Cadillac BLS

Manufacturer	Saab (General Motors)
Production	2006–2009 (Sweden) 2009–2010 (Russia)
Assembly	Sweden.Russia:
Designer	Bryan Nesbitt
Class	Motor Car
Body style	4-door saloon 5-door estate
Layout	FF layout
Platform	GM Epsilon platform
Engine	Petrol: 2.0 L Ecotec LK9 turbo I4 2.8 L HFV6 turbo V6 Diesel: 1.9 L Fiat JTD turbodiesel I4
Transmission	5-6 speed automatic 5-6 speed manual
Wheelbase	2,680 mm (105.5 in)
Length	4,680 mm (184.3 in) 4,716 mm (185.7 in) (estate)
Width	1,750 mm (68.9 in) 1,752 mm (69.0 in) (estate)
Height	1,470 mm (57.9 in) 1,543 mm (60.7 in) (estate)

The Cadillac BLS is a mid -size vehicle of the US vehicle manufacturer Cadillac , which was designed as the only Cadillac model to date exclusively for the European market.

History 

First shown by General Motors at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2005, the new Cadillac BLS saloon adds another important element to Cadillac’s growing international presence. The front-wheel drive BLS offers availability in both right-hand and left-hand drive with turbo petrol and turbo diesel engines. The  first Cadillac with a diesel variant. 

“The BLS was developed for luxury customers, with particular attention to the demands of the European and other international markets,”The right-hand drive Cadillac BLS was launched in April 2006 in the UK, and its introduction throughout Europe will help to more than double the brand’s sales volume in Europe during 2006. The saloon was built at the GM plant in Trollhättan, Sweden. 

Although Cadillac enjoys a reputation as a premium brand in Europe , the heavy cars with large gasoline engines found little buyers there. Bob Lutz , GM's vice director, intended to make Cadillac sales more global and more responsive to local markets.  In the summer of 2003 was created in Cadillac Design Center, the idea of a Cadillac model for Europe, this contact with the design department was Saab Automobile was added (which at that time the European premium brand of GM was), and arranged for the time being separately on the idea work and meet later. In November 2003 the joint presentation took place in Sweden.

The BLS was finally developed as type YSCF by an American-Swedish team at Saab Automobile, where the production took place. In the design team in Mölnlycke u. a. the Cadillac designer Chip Thole, which the Exterior designed, Lars Falk, who was in charge of the Interior, and Simon Padian and Michael Mauer. The foreseeable low quantity resulted in a consistent equal parts strategy, while the BLS does not have a sheet metal part with a sister model Saab 9-3 together, the BLS specific development costs  were 1 billion crowns (then around US $ 140 million). As a concept study, the vehicle was at the Geneva Motor Show First presented in formal form in 2005 and as a production model at the IAA of thesame year. 

In spring 2006, the notchback sedan of the BLS came on the market.  The car was offered in four trim levels: Business, Elegance, Sport and Sport Luxury. The 4.7-metre long Cadillac BLS design was conceived by an international team of designers led by GM Vice President of Design Ed Welburn. The vehicle has clear, sharply defined contours, a striking wedge shape profile and an elegant interior. Its development focused on matching customers’ expectations of performance, ride, handling and refinement to Cadillac‘s unique ‘Art & Science’ design language. 

The most striking features of BLS are the vertical lines at the front and rear ,the V-shaped chrome-plated grille, a classic Cadillac design cue, is picked up again by the boot lid.

Internally, the car was called B-segment Luxury Sedan , from which the name is likely to be derived. The purpose of the model was to contribute to the awareness of the brand in Europe and to improve somewhat the lack of capacity at Saab, advance notice of the manufacturer went in advance of low volume, since in Europe offered two different vehicles in the same segment with the BLS. In addition to Europe, the saloon was also offered to several other markets, including South Africa, Arabia, South Korea and Mexico. The beginning of 2007 was followed by the presentation of the BLS Wagon as the first station wagon in the brand history of Cadillac. The formal presentation took place at the IAA 2007.

The Dutch company Kroymans, which in Europe u. a. sold the brand Cadillac as a general importer, went into bankruptcy in February 2009, at the same time it became apparent that GM had before, the troubled subsidiary Saab Automobile (where the BLS was manufactured) to handle. Production of the BLS was set in June 2009, only for the Russian market  nor copies in were in small numbers by the end of 2010 Avtotor in Kaliningrad assembled under license. In total, only 7356 copies were created.  In September 2012, was ATS presented as a successor model, the end of 2012 they had their sales in Europe.

The BLS is based on the GM Epsilon platform and therefore has front-wheel drive. A close relationship exists with the Saab 9-3 ; Both models were built in the same factory in Sweden. The car was counted to the middle class, but is much larger than other cars in this category, about 90 mm longer than the then Audi A4. The windows are fully retractable, which is structurally possible only with a few models. The audio systems were supplied by Bose.

In front, jewel-like, vertically stacked headlights featuring bi-xenon technology are mounted directly above fog lamps integrated into the bumper, on both sides of the chrome-framed egg-crate grille with prominent Cadillac badge. The deep front bumper with three prominent air intakes. All BLS models are supplied with seven-spoke alloy wheels. The BLS features the latest LED technology in the centre high-mounted brake light, which is prominently positioned on the boot lid and extends across the full width of the vehicle. The vertical taillights are another design element that leaves no doubt the BLS is a Cadillac. The vehicle’s distinctive wedge shape is also very aerodynamic, with a drag coefficient of Cd 0.31. The dual-purpose centre high-mounted stop light also functions as a spoiler to smooth airflow over the rear of the body, reducing fuel consumption and increasing stability. 


Inside the multi-adjustable front seats have a wide range of movement and seat up to five adults. Adjustable head restraints and three-point seat belts are provided for all five occupants. Headroom in front (988 mm) and legroom in the back (892 mm). The boot capacity of 425-litres can be increased by folding forwards part or all of the rear-seat backrest, which has a 60/40 split. The BLS has a three-spoke leather-covered steering wheel, three dial instrument panel with white numerals and red needles on a black background. The centre stack features a square analog clock set between two large fully adjustable air vents, and above the audio system, the heating and ventilation controls. The centre stack, outboard air vents, instrument dials and twin floor console cup holders are all ringed in chrome. 

With a wheelbase of 2675 mm and a wide track of 1524 mm (front) and 1506 mm (rear), fully independent suspension, The suspension features MacPherson struts in front and a four-link system at the rear. The spring and shock absorber rates, the two anti-roll bars, fast-geared (2.97 turns lock-to-lock) rack-and-pinion steering, Turning circle is 10.9 metres, kerb to kerb.  The standard wheel and tyres for BLS are with the three trim/equipment levels for Europe. The SE is equipped with 6.5J x 16-inch seven-spoke aluminum wheels shod with 215/55 R16 tyres. Stepping up the range, the ‘Luxury’ models comes with 7.0J x 17-inch alloys and 225/45 R17 tyres. The top of the line ‘Sport Luxury’ models comes with wider, larger, 7.5J x 18-inch alloy wheels equipped with 225/45 R18 tyres. 

all-disc braking system features standard ventilated front discs.  Sized to make maximum use of the space within the alloy wheels, the SE has 285 x 25 mm front discs and 278 x 12 mm solid discs at the rear. Luxury models have similar front discs and larger, thicker 292 x 20 mm ventilated rear discs. For V6-powered Sport Luxury models, the same size rear discs are used, but the ventilated front discs are upgraded to 314 x 28 mm items.  

In addition to four-channel ABS, traction control (TCS) and electronic brake assist, the Cadillac is also fitted with cornering brake control (CBC). When the brakes are applied on a bend, CBC regulates the brake pressure at each wheel individually, increasing cornering stability. The StabiliTrak electronic stability system is fitted as standard for the UK market. Chassis sensors monitor steering angle, yaw rate, wheel spin and road speed, and correct understeer and oversteer by automatic brake application at an individual wheel and/or easing the throttle to reduce engine revs until the car returns to the driver’s preferred path. 
Engines
On the engine side, the range is strongly based on the engines of the Saab 9-3. The 1.9-liter four-cylinder is the first turbocharged diesel engine in a Cadillac , previously there was an 1979 Oldsmobile diesel in the then Cadillac Seville . The common-rail unit is a joint development between Fiat and GM and provides in two variants 110 kW (150 hp) and 132 kW (180 hp) The gasoline engines are also turbo aggregates from Saab; The 2.0-liter engine is offered in two output levels with 129 kW (175 hp) and 154 kW (210 hp) and a 2.8-liter V6 engine, by GM-Holden (Australia), with 188 kW ( 255 hp).
Furthermore, a Flexpower mentioned variant of the weaker 2.0-liter four-cylinder offered with both gasoline, as well as E85 can be operated and its performance in the E85 mode by 18 kW to 147 kW increases. All engine variants are available with a six-speed manual transmission or with a five-speed or six-speed automatic transmission for an additional charge.

Diesel engine:
with a turbocharged diesel engine. The 1.9-litre D, 150 hp (110 kW), four-cylinder, 16-valve power unit torque, a maximum of 320 Nm (236 lb ft) from 2000 to 2750 rpm,  Acceleration to 62 mph takes just 9.5 seconds and top speed is 131 mph with manual transmission. six-speed manual transmission, the BLS delivers a fuel consumption of 46.3 mpg on the combined cycle, which, in combination with the 58-litre (12.7 gallon) tank, ensures an impressive range of more than 550 miles. Fitted with the six-speed automatic transmission, combined consumption is 39.2 mpg.The engine features four-valve technology, turbocharging with a variable geometry turbocharger and charge-air cooling, as well as Bosch EDC 16 variable multi-point direct fuel injection. Fuel is supplied to the cylinders via a latest-generation high-pressure common-rail injection system maintenance-free diesel particulate filter system with an upstream primary catalytic converter and an under floor catalytic converter.
Petrol engines:

The two 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engines develop 175 and 210 hp (129 and 154 kW) respectively, and share the same basic design characteristics. The maximum torque of 265 or 300 Nm (195 or 221 lb ft) respectively, is available at just 2500 rpm, which means high pulling power at low and medium engine speeds. 
all-aluminum engines are ‘square’ (both cylinder bore and stroke are the same – 86 mm) and have chain-driven double overhead camshafts operating 16-valves, a counter-rotating balancing shaft and a dual-mass flywheel to ensure maximum refinement and minimum noise and vibrations. The turbocharger is positioned immediately behind the transversely mounted engine, thereby guaranteeing that the front catalytic converter warms up quickly. This reduces cold-start fuel consumption and emissions. 

With a manual transmission, acceleration to 62 mph takes 8.5 seconds (175 hp engine) and 7.7 seconds (210 hp), while top speeds are 137 mph and 146 mph. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is 37.2 mpg and 33.2 mpg respectively. With automatic transmission the ‘combined’ figures are 31.4 mpg and 31.0 mpg. 

The aluminum 2.8-litre V6 gasoline engine has a twin-scroll turbocharger and a maximum output of 255 hp. This state-of-the-art unit, part of a new generation of engines used globally by GM, offers plenty of power in all driving conditions, thanks to a maximum torque figure of 365 Nm (258 lb ft) generated at a low 2000 rpm. The intercooled turbocharger, located centrally above the transmission, has an integral charge pressure control valve. The continuously variable, electronically controlled and hydraulically actuated phasing of the intake camshafts ensures rapid response and plenty of torque even at lower engine speeds. They can be rotated with respect to the crankshaft across a range of 50 degrees. This optimally aligns the valve timing and the gas exchange to the engine load and speed. The intake and outlet camshafts are made of high-strength aluminum, which means they are lightweight, heat-resistant. With a manual transmission, acceleration to 62 mph takes 6.7 seconds and top speed is 155 mph. Fuel consumption on the combined cycle is 27.7 mpg and 26.2 mpg with automatic transmission.