35-623: The Cadillac BLS is a compact executive car that was marketed in Europe by Cadillac , sharing General Motors ' Epsilon architecture, as a restyled variant of the Saab 9-3 . Development was carried out by Saab and the car was manufactured in Trollhättan , Sweden , alongside the Saab 9-3 and the Saab 9-5 . Sales of the saloon began in March 2006, with an estate joining the line for 2007. Starting in 2007,
70-530: A compact luxury car , is a premium car larger than a premium compact and smaller than an executive car . Compact executive car is a UK term and a part of the D-segment in the European car classification. An executive car generally needs to be comfortable and well-equipped while also being cheap to run as a company car . They may have performance features and are often viewed as status symbols. A high percentage of
105-597: A 2.0 L available with two power levels). At 184.3 in (4,681 mm) in overall length, the BLS was almost six inches shorter than the CTS , the smallest Cadillac that was available in the United States or Canada. Engines: Though a large percentage of BLS components were shared with the Saab 9-3, the BLS was differentiated from the 9-3 throughout the exterior and interior. The BLS
140-510: A mass production car in the 00's . The 9-3 also had high emphasis on car safety , which was a high priority in the design of all Saab cars. Also the previous Saab 99 and Saab 900 could be considered as compact executive cars at some markets, while especially in Northern Europe these models were more commonly seen as ordinary small family cars. An early compact executive car produced in Japan
175-468: A new heating system was fitted and ducted to the rear compartment. There was an improved instrument layout that became standard for all Jaguar cars until the XJ series II of 1973. The front suspension geometry was rearranged to raise the roll centre and the rear track widened. Four-wheel disc brakes were now standard. Power steering, overdrive or automatic transmissions could be fitted at extra cost. The 3.8 litre
210-453: A new inlet manifold. The automatic transmission was upgraded to a Borg-Warner 35 dual drive range. Power steering by Marles Varamatic was now available on the 340. Both Models continued to fit the Dunlop 6.40H15 Crossply tyres as standard. 185VR15 Pirelli Cinturato was the radial alternative. Servicing intervals were increased from 2,000 miles (3,200 km) to 3,000 miles (4,800 km). There
245-434: A top speed of 119.9 mph (193.0 km/h) and could accelerate from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 11.9 seconds. A touring fuel consumption of 19.0 miles per imperial gallon (14.9 L/100 km; 15.8 mpg ‑US ) was recorded. The test car cost £1951 including taxes of £614. A 3.8 litre with the 220 bhp engine was capable of accelerating from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 8.5 seconds and could reach
280-499: A top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h). Jaguar also marketed from 1962 to 1969 a distinctive Daimler version of the Mark 2 branded Daimler 2.5 V8 fitted with Daimler's 142 bhp (106 kW; 144 PS) 2½-litre V8 . In late 1967 it was re-labelled V8-250 when the Mark 2 became the Jaguar 240. As well as being significantly more powerful than the inline 6-cylinder 2.4-litre XK,
315-475: Is a mid-sized luxury sports saloon built from late 1959 to 1967 by Jaguar in Coventry , England. The previous Jaguar 2.4 Litre and 3.4 Litre models made between 1955 and 1959 are identified as Mark 1 Jaguars. The Mark 2 was a fast and capable saloon in line with Sir William Lyons ' 1950s advertising slogan: Grace . . . Space . . . Pace , available with all three versions of the advanced Jaguar XK engine :
350-486: Is known by many as the "Bob Lutz Special" - a reference to Vice Chairman Bob Lutz who oversaw all GM product development at the time. Lutz, a supporter of badge engineering, wanted to leverage the Saab 9-3 to fill holes in Cadillac's product range. The reference to Bob Lutz can be viewed both as support and as criticism of his strategy. While the BLS was a market failure, many of the techniques of badge engineering employed in
385-414: Is largely considered to be a market failure and also at least partially responsible for the market struggles that Cadillac faced during and after its production. The 1971 Triumph Dolomite is an early compact executive car. Jaguar's first compact executive car (although larger than the 1960s' Jaguar Mark 2 ) was the 2001 Jaguar X-Type . Sales, however, were disappointing. The X-type was replaced by
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#1732856062150420-668: Is similar to the unit used in the 3.8 E-Type (called XKE in the USA) , having the same block, crank, connecting rods and pistons but different inlet manifold and carburation (two SUs versus three on the E-Type in Europe) and therefore 30 bhp (22 kW) less. The head of the six-cylinder engine in the Mark 2 had curved ports compared to the straight ports of the E-Type configuration. The 3.4 Litre and 3.8 Litre cars were fitted with twin SU HD6 carburettors and
455-562: Is the category of the smallest premium cars. It is part of the C-segment in the European car classification. Examples include the Mercedes-Benz A-Class and CLA-Class , Audi A3 , Volvo S40 , BMW 1 Series , and 2 Series . Premium compacts compete with well-equipped mid-size cars , and highly optioned premium compact cars can have pricing and features that overlaps with compact executive cars. Jaguar Mark 2 The Jaguar Mark 2
490-455: The 9-3 -model which was a compact executive car. Based on heavily modified GM engines and platforms, the 9-3 was available as a convertible , hatchback (first generation), sedan (second generation) and station wagon (second generation). The 9-3 had a wide variety of both petrol and diesel engine options. Most of the petrol engines were turbocharged and supported the use of ethanol fuel , which were both relatively uncommon features for
525-677: The Jaguar XE in 2014, competing in the same sector. Alfa Romeo's models 75 and 155 are considered compact executive cars in the United Kingdom. The 1996 Alfa Romeo 156 has been classified as such. This was followed by the Alfa Romeo 159 and then the Giulia (Type 952) . An early compact executive car from Lancia is the 1972 Lancia Beta (Type 828) . The Beta morphed into the Lancia Trevi , which
560-502: The Viewt in 1994, a subcompact hatchback with Jaguar MK2 features. The Mark 2 gained a reputation as a capable car among criminals and law enforcement alike; the 3.8 litre model being particularly fast with its 220 bhp (164 kW) engine driving the car from 0-60 mph (97 km/h) in 8.5 seconds and to a top speed of 125 mph (201 km/h) with enough room for five adults. Popular as getaway cars, they were also employed by
595-539: The "Mercedes-Benz 190") was the first compact executive car from Mercedes-Benz. In 1993, the W201 was replaced by the Mercedes-Benz C-Class range. DS Automobiles offers a compact executive with its DS 4 hatchback. From earlier models also the larger DS 5 (sold until 2018) could be considered a compact executive car. The DS brand used to be a sub-marque of Citroën , and thus earlier model years (before 2015 for
630-472: The "executive cars" market share consists of corporate-owned cars, or vehicles provided by a firm for the business and sometimes private use by employees. The "compact executive car" description is not often used in the United States, but it describes certain models imported from Europe. The Cadillac ATS has been described as a compact executive car. The ATS was succeeded by the Cadillac CT4 . Before
665-636: The 2.4 Litre with twin Solex carburettors. Aware of the importance of the quotable numbers to the US market Jaguar continued to use claimed gross bhp figures throughout the production period of the Mk II and 240/340 models. A direct conversion into DIN bhp is not possible, but the 3.8 Mk II engine developed about 190 bhp by modern DIN standards. This compares with the later 4.2 XJ6 engine which also gave around 190 bhp DIN, or 245 gross bhp according to Jaguar. The explanation
700-400: The 2.4, 3.4, and 3.8 litre. Production of the 3.8 ended in the (northern) autumn of 1967, with discounted sale of the 3.4 continuing on as the 340 until September 1968, and the 2.4 as the 240 until April 1969. There was no direct successor to the Mark 2 series. The 3.8 litre Jaguar S-type , an upscaled and refined version of the Mark 2, had already appeared in 1963, well before the first of
735-657: The ATS, a heavily badge engineered version of the Saab 9-3 was sold in Europe as the Cadillac BLS (2005–2009). The BLS was both developed and manufactured by Saab in Trollhättan , Sweden . The model was never sold in the Northern American market. Cadillac's previous attempt at a compact executive car for the US market was the Cimarron manufactured in between 1981–1988. The Cimarron
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#1732856062150770-646: The BLS resulted in other GM product successes, most notably a significant improvement in overall passenger car product quality and performance output. According to GM, BLS stands for "B-segment Luxury Sedan", being in a smaller class than the CTS mid-size saloon. This is consistent with the Seville Luxury Sedan, later known as the Cadillac SLS in China. Compact executive car A compact executive car , also known as
805-564: The BLS was sold in the Middle East , Mexico , South Africa and South Korea . BLS production reached 3,257 in 2006 and 2,772 in 2007. Production ended in 2009. Until the GT4 was introduced in 2023, the BLS was the only Cadillac never sold in North America. The BLS was available with a diesel engine (a 1.9 L turbocharged four-cylinder) and two petrol engines (a 2.8 L turbocharged V6 and
840-640: The DS 4 and DS 5, but the change depends on the model) carry the Citroën logo. The smallest model offered by DS has been the DS 3 (sold until 2019), which could be considered to be a subcompact or even supermini executive car. The current DS 3 Crossback differs from the earlier model substantially, as it is a small crossover SUV . The Volvo S60 as well as its estate version Volvo V60 are considered to be compact executive cars. Saab Automobile , which went defunct in 2011, had
875-759: The Mark 2 models was discontinued. The Jaguar 420 , a more powerful and refined version of the S-Type, appeared in 1966. Both of those models remained in production until late 1968, when the Jaguar XJ6 appeared, ostensibly replacing and placed rather midway between them and the larger, more expensive Jaguar Mark X produced since 1961. The Mark 2 came with a 120 bhp (89 kW; 122 PS) 2,483 cubic centimetres (152 cu in), 210 bhp (157 kW; 213 PS) 3,442 cubic centimetres (210 cu in) or 220 bhp (164 kW; 223 PS) 3,781 cubic centimetres (231 cu in) Jaguar XK engine . The 3.8
910-400: The more modern Daimler engine was shorter and also lighter by about 150 lb (68 kg). This significant reduction in mass over the front wheels and redistribution of weight to the rear reduced understeer during hard cornering. These cars were externally identified by Daimler fluting at the top of the radiator grille and the top of the rear number plate lamp cover, their smoothness, and
945-494: The sound of their V8 engine. They were given distinctive interior fittings. The Mark 2's body lines, derived from the Mark 1, and overall layout proved sufficiently popular over time to provide inspiration for the second-generation Jaguar S-Type , a nostalgia model introduced in 1999. Brendan McAleer of the Globe and Mail described the 2015 Jaguar XE as the Mark 2's spiritual descendant. Japanese automaker Mitsuoka Motors produced
980-415: Was a slight reshaping of the rear body and slimmer bumpers and over-riders were fitted. For the first time the 2.4 litre model could exceed 100 mph, resulting in a slight sales resurgence. The 240 and 340 models retained cost-saving downgrades that had appeared a year earlier in the Mark 2 series. Standard leather upholstery was replaced by Ambla , a leather-like synthetic material, and tufted carpet
1015-494: Was discontinued at that time, but remaining Series 2 parts were used up producing budget-priced 240s until April 1969. These sold at £1364, only £20 more than the first 2.4 in 1956. Output of the 240 engine was increased from 120 bhp (89 kW; 122 PS) at 5,750 rpm. to 133 bhp (99 kW; 135 PS) at 5,500 rpm. and torque was increased. It now had a straight-port type cylinder head and twin HS6 SU carburettors with
1050-711: Was produced from 1980 to 1984. Following an absence from the segment for five years, Lancia returned in 1989 when the Lancia Dedra replaced the smaller Lancia Prisma . The Dedra was replaced by the Lancia Lybra , which was produced from 1998 to 2005. An early compact executive car produced in Germany was the 1966 BMW 02 Series , followed by the BMW 3 Series in 1975. In 1965 Audi introduced their first compact executive model Audi 72 . The 1983 Mercedes-Benz W201 range (also known as
1085-437: Was re-engineered above the waistline, with vision dramatically improved by an 18% increase in cabin glass area. Slender front pillars allowed a wider windscreen, and the rear window almost wrapped around to the enlarged side windows, now with the familiar Jaguar D-shape above the back door and fully chromed frames for all the side windows. The radiator grille was changed, and larger side, tail and fog lamps were repositioned. Inside
Cadillac BLS - Misplaced Pages Continue
1120-501: Was supplied fitted with a limited-slip differential. The Mark 2 was over 100 kg heavier than the 2.4 / 3.4 cars. The car continued to use a live axle at the rear. Some time on or about September 1967 the 3.8 litre model was discontinued and the 2.4 and 3.4 litre Mark 2 cars were rebadged as the 240 and 340 respectively as gap-fillers until the XJ6 arrived in September 1968. The 340
1155-477: Was that the XJ6 4.2 engine was delivering the power at less rpm. The camshaft timing and inlet and exhaust valve sizes were the same for the 2.4,3.4,3.8 Mk II and XJ6 4.2 engines, so the engines throttled themselves sooner in the bigger engine sizes. Later 4.2 XJ6 engines had special induction pipes, to reduce exhaust emissions, that crossed over between the inlet and exhaust sides of the engine. These reduced bhp to around 170 bhp on later production. The new car
1190-594: Was the 1988 Mazda Persona / Eunos 300 . The first Japanese compact executive car to be successful in overseas markets is the 1998 Lexus IS / Toyota Altezza . Other Japanese compact executive cars include the Infiniti Q50 (by Nissan), Acura TLX (by Honda) and Mazda Xedos 6 . Compact executive cars produced in South Korea include the Genesis G70 . Subcompact executive cars , also called premium compacts ,
1225-542: Was used on the floor. The front fog lamps were replaced with circular vents and made optional for the UK market. The sales price was reduced to compete with the Rover 2000 TC . Mark 2: 83,976 produced between 1959 and 1967, split as follows: 240 and 340: 7,246 produced between 1967 and 1969, split as follows: The XJ6 was introduced in September 1968. A 3.4 litre with automatic transmission tested by The Motor magazine in 1961 had
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