Cadillac’s first-ever station wagon has gone in sale in Europe, as part of the upgraded 2008 BLS range built at Saab’s Trollhättan, Sweden, plant.
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The model line – not sold in North America – shares its platform with GM Europe’s Opel/Vauxhall Vectra and Saab 9-3 lines.
The upgraded 2008 BLS range includes new 180ps diesel and 200ps petrol-bioethanol (E85 flexfuel) engines.
UK-market prices start at GBP21,495 (about $US42,000).
Wagon models are offered with a choice of four petrol and two diesel engines with power outputs between 150PS to 255PS.
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By GlobalDataCadillac has also upgraded and simplified the full BLS range and both sedan and wagon versions are priced the same.
“Launching the first-ever wagon in Cadillac’s history gave us the opportunity to revise the 2008 BLS Saloon model line-up to enhance our presence in the premium UK market,” said Cadillac UK head Jonathan Nash.
“We looked again at what the current UK market and consumers would expect from a Cadillac and then added all the equipment to match those expectations – as standard. This enabled us to rationalise the specification levels from three down to just one. We wanted to make the BLS line-up simple for us to communicate and for customers to understand.”
“We have given this single specification a new name ‘Elegance’.”
This single trim level now includes leather trim, powered and heated front seats, Bose surround sound 11-speaker audio system, DVD navigation, hands-free Bluetooth phone system, dual zone climate control, cruise control, park distance sensors and dynamic stability control.
Cadillac expects the new wagon to attract new customers to the brand and to account for 50% of BLS sales this year.
“Business sales will be an area of focus for Cadillac with the 2008 BLS. The two new engines – the 180ps diesel and the 200ps Flexpower petrol/bioethanol unit – give us an opportunity to highlight the upgraded models’ attributes to the business market. These engines are highly competitive for CO2 and offer [UK] BIK (benefit in kind) company car tax advantages.
“Industry response to the premium-upgraded 2008 BLS range has been extremely positive. CAP, the provider of benchmark used-car valuations, is predicting a boost for residual values because the BLS is so highly equipped as standard,” concludes Nash.
