Filed under: Sedans/Saloons, Euro, Cadillac, GM, Saab
Cadillac BLS taken for spin in old country
(Photo by Lee Brimble)
The BLS is the first ever euro-only Cadillac, the purpose of which is to sop up some extra capacity at Saab’s Trollhattan plant where the 9-3 is having a tough time keeping workers busy. Basically a reskinned and retuned 9-3, the BLS had us hoping that Cadillac had a unique and compelling offering for the European market in which GM is currently doing pretty well. Unfortunately that doesn’t seem the case.
A review of the BLS is up on Inside Line in which Alistair Weaver rips the car a new one knocking it for its bland interior, disconnected handling and subpar diesel. While calling the BLS a bad car outright, Weaver shows that it doesn’t have the pedigree to go up against the BMW 3-Series and Audi A4. Cadillac appears aware of the car’s shortcomings as its sales expectations are extremely low. Only 400 units, for instance, are expected to find a home in the U.K. this year. The BLS isn’t going to be sold in the U.S., but apparently we’re not missing much.
[Source: Inside Line]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Bill 10:43AM (4/25/2006)
"The result is the BLS the first Cadillac sedan to be offered with a diesel engine ...."
I seem to recall some 5.7liter Sedan de Ville oil-burners in my hometown back in my teenage years.
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RossL 10:44AM (4/25/2006)
C'mon now - did anyone really expect a Cadillac that can go toe-to-toe with a 3-series or an A4? Of course not. GM is aiming for a different market here, and the review isn't quite as harsh as your summary implies. Not that I'd choose one of these, but not everyone wants a bimmer or an Audi. Sounds as though GM deserves a B-minus here. And if they learn something from this venture, we might all benefit in the long run.
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David 10:47AM (4/25/2006)
It doesn't look that bad to me, though as an American I guess I'm used to ultra-bland interiors. Exterior looks nice, too bad about the handling. Overall it could go somewhere with a little more finesse.
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Christian J 10:50AM (4/25/2006)
Well first of all its a FWD so, no it wouldn't even compete with thsoe cares for handling. I bet the quality is there, being as there are so few units and its obviously a pre-emptive strike. Just wait and see the next move from Caddy or Vauxhall.
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Optimus Prime 10:52AM (4/25/2006)
GM should drop this car asap ... its like the Jaguar x-type (the entry level car based on the ford). They keep releasing these ho-hum vehicles that tarnish their brand appeal (whatever that may be in Europe). Seriously, unless they can blow the socks off a 3-series (or come close to) they shouldnt be releasing this .... esp. since its a money loser.
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David 10:59AM (4/25/2006)
The BLS isn't that bad of an idea for Cadillac, they need to start somewhere. It's not like they have anywhere near as much to loose as Jaguar.
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David 11:05AM (4/25/2006)
Good Grief. If it was sold here, I would be at a Cadillac dealer buying one. It's an excellent alternative to the C-Class MB and the 3-Series BMW..et al.
Come on Caddy...GET REAL...people all over world want choice...not just Europe. How about canning the butt-ugly EEEKALADE and give us CARS...not TRUCKS. This just pisses me off so much because I hate to see Caddy shooting themselves in the foot. The really are the design leaders at this point. The cars are interesting and good. Couldn't this car be viewed as entry-level? Wouldn't this give Caddy salesmen a volume model to sell?
No wonder GM is flailing.
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LoneWolf 11:11AM (4/25/2006)
It's strange, here in Germany, the BLS costs only 900€ more than a Opel Vectra, but the Caddy has a better rear axle, a better equipment...i think that they can sell it here :)
Sry for my bad language.
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Fred 11:29AM (4/25/2006)
Also recall that in Europe, Audi sells a lot more FWD cars. The 9-3 and BLS certainly cross into that market. As LoneWolf pointed out, the BLS is only pitched slightly above the Vectra, pricewise, and therefore presumably substantially undercuts a FWD A4, or even A3, with similar equipment.
It does seem strange that when the 9-3 is a perfectly good FWD premium sedan, GM would ruin its handling and attempt to sell the result as a Cadillac. But if that means you can sell the 9-3 at a more competitive price, that addresses the Saab's biggest problem, which is that it costs too much.
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ca6 11:30AM (4/25/2006)
I don't see where they call the diesel sup-bar, they only say that it isn't as good as BMW's engines - and not a lot of engines in the world beats BMW's.
The engine is the same as fitted in the Alfa 156 and is actually a very good engine. (But then again, Americans aren't that used to European diesels)
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Michael Karesh 11:40AM (4/25/2006)
If you want to drive this car here, go take a 9-3 Aero for a spin. At least that's what I did a few weeks ago. Not a great car, but far from a bad one. The 2.8 turbo works well with the six-speed automatic. Frankly, it probably makes more sense as a Cadillac than as a Saab. A Saab should have more character.
My review of the Saab: http://www.epinions.com/content_226092289668
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Calvin 11:43AM (4/25/2006)
Just doesn't look like as auspicious start from Cadillac with a product like that. The bigger issue is, which is GM's luxury brand? What room would there be for Saab as Cadillac expands globally which they should, and Saturn/Opel just marginally more downmarket than Saab.
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Brent 11:48AM (4/25/2006)
"The diesel BLS will accelerate from zero to 62 mph (0-100 km/h) in 9.5 seconds (11 seconds for the automatic) and return an average of 46.3 mpg (39.2 mpg)."
Actually, Alistair Weaver, I do feel like I'm missing something. I'd take that mileage any day.
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RossL 11:50AM (4/25/2006)
David (#7) is right - the Escalade is a disgusting monstrosity.
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Fred 11:55AM (4/25/2006)
> A Saab should have more character.
You mean like the old 9-3 Viggen? A top-heavy, wheelspinning pig with 10 seconds of turbo lag all the way through the rev-range? I liked the concept and even the looks, but the execution was subpar. You could drive it fast: into a hedge.
As for the 900, driving it was perversely enjoyable (lots of headroom, the world's comfiest seats, a windshield you can actually see out of, etc.), but let's face it, the handling and cabin ergonomics were like a FWD version of an early-80s Ford Ranger. I rather like the fact that the current 9-3 addresses the latter issues.
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Clarence 11:58AM (4/25/2006)
It's all a name game. The perception in Europe is probably different than in the US. Perceived as a Cadillac it is not as well liked there as when perceived as a SAAB.
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Tool 11:58AM (4/25/2006)
The last paragraph summed-up what GM is so famous for:
"It might wear a Cadillac badge, but the BLS feels like what it is a half-hearted car built on a budget to soak up some excess capacity."
GM does best when it goes against its ingrained culture and produces something special. It's happening more and more, but this vehicle is definitely old-style Cadillac.
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jamie 12:13PM (4/25/2006)
Cimmaron failed.
Catera failed.
BLS is B*S
GM don't get it.
Stop reskinning and rebadging to make premium automobiles.
It didn't fly in America;
And Europeans are much more demanding.
The BLS looks great on the outside,
but is cheap on mechanicals and interior.
Love the biodeisel though.
Dump the buggy in the waste basket.
It could have been a world contender if GM stopped compromising with what luxury automobiles are all about.
I can hardly wait to hear Lutz's spin on how favorably Europe has embraced the new Cadillac! LOL
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Adam 12:18PM (4/25/2006)
Doesn't GM sell a competitor to the 3 and A4 in the CTS? Why oh why is GM OBSESED with rebadging cars? What it the point? I think GM relies WAAAAAY to much on brand loyalty and heritage. They use that heritage to sell the sam car under 6 differnet brands (and six different prices) and expect people to be impresed by any one of them? please.
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naif 12:31PM (4/25/2006)
more of the typical GM thinking ( not ) we will just build another mediocre vehicle, if it sells ok, if not oh well. we can always spread the failure around to the suppliers, the workers or just blame the public for not buying it. why does anyone even wonder why GM is failing?
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