Cadillac BLS in the US!
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But not right now.
Cadillac could actually decide to sell us the small, Saab 9.3 based, BLS for the 2009 model year.
Just when it is scheduled for a few changes.
I guess they are selling so few in Europe, they need to get some kind of a return on that investment.
It might also mean they are moving the next CTS a bit upmarket.
I always thought the BLS could be a good car for the US, except maybe for the FWD.
When it comes to the US, expect some major changes in both exterior and interior design. The next CTS will take Cadillac design to the next level and judging by the interior(which will look like one of the best in it’s class), the BLS will have to kick it up a notch.
The problem with GM is that they continue to lack any understanding of how to maintain the integrity of their upscale brands. They launched this “platform” with the Malibu, then the SAAB, then the G6, the BLS and finally the Aura. Any decent brand doesn’t launch a product with your cheap stuff first. When the perception is that the BLS or 9-3 is a tarted-up Malibu, it makes it tough to justify the expensive stuff. The product launch of this platform, or any future shared platforms should be the expensive stuff first. The product launch for any future should begin with Caddy/SAAB/Hummer, then Buick, then Pontiac/Saturn, then Chevy. Look at the negative noise we hear about the fact that the MKZ is based off of the Fusion, which is based off a Mazda 6. The MKZ should have come first, then trickle down to the entry level brands.
Makes sence.
Smart idea.
Logical
Three reasons why they won’t do it…
If this car came here and had a decent amount of style and power it would be worthwhile.
$25,000 base price with leather and sunroof
$27,000 add navigation
$29,000 sport model
It’d make a great “second car”
What do you expect from GM ?
autoweek saids the bls will not be coming here, because it will be to close to the cts in price….and the bls seems to be doing ok in europe not great but ok, which isnt bad for a car based off a car that isnt selling in europe….and besides the saab 9-3 and cts are technically competitors the bls is just a nicer version of the 9-3 and from what ive read a little more expensive, so it wouldnt make sense to have 3 gm cars competing with each other in the same country, but hey gm has been doing it
Well, if they cant sell it in Euro, might as well dump it back to the American. I always wonder why GM needed so many brand when Toyota do very well with just 3 (Toyota, Lexus, Scion) or 5, include Hino (Truck) and Daihatsu (mini car)
I don’t think the BLS will make it to the U.S.
Makes more sense for the smallest Caddy to be the CTS which is about the size of a Honda Accord, and make make an upscale smaller Buick unless Buick goes the way of Oldsmobile.
Making too many Cadillac-branded cars of all sizes makes little sense for a company with so many brands to satisfy.
GM and Cadillac aren’t BMW which has been able to make very different cars all carrying the BMW brand.
But if Pontiac and Buick were dropped, a small Caddy would make sense.
Ok! I’m still waiting to get excited, but so far nothing different or new.
[quote]Anonymous said…
If this car came here and had a decent amount of style and power it would be worthwhile.
$25,000 base price with leather and sunroof
$27,000 add navigation
$29,000 sport model
It’d make a great “second car”
[/quote]
Well at those price levels, why don’t you just get a Saab 9-3. Same thing as the BLS, but with more Euro-Sytling and it’s already here.
It looks nice–I’d be interested if it weren’t for the Saab underpinnings, although with the Cadillac badge, it may have better resale value than a Saab.
GM needs to shift all of their cars around. The SAAB 9/3 should really be in the Chevy showroom as a Malibu. Then it would be honest competition to the Camcord and Fusion. SAAB needs a quirkier car… along the lines of the Mazda 6 5-door. Cadillac should bring the BLS here, but not as a FWD car. Cadillac should never offer another wrong-wheel drive “luxury” car. AWD or RWD only.
Well at those price levels, why don’t you just get a Saab 9-3. Same thing as the BLS, but with more Euro-Sytling and it’s already here.
Good point. And it looks like the door panels are straight out of the Saab anyway.
It has always amused me the way some people think a Cadillac is something special to own. But if they like them, that’s what counts. At least the brand is better now than it has been in decades.