillac CTS 3.6L RWD Sedan or Coupe are the leaders, at 18 mpg city and 27 mpg highway.  The DTS that ended production in 2011 on the current test would do 15/23, so no improvement there.  The SRX is heavier with the same drivetrain, so worse mileage than the CTS.  The 2008 XLR got a similar 15/24 mpg.  The 2010 Cadillac CTS with 3L V6 and manual transmission was 16/26; close, but no cigar.

The Escalade Hybrid comes to mind, and it does very well for a fullsize SUV at 20/23 mpg for the RWD model.  Still worse mileage than the CTS.

If one goes all the way back to 2003, the CTS had a 3.2L V6 and could be had with a manual transmission, but hit 17/24 mpg.  The 3L Catera? 16/23 mpg.

Diesel Seville?  Nope, under the current system a 1985 Cadillac Seville Diesel would be rated today at 17/26 mpg.   It was rated 19/28 mpg at the time.

To beat the current 318 hp CTS 3.6L we have to go all the way back to the 1984 model, 2L, 4-cylinder manual transmission Cadillac Cimarron.  On today’s test it would be rated 21/31 mpg.  Now, the difference in performance between a 2L Cimarron and a 3.6L CTS is beyond remarkable.  But the little-loved Cimarron was certainly economical.

If we include export models, the Cadillac BLS with 1.9L diesel was rated in the UK at 49.6mpg for imperial fuel mileage, urban combined.  An imperial gallon is 4.546L and  a US gallon is 3.785L, so that would appear to be around 41 mpg after conversion, but is not done to the same test method. It stands to reason that if we had EPA figures, the Cadillac BLS would be the most economical recent Cadillac.

In the absence of a home market BLS or other 1.9L Turbo-Diesel however, the current Cadillac CTS is in fact the most economical Cadillac sold in the US since the Cimarron.  We’ll see how the upcoming Cadillac ATS fares with its 2.5L 4-cylinder standard engine — it should be our new MPG leader.