Test Drive Cadillac BS since 2006 Sedan
The easiest way to reach heaven
So unusual cars of the prestigious American brand in Russia have not yet seen. However, fans of traditional cadyllakov huge, luxurious respect, please do not worry.To hell with details. What city is this?
This is all globalization, whether it is nonladna! Any owner of a long rarity de viba at the form of BLS will immediately begin to bubb: Is it Cadillac? In short, five meters ... Moreover, it is necessary to think about the Cadillac toask from the details of Opel, Saab and Korean Chevrolet. He even has a platform one with a vector and 9-3. The car of the most famous American brand is released in Swedish Trollhattan, to supply machine collectors to Kaliningrad, where to depart and issue a Russian passport. We will not think about. As a result, opening the door of such an American-Euro-Asian novelty, I unwittingly understand what a dejum is.
I hold in your hands the key is pear-like, exactly like Saaba, thing, and in front of the eyes, familiar steering wheel and appliances from the model 9-3. What is there the key, the upholstery of the doors, every pocket and the button, the selector of the machine and its finish the same, Swedish. Now I speak the keyhole between the seats and ... And what is it? I turn on the heater in order to warm up the windows, and immediately unwittingly remember how similar handles and buttons were manipulated on an epic. And this mp3-magnetol literally saw today on Aveo.
Brock! After all, I remember exactly open the door of Cadillac. Immediately coal the impressive heraldic shield with a crown and wreath on the steering wheel. I was pleased with the spacious salon, thanks to the useful for luxury Americans, the electric drives were conveniently set up. Here is the expensive bright leather chairs. Yes, and the upper part of the front panel is similar to the one that the medium of Brothers Caddy, CTS models. And here is the unique thing at all: no machine has no such hours.
And in general, the bright, comfortable, spacious enough, both in front and behind the salon looks very decently. That's just from the interior of the prestigious American model, I waited for something if it is not pushing to the depths of the soul, then it is unique for sure.
Real
So who said he is small? 4.7 meters from the bumper to the bumper it is, I will report to you, the barge is. Long, by the way, the business sedan is galant. Parktronic here is only behind, but I would not hurt in front. Because not only the stern is not visible, but also the edges of the hood. And genuine respect for the car-passing-transverse car immediately became another proof: only the Snob can call BLS Baby Cadillacom. For all others, it can be anyhow, but not small.
And in any case prestigious. He headed by the team of artists BLS Vice-President General Motors on the design of Ed Wilbern definitely is for what to praise. The rapidly monumental aggression of wedge-shaped body forms, fascinating headlights with vertically located lenses, a huge V-shaped grill of radiator, gorgeous predatory lights in the entire height of the trunk cover All these are family art and science, tested on presidential limousines, majestic escalad and other overseas road cruisers, His team managed to grow very organically and the younger brother.
Does this very real Cadillac ride and go, as it should be rolled to relatives?
Only benefit
In no case! You remember BLS divides the chassis with the vector. And such a relationship is for him exclusively for the benefit. Anyone who, and this Opel and in dick turns, and the long straight lines in the dirt will not hit. And his sports modification OPC with a 255-strong V-shaped six and the song of the driver's heart.
It was such a motor and was equipped with our Cadillac. His streams of BLS is enough with interest. Reset the solidity mask and rushing forward that the super superage, which decided to put a victorious point in the last round, easily. Only dawn on gas. Who is there for another seven seconds translates the second hundred? And the 6-speed automatic here is very good. Switching speed, the ability to slow down the transmissions to everything perfectly. It is possible to suck the steps using the buttons on the steering wheel. Bowls and brakes with ventilated discs of large (314 mm in front, 292 mm rear) diameter. Very precise slowdowns just their elements.
Observing to begin with inspiring accelerations, and Caddy, I moved to more insidious exercises. Here, overgoing with the right pedal, I made sure that ESP for this machine is an urgent need. With a disconnected bridle, turn a ride into an artistic painting on the road, you can even with a spur from 7080 km / h.
Is that the steering wheel as a rebel car would not hurt farthetern. Instead of borrowed from ordinary Opel, the rails with a gear ratio of 16: 1, a shorter mechanism from the OPC vitra, would be very short. And then blind crushing turns could be passed even faster. Dense suspension it clearly allowed.
However, in the races on distant distances, the imperfect sensitivity of the steering wheel is not so critical. And just in such styer races, Euro Cadillac feels in his element. At 160170 km / h, aerodynamic noises are just beginning to punch a dense layer of sound insulation. And BLS is perhaps on the asphalt, almost as serene, as at a speed of twice and three times less. Neither verticalock on irregularities, not the slightest injections to the side. Here they are European roots. This is not an American barge!
To be removed to those who, and such a speed will seem to a little, the engineers of Saab have tried. They supplied the 2.8-liter German six by the corporate weapons of turbocharged, over the improvement of which the Swedes are tightly working for three decades. Superior here is not simple, but with a secret. An impressive 365 NM in Kik-Down mode will add another 15 N.M. Let such an injection acts at no longer than 10 seconds, but where is the gabble that will not have time to put in place? Eh, now it would be for the autoban somewhere near Munich. 200, 220, 240 there is a take-off rate of Boeing!
And do not be afraid!
In short, despite its confusing origin, in two days dating comfortable, silent and fast cruise liner did not disappoint me anything. Maybe exactly because I was too critically tuned to this half-breed in absentia? It turned out on the calibration: the American becomes, European manners, breathtaking speed, in a tsarist generous equipment all with it. This should like the very golden youth, on which it is designed.
Yes, you will have to come to terms that Babi-Caddy is a real mosaic from the details and drops of completely different cars, covered with a suit of a prestigious American brand and exhibited with a price tag for $ 50,000. The fact that the Vitra, on the basis of which it is built, with the same engine of 2,8out per $ 15,000 is cheaper, it is better not to remember. Because in this light BLs turns out uniquely too roads. Moreover, for such money at the middle class sedan, there must be unique family dashes, which are so rich in Lexus-IS, A4 or a treshka BMW. And then Babi Caddy is not enough.
Well, the arguments are good. However, and in protecting the machine there are arguments. Let's say the same vector after all, he is not an alternative too alternatively. And the selling often in the neighboring showroom SAAB-9-3 cannot be obtained with such a powerful six. In addition, there is another BLS option more compromised, but it is more profitable: 175-strong, quite generously equipped with a car. Such in almost one price with the same SAAB ($ 3436 thousand) and at the same time modern and prestigious. If you want, how in the film it is to reach heaven, to give a real mother, and also a new Cadillac, and the best way to do not come up with. And after the characters of the picture, repeat: just do not be afraid!
Three motor, three levels of equipment
The base 175-strong version of the BEZ for $ 34,400 already involves a generous equipment (electropacle, CD magnetol, climatic, cruise control, wood trim, wheels made of light alloy) and a decent level of security. The machine will require another $ 2 thousand.
The price tag of $ 39,600 implies a 210-strong motor and the equipment of the Foreign Ministry. It is richer on the electric folding mirrors, xenon headlights, rain and parking sensors, alarm. There is also a leather finish, CD changer, electric drive and heating front armchairs. Finally, the top version of the 2,8t from $ 47,300 is the same set of benefits in combination with the most powerful engine.
Comments on photo materials
Photo 1 and 2. Finishing for aluminum and large shooting hours Branded interior injuries
Photo 4. In addition to the electric drive, the chair was given decent lateral support. Sorry leather upholstery is very slippery
Photo 5. The lid of a rather capacious glove box opens with aristocratic slowness
Photo 6. The absence of pressure index is hardly the only difference between the BLS dashboard from the one that Caaba-9-3
Photo 7 and 8. To the services of the rear passengers Soft leather sofa, retractable cup holders, separate blowing deflectors
Photo 9. To fold the part of the sofa back, you need to pull the handle in the trunk
Photo 10. The abundance of door seals and good-quality thick upholstery made it possible to achieve wonderful sound insulation.
Text: Sergey Devyatkin
Photo: Maxim Goncharov
Source: Journal Buy Auto [05/2007]
