Cadillac BLS : CADDY SHACK

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A `small' Cadillac will make as much sense to some buyers as a big Mini. Andy Enright takes a look at the BLS and thinks it may appeal to those looking for something a little differentâ€¦

Unless, like me, you're an unreconstructed car nerd, the `Epsilon platform' probably won't 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.

It's also a very smart piece of product development. Rather than plough enormous amounts of money into a model that, despite Cadillac's boldest projections, will always be a niche player in European markets, the BLS could only be realised on the basis of shared costs. As long as the fundamentals are right, and there's a decent amount of scope for each manufacturer to put their personal stamp on the cars, then the formula's a winner. Volkswagen have been doing it for years and take a look underneath many Nissans and Renaults, you'll find common engineering. Where the BLS is particularly interesting is that it dives straight into a market niche between the mainstream manufacturers and the prestige brands. It's 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, you'll 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 you're that person, here's 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 you'll 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. There's 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 that's 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 engine's torque response have been slashed dramatically. The 1.9-litre TiD's 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 600Âº 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. There's a choice of saloon or `Wagon' estate bodystyles. Go for the estate and you'll find that unlike many vehicles that campaign in this class, the Caddy offers some serious carrying capacity. There's 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 you'll need to find £27,495. You'll 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 isn't 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 car's hipline looks sharp enough to slice prime rib and the interior is certainly a cut above the usual American fare. There's 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 needn't be financially ruinous to run a car that's smart, modern, distinctive and different. If you're fed up with the usual suspects, here's 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]