Cadillac BLS

The Cadillac BLS is a compact executive car that was 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 saloon began in March 2006, with an estate joining the line for 2007. Starting in 2007, the BLS was sold in the Middle East, Mexico, South Africa and South Korea.

Cadillac BLS
Overview
ManufacturerSaab (General Motors)
Production2005–2009 (Sweden)
2009–2010 (Russia)
AssemblyTrollhättan, Sweden (Saab Automobile)
Kaliningrad, Russia (Avtotor)[1][2]
Body and chassis
ClassCompact executive car (D)
Body style4-door saloon
5-door estate
LayoutFF layout
PlatformGM Epsilon platform
RelatedFiat Croma
Chevrolet Malibu
Opel Signum
Opel Vectra
Saab 9-3
Saturn Aura
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission5-speed automatic
6-speed automatic
5-speed manual
6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,680 mm (105.5 in)
Length4,680 mm (184.3 in)
4,716 mm (185.7 in) (estate)
Width1,750 mm (68.9 in)
1,752 mm (69.0 in) (estate)
Height1,470 mm (57.9 in)
1,543 mm (60.7 in) (estate)
Chronology
PredecessorCadillac Cimarron
SuccessorCadillac ATS
BLS Sedan rear
Cadillac BLS Estate rear

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:

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]

Interior
  • Unique exterior sheet metal and lighting elements on front and rear.
  • Different wheel options.
  • Unique upper dashboard design with an integrated analogue clock between central air vents.
  • Redesigned centre console with dual cupholders, eliminating the 9-3s flip-out cupholder.
  • Traditionally mounted ignition switch in steering column.
  • Unique instrument cluster gauge design. White background lighting instead of green.
  • Additional seat stitching.
  • Unique headrests on front seats.
  • Cadillac logo replaced Saab logo on engine covers, steering wheel 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.[11] 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.

According to GM, BLS stands for "B-segment Luxury Sedan", being in a smaller class than the CTS mid-size saloon. This is consistent with the Seville Luxury Sedan, later known as the Cadillac SLS in China.

References
  1. "Группа компаний Автотор :: Автомобили GM". Avtotor.ru. Archived from the original on 10 February 2016. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  2. "GM 2009". Archived from the original on 4 September 2011. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
  3. Automobil Revue, catalog 2008, p. 47
  4. auto motor und sport, #3/2008, p.13
  5. Lienert, Anita (18 August 2009). "It's the End of the Line for the Cadillac BLS in Europe". Edmunds Inside Line. Edmunds Inc. Archived from the original on 21 August 2009. Retrieved 16 August 2013.
  6. "Scandinavian Cadillac: The 2007-2009 Cadillac BLS Wagon". Wagon Source.
  7. "Cadillac BLS". Auto Express. Retrieved 28 June 2014.
  8. "Cadillac BLS | evo".
  9. "Car-By-Car Reviews - Cadillac BLS (2006 - 2010)". Honest John. Archived from the original on 23 September 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  10. "Cadillac BLS". Verdict On Cars. Archived from the original on 23 February 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2014.
  11. Hutton, Ray (6 January 2006). "2006 Cadillac BLS". Car & Driver. Retrieved 5 May 2021.
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