Put the word Cadillac into the Google Internet search engine and it delivers a nicely-rounded 71,000,000 hits.

The image Cadillac probably conjures up in most people's minds is a far-from-rounded, excessively large, classic car sprouting even larger wings. Pink also tends to feature prominently.

So even allowing for this somewhat backward-looking view of the car marque, Cadillac owners have always been willing to stand out from the crowd.

And that is the aim of Cadillac's BLS, its first luxury, mid-sized saloon designed specifically for Europe, to the point that it will not be on sale in the United States.

It is designed for an executive looking for something different.

If you are spending up to £25,000 it must be a serious temptation to take the safe, conservative route and opt for a BMW 3-Series, an Audi A4 or a Mercedes C-Class.

Those looking for something alternative could go for a Jaguar S-Type, Lexus IS, or perhaps a Saab 9-3.

Now for a little over £20,000, you can have a Cadillac on the drive.

There is an increasing choice of American muscle arriving on our roads. Bad boys can opt for the menace of the Mafiamobile-styled Chrysler 300C, while the Cadillac is likely to be the car of choice of the professional who keeps the bad boy out of jail.

The BLS manages to simultaneously combine real refinement and a dose of bling.

Cliff-like sides, sharply-styled grille, and a V-shaped rear brake light across the boot lid all shout Cadillac at head-turning passers-by.

Every time you take to the road you can be certain of people noticing the car rather than ignoring it.

But more important than the look of the car, and its sumptuous, leather-lined, spacious, air-conditioned interior, it is actually rather good to drive.

The test car shared the same 1.9-litre, common rail, 150 horsepower diesel engine and six-speed manual transmission which pops up in cars as varied as the Alfa Brera, Saab 9-3, and various Vauxhalls, including the Signum.

The Luxury test model rode on 17-inch wheels and was fitted with a high level of equipment from rain-sensing automatic wipers and eight-way power adjustable driver and passenger seat, to driver seat memory and heated front seats. Options range from a Bose sound system to a touch-screen, satellite navigation system.

Cadillac is one of the top-growing premium car brands in America, with an average annual growth of more than 16 per cent in the past four years. The BLS is sure to help it build on that with a slice of the European car sales action.

Auto facts Cadillac BLS 1.9 TD Luxury

  • Price: £25,073
  • Insurance group: 14
  • Fuel consumption (Combined): 46.3mpg
  • Top speed: 131mph
  • Length: 468cm/184.3in
  • Width: 175.2cm/69in
  • Luggage capacity: 15 cu ft
  • Fuel tank capacity: 12.7 gallons/58 litres
  • CO2 emissions: 164g/km
  • Warranty: 3 years/60,000 miles