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Cadillac BLS

Cadillac background

Cadillac came into being as early as 1903 and is synonymous with the “American Dream” and big V8 engines. In South Africa the older folk will probably testify to the fact that only the rich and famous could afford a Cadillac. Today however, General Motors are in the process to repositioning the brand worldwide with models like the SRX crossover SUV, STS, CTS and the BLS.

The Cadillac BLS is a compact executive car designed specifically for the European market (you won’t find a BLS in America) by the Cadillac marque of General Motors. The car is based on GM's Epsilon architecture and is built in the same plant in Trollhättan, Sweden, that builds the Saab 9-3 and the Saab 9-5. Sales began on March 2006 in Europe and the BLS was introduced to the Arabian, Mexican, South African, and South Korean markets in 2007. The car has so far not been a huge success since introduction. In 2007, Cadillac sold a total of 282 cars on the German market (in a market totalling 3.15 million annual sales), and in 2006, just 3,257 cars left the factory in Sweden, followed by 2,772 in 2007. In South Africa sales haven’t picked up as expected and General Motors SA is struggling to get sales into the double digits.

The poor sales and the current resistance towards the Cadillac brand may contribute to poor resale values. This is an important reality that any fleet manager needs to pay attention to in order to minimise cost of operations. The purchase of vehicles for a fleet should be a business decision and not an emotional decision; therefore we want to present you with the facts in this long term test of the Cadillac BLS 2.0 automatic.

Cadillac in South Africa

General Motors South Africa announced in October 2006 that it would be introducing a range of Cadillac models into the South African market. That promise has become a reality with the release of the Cadillac BLS premium midsize sedan. Also for release in March 2007 was the Cadillac SRX.

Current Cadillac model range in South Africa (the test vehicle highlighted in yellow)

Model Description Price (VAT Incl.)   Cadillac BLS 1.9 D Manual  R 277 500.00  Cadillac BLS 2.0 T Manual  R 254 500.00  Cadillac BLS 2.0 T Automatic R 268 000.00  Cadillac BLS 2.8V6 Automatic R 369 250.00  Cadillac STS 4.6 V8 Automatic  R 494 600.00  Cadillac SRX 3.6L V6 Automatic  R 454 400.00

BLS Model Range Make CADILLAC CADILLAC CADILLAC CADILLAC Model BLS 2.0T BLS 2.0T AT BLS 1.9D BLS 2.8 V6 AT Specifications Price R254500 R268000 R277500 R369250 Type 4 Door Sedan 4 Door Sedan 4 Door Sedan 4 Door Sedan Gearbox M/6 A/5 M/6 A/6 Capacity 1998 cc 1998 cc 1910 cc 2792 cc Engine Longitudinal Inline 4 Longitudinal Inline 4 Longitudinal Inline 4 Longitudinal V 6 Power 131kW@5500 131kW@5500 110kW@4000 184kW@5500 Torque 265Nm@2500 265Nm@2500 320Nm@2000 350Nm@2000 Drive Wheels Front Front Front Front Fuel Average* 8.2 l/100km 9.5 l/100km 6.00 l/100km 10.8 l/100km 0-100 km/h* 8.7 9.7 9.8 7.6 Top Speed* 220 220 210 245 *Manufacturer claimed Service Interval 20000 Km 20000 Km 20000 Km 20000 Km

More information on Cadillac
Downloadable brochure
Downloadable spec list
Dealer locator
Visit Cadillac site

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