Monday, February 14, 2005

GM The Cadillac BLS will debut next month in Geneva

Cadillac to introduce a small sedan - only for Europe

By John McCormick / Special to The Detroit News

GM The small sedan will only be sold in Europe. Comment on this story Send this story to a friend Get Home Delivery

Cadillac, making a major commitment to become a global luxury brand, plans to introduce a small sedan in spring 2006 that will be sold exclusively across Europe.

General Motors Corp.'s luxury unit will take the wraps off the BLS concept car at the Geneva motor show next month.

The front-wheel-drive sedan is based on the automaker's next generation Epsilon "premium" architecture. It will be produced in left and right-hand drive versions and compete with other front-drive, entry level luxury cars such as the Audi A4.

With the BLS in its lineup, Cadillac hopes to boost European sales to 20,000 units by 2010, up from a previous sales goal of 10,000. GM has already established five Cadillac Experience Centers as part a plan to open 115 sales points across Europe.

To appeal to more European consumers, the range of engines available in the BLS will include two diesel engines - a 1.9-liter turbo four-cylinder available initially and a 2.8 turbo V-6 to be offered later. Across Europe, 50 percent of new light vehicles sold are equipped with diesel engines.

Two turbocharged gasoline engines will also be offered: a 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine and a 2.8-liter V-6.

GM hasn't disclosed horsepower ratings for the various engines, but they will be unique to Cadillac.

While the BLS will share its chassis, frame and other basic underpinnings with other GM models, it will not share any body panels in common.

"Premium is not a question of vehicle size but purely of excellence," said Bob Lutz, chairman of GM North America. "And in this aspect, the Cadillac BLS will definitely be a top player in its league."

GM is investing more than $4 billion to overhaul Cadillac, add new models, and push the brand into new markets such as China.

Last year, Cadillac's global sales reached 245,000 units and U.S. sales rose 8 percent to 234,217 units -- its best showing since 1990. But it still trails rivals Mercedes-Benz and BMW, which now sell 1 million vehicles a year around the globe.

For Cadillac, the BLS represents an opportunity "to globally hit the fast lane," said general manager Jim Taylor.

"This new model underlines the brand's global ambitions and its key role in the premium segment," Taylor said.

The BLS uses similar angular styling and some of the same cues - vertical headlamps, LED center brake light - as current Cadillac sedans, notably the CTS and STS.

Designer Chip Thole said: "The most striking feature is the emphasis of the vertical lines on the front and rear. The characteristic V-form of the chrome-plated grille is picked up again by the trunk lid. The large side faces communicate a sense of strength and solidity."

Inside, the BLS also picks up the Cadillac family look and feel, with white-on-black analog gauges, three-spoke steering wheel and brushed aluminum trim. A DVD-based navigation system with touch-screen operation and Bluetooth-capable phone will be part of the equipment list.

The BLS chassis features McPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension. "The development of the chassis was focused to enable dynamic driving, but at the same time ensuring a ride with comfort," said Larry Craig, BLS engineering manager.

You can reach John McCormick at jmccormick@detnews.com.

GM The Cadillac BLS has angular styling like the CTS and STS.