Cadillac has some great products in its lineup right now such as the new Escalade, while the upcoming Lyriq - the brand's first electric vehicle - will usher in a new era for the company. But beyond traditional sedan and SUV body styles, Cadillac lacks a truly sporty, aspirational model. The Cadillac XLR, based on the Corvette C6, tried to fill that role but with limited success. A better bet may be a sporty, mid-engined Caddy based on the latest Corvette C8, a sports car that offers plenty of bang for the buck. Oscar Vargas has put together a couple of renderings of what a C8-based Caddy could look like.

In silhouette, the sporty Caddy render clearly resembles the C8, but with Cadillac styling cues, it has its own visual appeal. At the front, the dramatic headlight clusters with a vertical element that stretches deep into the front bumper is a look that instantly ties this sports car to Cadillac sedans like the CT5. A small interpretation of the Cadillac grille replaces the slanted front-end of the Corvette. Along the sides, the render boasts unique wheels, a smaller intake with an integrated V badge, and a more intricate design to the shape of the glasshouse behind the door. There are no renders of the rear-end, but it definitely looks like a legitimate Cadillac sports car from this angle.

This render is infinitely prettier than the original XLR and an earlier render of a C8-based Cadillac. In theory, this new Cadillac could make use of the C8's impressive 6.2-liter V8 engine that produces up to 495 horsepower and 470 lb-ft of torque. In the Corvette, that's enough to reach 60 mph in as little as 2.8 seconds, based on real-world testing. Inside, the Caddy could feature a few more luxurious touches to set it apart from the sporty 'Vette. If Cadillac does surprise us and build a low-volume sports car with a powerful gas engine, it had better do so while it still has time.