Cadillac BLS
| Cadillac BLS | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Saab (General Motors) |
| Production | 2005–2009 in Sweden 2009–2010 in Russia |
| Assembly | Trollhättan, Sweden Kaliningrad, Russia[1]/[2] |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Compact executive car (D) |
| Body style | 4-door saloon 5-door estate |
| Layout | FF layout |
| Platform | GM Epsilon platform |
| Related | Fiat Croma Chevrolet Malibu Opel Insignia Opel Signum Opel Vectra Saab 9-3 Saturn Aura |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.9 L Fiat turbodiesel I4 2.0 L turbocharged Ecotec LK9 I4 2.8 L HFV6 V6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed automatic 6-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,680 mm (105.5 in) |
| Length | 4,680 mm (184.3 in) 4,716 mm (185.7 in) (Wagon) |
| Width | 1,750 mm (68.9 in) 1,752 mm (69.0 in) (Wagon) |
| Height | 1,470 mm (57.9 in) 1,543 mm (60.7 in) (Wagon) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Cadillac Cimarron |
| Successor | Cadillac ATS |
The Cadillac BLS was a compact executive car marketed in Europe by Cadillac, sharing General Motors' Epsilon architecture, as a restyled variant of the Saab 9-3. Development was carried out by Saab and the car was manufactured in Trollhättan, Sweden, alongside the Saab 9-3 and the Saab 9-5. Sales of the sedan began in March 2006, with a station wagon joining the line for 2007. Starting in 2007, the BLS was sold in the Middle East, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea. It was never sold in the United States or in Canada.
BLS production reached 3,257 in 2006[3] and 2,772 in 2007.[3][4] Production ended in 2009.[5]
Features
The BLS was available with a diesel engine (a 1.9 L turbocharged four-cylinder) and two petrol engines (a 2.8 L turbocharged V6 and a 2.0 L available with two power levels).
At 184.3 in (4,681 mm) in overall length, the BLS was almost six inches shorter than the CTS, the smallest Cadillac that was available in the United States or Canada.
Engines:
- 1.9 L Fiat turbodiesel I4 16v, 150 hp (110 kW)
- 1.9 L Fiat turbodiesel I4 16v, 180 hp (132 kW) (2007-)
- 2.0 L Ecotec LK9 I4, mid-pressure turbo, 175 hp (129 kW)
- 2.0 L Ecotec LK9 I4, high-pressure turbo, 210 hp (154 kW)
- 2.0 T FlexPower 200 hp (147 kW)
- 2.8 L HFV6 V6, turbo, 250 hp (184 kW)
Differences from the SAAB 9-3
Though a large percentage of BLS components were shared with the SAAB 9-3, the BLS was differentiated from the 9-3 throughout the exterior and interior.[6]
- Unique exterior sheetmetal and lighting elements.
- Different wheel options.
- Unique upper dashboard design with integrated analog clock between central air vents.
- Redesigned center console with dual cupholders, eliminate the 9-3s flip-out cupholder.
- Traditionally-mounted ignition in steering wheel column.
- Unique instrument cluster gauge design
- Additional seat stitching
- Unique head-rests
- Cadillac logo replaced SAAB logo on engine covers and first-aid kits
Reviews
- Auto Express
[7]
'The BLS is OK, but offers nothing new in a market overflowing with talent.' - Evo
[8]
[+] Stylish and quiet
[-] Pushes no boundaries. - Honest John [9]
Positives: Based on the Saab 9-3 so decent handling. Well proven mechanicals. Saab-grade safety.
Negatives: The ride is far from forgiving. Automatic doesn't work well with the V6 turbo, which also has overly light steering. - Verdict On Cars [10]
'Average. It's built in Europe, shares most of its underpinnings with a Saab and will never see America - meet the strangest Cadillac ever.'
Name
 |
The BLS is known by many as the "Bob Lutz Special" - a reference to Vice Chairman Bob Lutz who oversaw all GM product development at the time. Lutz, a supporter of badge engineering, wanted to leverage the SAAB 9-3 to fill holes in Cadillac's product range.
The reference to Bob Lutz can be viewed both as support and as criticism of his strategy. While the BLS was a market failure, many of the techniques of badge engineering employed in the BLS resulted in other GM product successes, most notably a significant improvement in overall passenger car product quality and performance output.
Under Lutz's revamped strategy, most Cadillac model names had no meaning (aside from preceding models, such as DTS for Deville Touring Sedan, or CTS for Catera Touring Sedan). Hence, the BLS has no official name for its abbreviation - fueling the community namesake.
While GM has never formally said why the BLS bore its name, it is likely the B was chosen for being smaller than the CTS mid-size sedan, L for Luxury, and S for Sedan. This is consistent with the Seville Luxury Sedan, or later the Cadillac SLS.
References
- ^ "Группа компаний Автотор :: Автомобили GM". Avtotor.ru. Archived from the original on 2016-02-10. Retrieved 2010-05-22.
- ^ "GM 2009". Archived from the original on 2011-09-04. Retrieved 2010-05-15.
- ^ a b Automobil Revue, catalog 2008, p. 47
- ^ auto motor und sport, #3/2008, p.13
- ^ Lienert, Anita (2009-08-18). "It's the End of the Line for the Cadillac BLS in Europe". Edmunds Inside Line. Edmunds Inc. Archived from the original on 2009-08-21. Retrieved 2013-08-16.
- ^ "Scandinavian Cadillac: The 2007-2009 Cadillac BLS Wagon". Wagon Source.
- ^ "Cadillac BLS". Auto Express. Retrieved 2014-06-28.
- ^ http://www.evo.co.uk/carreviews/evocarreviews/65832/cadillac_bls.html
- ^ "Car-By-Car Reviews - Cadillac BLS (2006 - 2010)". Honest John. Archived from the original on 2014-09-23. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
- ^ "Cadillac BLS". Verdict On Cars. Archived from the original on 2005-02-23. Retrieved 2014-06-23.
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