Originally Posted by ShawnQ
Either my engine bay is flat (no clear), or REALLY faded!

Roy, I'll show you next time I see you - I won’t be at Biff's this Friday though, going to a concert.
As for the Alabaster,
Here are references to Alabaster having a clearcoat:
From Chrysler (go to their site and build a 2006 model with alabaster clearcoat):
SQ
Thanks Shawn, I'm glad to see that my Alabaster XF is clearcoated. I hope you don't really think your engine compartment paint is faded. Could it have been repainted at some stage?