Caddy BLS: First Euro Test Drive

[nadepalma]

Source: http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do...ticleId=110156

The Cadillac the U.S. can't have
By Alistair Weaver Email
Date posted: 04-24-2006

As Shakespeare's Hamlet might have put it, "When is a Cadillac not a Cadillac? That is the question." The answer, in the case of the new BLS, might well be, "When it's a Saab 9-3 in drag." Faced with a surplus of capacity at Saab's Trollhattan plant in Sweden, somebody in the GM empire decided to re-engineer the Saab 9-3 to carry Cadillac badges. The result is the BLS — the first Cadillac sedan to be offered with a diesel engine and the first Cadillac that won't be sold in the U.S.

The European advertising campaign self-consciously proclaims that the BLS is "more than a car, it's a Cadillac," but few people in Europe really know what that means. The recent revival of the brand in the U.S. has gone almost unnoticed, and for most Europeans, a Cadillac is still painted pink, covered in wings, and driven by a wannabe Marilyn. Whether enough customers will be willing to swap their BMW 3 Series for an unknown quantity remains to be seen, and Cadillac's sales aspirations are realistically modest — the aim is to shift no more than 400 in the U.K. this year, for example.

It looks like a Caddy on the outside…
Cadillac's stylists have done a fine job of re-clothing GM's front-drive Epsilon platform, which the BLS shares with the Saab and the Opel Vectra. The aesthetic influence of the larger, chisel-edged CLS is immediately apparent and U.S. enthusiasts would instantly recognize it as a Caddy. The vertically stacked headlights, cheese-grater grille and central "spine" are present and correct, and so are the stylized taillamps.

But the BLS's lines are also softer and more curvaceous than those of the CLS, in line with European tastes. It's less likely to polarize opinion than its big brother, and the styling is unlikely to offend customers who might otherwise have chosen a 3 Series or an Audi A4.

…but not on the inside
Having worked so hard to hone an "authentic" exterior, Cadillac's stylists appear to have given up on the cabin. The distinctive style of the rest of the Caddy range has been eschewed in favor of a bland ****************pit that could have been plucked from any Euro-box. There's nothing particularly wrong with it — the quality of the plastics is good, there's plenty of kit and everything's sensibly laid out — but it's utterly devoid of flair. Given that the BLS seeks to appeal by being different, this is a major oversight.

Cabin space is also a worry. The front seats — pinched from Saab — are exceptionally comfortable, but those behind must cope with a paucity of legroom and headroom. It might be big enough for skinny Parisians, but burger-munching Texans would soon complain. A 3 Series feels much more capacious.

A diesel Caddy?
Here's something to conjure with: This Cadillac uses a diesel engine that was developed by Fiat for Saab. Such an engine is critical in the European sport compact class, where the majority of people now stop at the black pump. The unit in question is a 1.9-liter common-rail turbodiesel that develops 148 hp and 236 lb-ft of torque. 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). It's not as smooth as BMW's four-cylinder diesel, but it's competent enough and there's plenty of midrange pull. Our test car was equipped with a six-speed manual gearbox, which offers competent if slightly long-winded shifts.

Two turbocharged, Saab-sourced 2.0-liter petrol engines are also offered, boasting 173 hp and 208 hp, respectively, but these were unavailable for test. Topping the range is a 2.8-liter V6 turbo with 252 hp and 262 pound-feet of torque. This car is rapid — equipped with a six-speed automatic, it will sprint from 0-62 mph in 7.5 seconds and reach 152 mph — and would be the model most likely to appeal to the U.S. market.

In Europe, though, the V6 will be a slow seller. Its average consumption of 26.2 mpg makes it an expensive choice in countries where gas costs the equivalent of $6.50 per U.S. gallon. The front-wheel-drive setup also struggles to cope with the power — torque-steer is a major problem under hard acceleration. Few people are likely to swap their BMW 330i for the BLS V6.

Mediocre dynamics
The BLS shares its suspension hardware — MacPherson struts at the front and four links at the rear — with the 9-3, but it's been extensively retuned. Caddy's marketing boffins reckon that it combines agility with a comfortable ride, but anyone expecting BMW levels of driver interaction will be disappointed. The BLS rides nicely, but the keen body control and sensual feedback of the 3 Series is missing. The steering is utterly devoid of feel, denying the driver the confidence to place the car accurately on the road. On Europe's ever-twisting blacktop, such feedback is crucial. Similarly, the brakes are effective but no more.

Priced to sell
Cadillac has priced the BLS around 5-10 percent lower than its main rivals from BMW, Mercedes and Audi. In the U.K., it costs from £20,750 ($36,350) to £32,398 ($56,800) and the company is hoping to appeal to management types who've grown bored of the ubiquitous 3 Series and might otherwise have chosen a Jaguar, Volvo or Lexus.

It will be a tough sell. The BLS is adequate, but far from groundbreaking and in such a competitive market, mere competency is not enough. Nor is it sufficiently different to its rivals to warrant special attention. 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. This is a strange and disappointing way to treat a famous brand. U.S. buyers should not feel like they're missing out.


A rare sight on the continent: a Cadillac grille with a Euro license plate.

The Cadillac BLS offers good proportions and a clean shape to the European luxury-sedan market.

The BLS hides its Saab 9-3 roots quite well in a shape that owes everything to Cadillac's new hard-edged styling language.

2006 Cadillac BLS

Good materials adorn the BLS interior, but the design flair ain't there.

Utterly devoid of style, especially compared to its exterior, the BLS's interior challenges you to identify it as belonging to a luxury sedan.

2006 Cadillac BLS Interior

BLS power in Europe comes courtesy of a choice of four engines, including a 1.9-liter inline-four turbodiesel, a pair of Saab turbo V6s, and a top-dog 252-horsepower, 2.8-liter turbocharged V6.

The detail work and Cadillac styling cues really make the BLS exterior appealing.

[gerardo_zg]

CLS? They meant CTS, right?

[Mikkoo]

Comparing the styling to the CLS?? This writer can't even get the name correct. That said it's in line with other reviews I've seen on the BLS. Most point to an average vehicle that doesn't stand out dynamically, but has a nice presence styling wise.

[steve333]

Caddy has RWD cars to fight BMW here in the States, but gives Europe a FWD car? Absolutely moronic.
However, put that interior in the malibu and you have a winner.

[expyfan]

CLS, awesome,lol, is that a new car i don't know about, lol. He is an auto writer and he can't even get three letters right.

[gerardo_zg]

Originally Posted by expyfan

CLS, awesome,lol, is that a new car i don't know about, lol. He is an auto writer and he can't even get three letters right.

You don't know about the CLS? What a shame, it's a beautiful piece of engineering and the sexiest sedan around.

[jzEllis]

Originally Posted by expyfan

CLS, awesome,lol, is that a new car i don't know about, lol. He is an auto writer and he can't even get three letters right.

my sentiments exactly..............especially when considering that he may have been refering to mercedes's CLS.
no comparison what so ever!

[JVal14]

Originally Posted by steve333

Caddy has RWD cars to fight BMW here in the States, but gives Europe a FWD car? Absolutely moronic.
However, put that interior in the malibu and you have a winner.

The BLS is smaller than the CTS, which will grow even larger in the next iteration. So they are in seperate classes.

I'm of the opinion that the BLS is mostly a stop-gap until GM develops a more appropriate small Caddy for Europe and the U.S. They need to hurry though: the A-3, S40 and TSX already have a foothold, and BMW will probably bring the 1-Series here.

[2648562]

The only way to satisfy an automotive "tester's" need for feel is with ultra quick high effort steering, super low-profile tires, minimal body roll, a jolting flimsy suspension, and a horrible tight condition. The few "journalists" I've met couldn't drive their way out of a parking lot and they wouldn't know handling if it bit them on the @ass.

[asim]

I don't think the interior is that bad...although not good enough to be a cadillac. Also, I never noticed the GM bow-tie radio in there.

[2648562]

Originally Posted by gerardo_zg

You don't know about the CLS? What a shame, it's a beautiful piece of engineering and the sexiest sedan around.

Hey, I just noticed it's got an upside down version of Ford's Fusion grill.

Okay, well not quite. Geez I need some sleep.

[genjy]

There's no escaping from the almighty corporate radio, mortal! Muhaha.

[Butz]

The aesthetic influence of the larger, chisel-edged CLS

just to show you how unknown Cadillac is in Europe.

Cadillac's sales aspirations are realistically modest — the aim is to shift no more than 400 in the U.K

only 400! GM sells more Cadillacs in Saudi Arabia!

[rsbaker]

I like it! Best of all it looks like a Cadillac. I'm sure If they decide to do a "V" model it will address any concern anyone might have.

[rdj92807]

Looks nice. I like the BLS better than the CTS. It might sell in the USA well,
especially with a TDI engine/42 mpg.