Eurosport: Cadillac BLS Sport unveiled for Europe
GM's getting pretty serious about globalizing the Cadillac brand. You know they're serious because they're not just exporting cars built for American buyers to overseas markets, they're actually making cars specifically for Europe that aren't even available here, like the BLS. Based on the Saab 9-3, the BLS puts Cadillac's edgy styling in a European package, and now Cadillac is raising the stakes a bit with the BLS Sport.
While no V-Series, the Sport model upgrades on the standard BLS with 18-inch rims, dropped suspension and fine-tuned handling. Inside the wood trim is replaced by brush aluminum (aluminium, with an extra I, to our overseas friends) and sportier-looking instrumentation. In overseas markets, leather trim is not the must-have option it is in the US, so that remains an option.
Power comes from a range of engines including two-liter turbocharged four-bangers producing 175 or 210 horsepower, a 255-hp V6 or a 150-hp common-rail turbodiesel.
Shame we don't get it here, but somehow we don't think anyone will be complaining once the upcoming new CTS is unveiled. It'd be interesting, however, to see how the BLS Sport stacks up against its platform mate, the Saab 9-3 Aero Sedan.
(Interior shot after the jump.)
[Source: Edmunds' Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Chris Cairns 1:27PM (9/22/2008)
The car looks good.But we have to review the sales of the car.We to have see the ratings.Just look this site for latest ratings and car reviews http://blog.buyingadvice.com/car_reviews
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Bill P. 3:13PM (1/05/2007)
It sure would be nice if, for once, the Europeans would be clamoring for a car available Stateside instead of the other way around. I hope the new CTS is that good.
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mainfr4me 3:29PM (1/05/2007)
I remember Top Gear when they drove this car I believe to a radio show they were doing, and they ripped on it a bunch. Particularly the back seat room and that they felt it was a bad rebadge job.
Glad GM is trying something though.
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Mike 3:48PM (1/05/2007)
This car is UGLY compared to last/present day generation of Cadillac, the grill is too big and the whole car is just too plain. In all seriousness new Camry old Accord look much better, Aura looks better, Fusion looks better
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retsel 3:32PM (1/05/2007)
they should have sent the US caddy across the pond
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dave 3:33PM (1/05/2007)
Nice--just rework the grille and change out the knobs so my $30k car doesn't have the same controls as a Malibu, and I'll call it my next 9-3.
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sp 4:03PM (1/05/2007)
300 ppl purchased it in europe, and sales are up by 3000%!!!!
:-)
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MikeW 5:03PM (1/05/2007)
Isn't there an Opel version of the mono turbo V6 that produces ~280hp?
or why not put the 3.6V6 with ~275hp
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Tiago do Vale 4:46PM (1/05/2007)
It's funny how GM wastes their money developing the BLS, and sell only 5000 cars a year (the europeans couldn't care less for Cadillac), instead of using the money with SAAB, a trully a global brand, selling more than 100 000 in Europe alone (and with an imense potencial to grow, as they have a range of only 2 cars: the 9-3 and the 9-5).
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Jiwa 6:16PM (1/05/2007)
I think it would do well in Canada.
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Fred 6:15PM (1/05/2007)
I remember that Top Gear show. Clarkson made a good point: who is going to bypass BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, and Infiniti to buy this?
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Chris Rock is not Funny 9:39PM (1/05/2007)
"It's funny how GM wastes their money developing the BLS, and sell only 5000 cars a year (the europeans couldn't care less for Cadillac), instead of using the money with SAAB, a trully a global brand, selling more than 100 000 in Europe alone (and with an imense potencial to grow, as they have a range of only 2 cars: the 9-3 and the 9-5)."
Please. No one gives a damn about Saab. They're boring Swedish cars with all the excitement of an '80s Volvo.
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$0.02 7:10PM (1/05/2007)
Why does this remind me of a AltimaSonata6FusionAccordCam? They won't win here with this.
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Calguy 9:13PM (1/05/2007)
I'll echo the comment about wasting development dollars (or Kroner, or Euro..) on this silly vehicle. If Caddy wants to grow its' customer base in Europe it would be better off waiting to develop really interesting alternative cars -not just more tired rebadging.
What Saab could have done with the money wasted on this number, I can only wonder. Perhaps BioFuel could be released faster in more Saab models. C'mon GM. Saab sales are up, world wide, spend some money and let Saab fly.
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Chris Rock is Hilarious! 1:31AM (1/06/2007)
not Funny wrote:
"Please. No one gives a damn about Saab."
Uhhh, Saab sells a lot more cars in Europe than any GM USA brand so I think someone cares about Saab. I think the point was well made by Tiago that GM would have been better off developing a well known brand than trying to create a brand in Europe that no one will buy.
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Edmond Dantes 8:29AM (1/06/2007)
The interior looks so much like my 2006 9-3 it's funny. I wonder if the BLS driver's seat squeaks like mine does and if the dash rattles too over bumps?
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steve 9:52PM (1/09/2007)
lets be patient c'mon it is a good start maybe in 10 year cadillac sells 50,000 well done gm
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yedkar 12:29PM (1/06/2007)
"aluminum (aluminium, with an extra I, to our overseas friends)"
more like:
"aluminum (aluminium, with an extra I, to the civilized world)"
haha that simple jab aside:
I have no figures with me, and nor have I driven the BLS, but from what I have read and seen (TopGear, car mags), the Cadillac BLS is a shoddy badge engineering job by GM thats desperately in need of a better engine, higher quality materials, and better fit and finish.
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