Cadillac BLS
| Cadillac BLS | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer |
Saab (General Motors) Avtotor |
| Production | 2005–2009 Sweden 2009–2010 in Russia |
| Assembly |
Trollhättan, Sweden Kaliningrad, Russia/ |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Entry-level luxury car |
| Body style | 4-door saloon 5-door estate |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | GM Epsilon platform |
| Related |
Fiat Croma Chevrolet Malibu Opel Insignia Opel Signum Opel Vectra Saab 9-3 Saturn Aura |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 1.9 L Fiat turbodiesel I4 2.0 L turbocharged Ecotec LK9 I4 2.8 L HFV6 V6 |
| Transmission | 5-speed automatic 6-speed automatic 5-speed manual 6-speed manual |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,680 mm (105.5 in) |
| Length | 4,680 mm (184.3 in) 4,716 mm (185.7 in) (Wagon) |
| Width | 1,750 mm (68.9 in) 1,752 mm (69.0 in) (Wagon) |
| Height | 1,470 mm (57.9 in) 1,543 mm (60.7 in) (Wagon) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Cadillac ATS |
The Cadillac BLS is an entry-level luxury car marketed in Europe by Cadillac. Based on General Motors' Epsilon architecture, the BLS was a heavily restyled version of the Saab 9-3. The development was done by Saab and the car cost more than one billion kronor (approximately $140 million) to design. It was manufactured in Trollhättan, Sweden, alongside the Saab 9-3 and the Saab 9-5. Sales of the sedan began in March 2006, with a station wagon joining the line for 2007. The BLS was introduced to the Arabian, Mexican, South African, and South Korean markets for the 2007 model year. It was never sold in the American market. The BLS was not successful; in 2007, Cadillac produced 2,772 cars at the Trollhättan factory, with 282 sold in Germany, a market with total annual sales of 3.15 million. Production figures for 2007 were down from 3,257 in 2006. Production of the BLS ceased in 2009 as a result of the poor sales.
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 available in North America.
Engines:
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. Lutz, a supporter of badge engineering, wanted to leverage the SAAB 9-3 to fill holes in Cadillac's product gap.
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