The need to have a smaller, Europe-only Cadillac "quickly" puzzles me because Cadillac doesn't have effective distribution or even name recognition in Europe.

I still think that the Epsilon-Cadillac is proof positive that the so-called RWD Beta-platform isn't coming any time soon - or at all.

(Or maybe it was a project pitched by Swedish engineers who were desperate to preserve Saab's engineering and production capacity. Or maybe just the engineering capactity.)


A bigger risk is that fact that the BLS is the same size as the X-type. It's six inches longer than the new 3-series. Jaguar made this sizing decision because of the American market, but I can't imagine why GM would have repeated it for a Europe-only car?

My suspicion is that the BLS was never intended as a Europe-only car. Maybe plans were changed by the current strength of the Euro. Perhaps plans haven't been changed and we'll see an American Cadillac BLS produced along side the Malibu and G6? A Chinese production line?

There's more to this story.

 

Although Cadillac does have some distribution issues to work out in Europe, the fact that they didn't have what Europeans consider a medium sized car to sell, took center stage. The CTS is considered a large car in Europe and Asia. It's in the same size class as the 5 series and E-class.....I think it's even physically bigger than those cars.

 

The lack of a dealership network, name recognition and credible resale values should have taken "center stage" over a clumsy product that will fool very few Europeans.

The CTS is significantly larger than the last generation 5-series and E-class. However, GM failed to plan ahead for the (very predictable) growth of the BMW and Mercedes.

Of course, the CTS started out as a 3-series challenging Catera competitor and an Opel Omega replacement for Europe. Then Lutz pulled European distribution because of certain "quality" issues.....