Cadillac sets sights on UK

All future Cadillacs will be available in right-hand drive and with the option of a diesel engine.

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All future Cadillacs will be available in right-hand drive and with the option of a diesel engine.

The company launched the BLS compact executive car at the Frankfurt Motor Show this week. The four-door saloon is built on the Vauxhall Vectra/Saab 9-3 platform and available with a petrol or diesel engine.

A right-hand-drive version of the car will go on sale in the UK in spring 2006.

The BLS is a sign of things to come for the American manufacturer.

Cadillac general manager Jim Taylor told What Car?: 'Cadillac is in the middle of a global expansion plan and, when you take into account Japan, Australia and South Africa, and also the importance of diesel to the European market, this [making right-hand-drive cars with diesel engines] is a sensible step to take.'

There is the possibility, in the face of rising fuel prises, that the company will make a smaller vehicle.

'I am not interested in Audi A2 or BMW 1 Series,' continued Taylor, 'but something is under debate. It takes three years as far as development is concerned, so right now the big decisions we'll be making would come into effect in 2009.'