After the better part of two years of hand wringing, doomsday forecasting and general weltschmertz, we humbly forecast an economic resurgence by year's end. To that end, we'd like to introduce you to one of the most ridiculously wonderful vehicles that General Motors has introduced over the last three decades (or at least since the 1969 Firebird last prowled the streets).

This is the Cadillac (yes, you heard right) XLR-V: a 400-hp, full-throated droptop that blows any remaining antiquated notions of Cadillac as a stuffy purveyor of grandpa-mobiles aside...forever. It carries the same wedge platform as its less testosterone-rich XLR cousin, though with a much more aggressive interior, which blessedly rejects the last of the fake wood-paneled treatments in favor of a stealthy black-on-black.  Its 4.4-liter supercharged Northstar V-8 engine is a thing of both acceleration (0-60 in 4.6 seconds) and (reportedly) reliability. Nineteen-inch wheels and tires, gigantic disc brakes all around and a large diameter front stabilizer bar speaks to the car's intention to challenge-if not crush-the likes of vehicles no less than Porsche, Audi and BMW. This competition extends to the XLR-V's dramatic interior, with Black Olive Ash wood appointments, hand-wrapped leather surrounding both driver and passenger, built-in Bluetooth for cell phones, an aircraft-type heads-up-display system, and a 6.5"-diagonal LCD touch-screen color display which controls a 6-disc in-dash CD changer, the 9-speaker Bose Sound System and GPS unit, along with other functions.

Initial test drive results suggest that Cadillac may very well have licked its Germanic rivals, and that it is only its lingering reputation in as a maker of lumbering luxury automobiles that keeps it from taking its place as one of the premier sports car manufacturers in the world. We'll see. Expect to part with just over $100,000. We know, but there is a recovery going on and all.