The more welearn about the Europe-only BLS model that Cadillac's launching at theFrankfurt auto show in a couple of weeks, the more we think how well it wouldwork here in Canada.
After all, theBLS has that killer Cadillac exterior style, but will be a little lessexpensive to buy and operate than the brand's current entry-level model -- thefabulous CTS -- because it's a little more compact and powered by smallerengines.
That stuffreally appeals to Canadians, because we have less money to spend on our carsthan our American cousins, or we don't like to spend as much money as they do,and because fuel is more expensive here.
This is why westill buy the unremarkable C-Class coupe from Mercedes after the Yanks turnedtheir backs on it, and why we'll get the B-Class from the same company and the1-Series from BMW while the Americans won't.
But the BLShas more promise than those entry-level German models, because underneath thatgreat exterior shell and the appealing interior is one of the most performance-orientedchasses in the world. That would be the mid-size Epsilon architecture that isthe basis for such admirable models as the Saab 9-3, the Opel Vectra andSignum, the Pontiac G6 and more.
The officialword on the BLS coming to Canadais that it might happen when the Epsilon architecture is revised in a couple ofyears. Right now, the 9-3 can only be built in Swedenand the Vectra in Germanyand the G6 in North America.
That meanswe'd have to bring the BLS in from Europe, andthe currency exchange situation is not favorable right now, to put it mildly.
But with thenext generation Epsilon architecture any factory that can build one model willbe able to build all of them, so GM would be able to build a BTS for less moneyon this continent. That would make the car a lot more affordable.
It helps morethan a little that the man in charge of the Cadillac division is a Canadian,namely Jim Taylor, who likes to joke that he is the most successful person toever come out of Peterborough, Ontario.
Officially, Taylor says that the BLSwas "developed for luxury customers, with particular attention to thedemands of the European and other international markets. BLS is an importantaddition to our Cadillac portfolio, it provides a critical entry with which togrow our business in key international markets."
Historically, Canada would not have qualified for any kind of"international" status, since we're generally seen by executives in Detroit as a very polite part of the U.S. But lately, the regime in Oshawa has been bringingin vehicles that the Yanks don't get in order to better meet Canadian tastesand economic realities, and the BLS would certainly qualify on that point.
So Taylor andthe folks at Oshawawould probably love to give Canadian consumers another great Cadillac,particularly at the lower end of the market. So we can probably assume thatwe'll get the BLS as soon as it's feasible.
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| 2006 Cadillac BLS (Photo: General Motors) |
That stuffreally appeals to Canadians, because we have less money to spend on our carsthan our American cousins, or we don't like to spend as much money as they do,and because fuel is more expensive here.
This is why westill buy the unremarkable C-Class coupe from Mercedes after the Yanks turnedtheir backs on it, and why we'll get the B-Class from the same company and the1-Series from BMW while the Americans won't.
But the BLShas more promise than those entry-level German models, because underneath thatgreat exterior shell and the appealing interior is one of the most performance-orientedchasses in the world. That would be the mid-size Epsilon architecture that isthe basis for such admirable models as the Saab 9-3, the Opel Vectra andSignum, the Pontiac G6 and more.
The officialword on the BLS coming to Canadais that it might happen when the Epsilon architecture is revised in a couple ofyears. Right now, the 9-3 can only be built in Swedenand the Vectra in Germanyand the G6 in North America.
That meanswe'd have to bring the BLS in from Europe, andthe currency exchange situation is not favorable right now, to put it mildly.
 |
| 2006 Cadillac BLS (Photo: General Motors) |
It helps morethan a little that the man in charge of the Cadillac division is a Canadian,namely Jim Taylor, who likes to joke that he is the most successful person toever come out of Peterborough, Ontario.
Officially, Taylor says that the BLSwas "developed for luxury customers, with particular attention to thedemands of the European and other international markets. BLS is an importantaddition to our Cadillac portfolio, it provides a critical entry with which togrow our business in key international markets."
Historically, Canada would not have qualified for any kind of"international" status, since we're generally seen by executives in Detroit as a very polite part of the U.S. But lately, the regime in Oshawa has been bringingin vehicles that the Yanks don't get in order to better meet Canadian tastesand economic realities, and the BLS would certainly qualify on that point.
So Taylor andthe folks at Oshawawould probably love to give Canadian consumers another great Cadillac,particularly at the lower end of the market. So we can probably assume thatwe'll get the BLS as soon as it's feasible.