Cadillac BLS
Unless, like me, youre an unreconstructed car nerd, the Epsilon platform probably wont mean much. It means a lot to the senior suits in General Motors though because this is the vehicle chassis that the Vauxhall Signum, the Saab 9-3 and this model, the Cadillac BLS, all rest upon. This is the point where world-weary cynics will accuse General Motors of dressing up a Vauxhall in Cadillac clothes in order to realise a stonking profit, but the reality is quite different. Just as a Saab 9-3 has its own distinct personality, the BLS feels as if it could have come from nowhere but the US of A.
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Where the BLS is particularly interesting is that it dives straight into a market niche between the mainstream manufacturers and the prestige brands. Its an area that Saab have tried to exploit for some years alongside their Swedish counterparts Volvo, and now Cadillac find themselves joining the fray. Will the BLS merely cannibalise sales from its GM stablemate, Saab? Probably not. The sort of customer who buys a Saab is not quite such an extrovert as the sample BLS buyer.
If you like the edgy, radical styling of the Cadillac, youll likely be younger than the typical Saab demographic. You might have been thinking about buying a BMW 3 Series but were put off by the conservative styling or maybe the Audi A4 appealed but you could only afford the entry level car with almost no equipment to speak of. If youre that person, heres why the BLS might have your name on it.
"The Cadillac BLS offers distinctive styling, sensible running costs and a genuine alternative to the usual suspects"
The engineering underneath the car is tried and tested GM fare. That means that youll get a front-wheel-drive chassis with a choice of either 175bhp or 210bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo models or a 2.8-litre V6 turbo that punches out a hefty 255bhp.
Theres even a 2.0-litre petrol 200bhp Flexpower version that can run on bioethanol E85. The diesel range is served by a 1.9-litre direct injection turbodiesel engine thats good for either 150 or 180bhp, a first for Cadillac.
Even the 150bhp version will notch off the sprint to 60mph in just 9.3 seconds but the in-gear acceleration times that really indicate a diesel engines torque response have been slashed dramatically. The 1.9-litre TiDs powertrain includes the most advanced diesel particulate filter on the market, enabling Euro IV emissions compliance - an essential requirement for many company car drivers.
Unlike other particulate traps, it is maintenance-free and self-cleaning, requiring no additives or periodic replacement. In order to clean the filter and to keep the exhaust flow as free as possible, these deposits are periodically burnt off by short pulses of over-fuelling. These briefly raise exhaust temperatures to the required level of 600ΒΊ C. The process is automatically initiated when back pressure in the exhaust system reaches a certain level and is completely undetectable by the driver. The self-cleaning process takes place whenever necessary, irrespective of throttle load or engine temperature. Theres a choice of saloon or Wagon estate bodystyles.
Go for the estate and youll find that unlike many vehicles that campaign in this class, the Caddy offers some serious carrying capacity. Theres 419 litres available with the rear seats in place and a whopping 1,273 litres with the seats folded down. Pricing looks sharp with the entry-level 2.0-litre just slipping below the £21,495 barrier at £21,495, while the 1.
9-litre turbodiesel opens at £22,545. Opt for the range-topping 2.8 V6 model and youll need to find £27,495. Youll pay the same whether you go for a four or five-door variant.
Every BLS, both Wagon and Saloon, now comes in a single Elegance trim level with premium equipment such as leather trim, powered and heated front seats, a BOSE Surround Sound 11-speaker audio system, DVD sat-nav, hands-free Bluetooth phone system, dual zone climate control, cruise control, park distance sensors and StabiliTrak electronic dynamic stability control. The exterior styling is distinctive with a wedge-shaped profile and a look that isnt going to be confused with any other marque on the road. The huge vertically-stacked headlights and tail lights are interesting design touches and there are V-shaped motifs within the grille and the number plate surrounds. The crease along the cars hipline looks sharp enough to slice prime rib and the interior is certainly a cut above the usual American fare.
Theres often a disappointing sensation of getting into a cheap hire car at LAX whenever we sit in an American import but the BLS offers a clean if not adventurously styled fascia. Buying a Cadillac is never going to be an act too many of us will undertake, but the BLS at least proves that there is a place for the marque in this country and that it neednt be financially ruinous to run a car thats smart, modern, distinctive and different. If youre fed up with the usual suspects, heres a welcome alternative.
Facts At A Glance
CAR: Cadillac BLS range
PRICES: £21,495-£27,495 - on the road
INSURANCE GROUP: 14-17
CO2 EMISSIONS: [150bhp]159g/km
PERFORMANCE: [150bhp] 0-60mph 9.3s / Max Speed 130mph
FUEL CONSUMPTION: [150bhp] (average) 48mpg
STANDARD SAFETY FEATURES: Twin front, side and curtain airbags, ABS with EBD, Brake Assist, Traction Control
WILL IT FIT IN YOUR GARAGE?: Length/Width/Height 4635/2038/1466mm [est]
