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Cadillac’s been a newsy brand lately, with accolades for the 2008 CTS sports sedan and anticipation of the CTS-V and CTS coupe derivatives, as well as the hype surrounding the hybrid Escalade and a refreshed 2008 STS. Yes, the wreath and crest have been enjoying a workout—but noticeably absent has been coverage of the flagship XLR. What is the future for the pricey, exclusive, but relatively slow-selling hardtop convertible?

A new, egg-crate chrome grille stands at the leading edge of a new raised hood. The lower intake has also been revised to add some much-needed machismo to the mug.

In back, some nifty side-by-side center-mounted tailpipes recall those of the production CTS coupe.

And of course, Cadillac couldn’t resist adding some chrome-dipped fender vents, which may or may not actually be vents but at least break up the massive thickness of the bodyside.

We’re still unsure of what exactly will be under the new hood, but we can only hope that equal time was spent bringing the relatively underpowered (for a $75K sports car) powertrain up to par with its archrival, the Mercedes-Benz SL550, whose 382-hp 5.5-liter V-8 makes a whopping 62 more horsepower than the 320-horse Northstar V-8 in the Caddy.

Built as it is on the same platform as the Chevrolet Corvette, the XLR would seemingly be a solid candidate for the Vette’s fabulous new 430-hp LS3 V-8. With the Northstar engine scheduled to be phased out in 2010, it sounds like the perfect solution to us.

Whether any such heart transplant and the subtle styling changes can make the XLR a contender in the market remains to be seen.

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