The station wagon was a staple here in America during the �70s and �80s. Almost every suburban family owned one. But the wagon fell out of favor when the slicker-looking SUV arrived on the scene in the late �80s, early �90s.
Wagons are still wildly popular in Europe, and Cadillac is hoping that they will once again catch on here at home. Enter the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon.
The Sport Wagon was originally shown at this past summer�s Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance in Monterey, Calif. The production model of this extension to the popular CTS family of vehicles is being showcased in Detroit.
The latest addition to the CTS range is all about prestige and presence. �This ain�t no car Carol Brady�s gonna be driving, however,� says Mark McNabb, General Motors� vice president of Cadillac/premium brands, in describing the sporty and angular 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon.
The first-ever Cadillac wagon, not counting SUVs, is roughly the same size as the CTS sedan. It shares the sedan�s front-end styling, but the roof and rear end are be completely different.
�It�s a taut, sleek design,� says Clay Dean, global design director for Cadillac. �The drama of the sedan is amplified in the wagon, as the centerline cue that is part of the exterior and interior is more prominent and plays a stronger role in defining the design at the rear of the vehicle.�
The wagon�s rear end will be distinctive on the highway, thanks to its tall, vertical taillights that taper to a point at the top.
The roof features an available panoramic sunroof, as well as a subtle, integrated roof load management system. Three wheel sizes will be offered: 17s, 18s and new 19s.
Initially, the CTS Sport Wagon will feature Cadillac�s 3.6-liter direct-injected V6 engine, which makes 304 horsepower. Starting in the summer of 2009, a 3.0-liter version of the 3.6, also with direct injection, will become the base engine.
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It will produce 255 horsepower, and GM says it will get better fuel economy than the 3.6, up to 28 mpg on the highway. Both engines will be offered with a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6-speed automatic with manual shift capability.
Inside, the CTS Sport Wagon shares the sedan�s interior, including the hand-cut-and-sewn upholstery and trim, and the available 40-gigabyte hard-drive radio and pop-up navigation screen.
Behind the 60/40 split-folding rear seats, the wagon has 25 cubic feet of cargo space. Access to the cargo area is enhanced by a power-opening liftgate that drivers can be operated via the key fob. The load floor also has a cargo management system with adjustable in-floor storage.
The 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon goes on sale this spring. Pricing hasn�t been announced.