CTS SPORT WAGON TAKES CADILLAC INTO NEW MARKETS

Paris, October 2008

• Dramatically designed CTS Sport Wagon makes debut

• Spacious, stylish, luxury interior offers alternative to luxury SUVs and other Wagons

• Petrol and diesel engines, rear or all wheel drive, 6-speed automatic gearbox

PARIS MOTORSHOW – The CTS Sport Wagon will be seen in European Cadillac dealerships during 2009, showcasing a dramatic design that brings the wagon body style to new markets.  Complementing the styling and ample interior space, a range of fuel and emissions-efficient, six cylinder gasoline and diesel engines are expected to make the CTS Sport Wagon an attractive alternative to larger luxury vehicles.

Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon

The CTS Wagon is launched with a 3.6L V6, direct injection powertrain generating 227kW (311horsepower). Direct gasoline injection technology delivers fuel more precisely to increase the efficiency of combustion and helps the CTS offer more power while less fuel is consumed and less emissions are created. The engine shows a 25-percent drop in cold-start hydrocarbon emissions in comparison with previous engines of a similar size.  The engine is matched with a fuel-saving, electronically controlled six-speed automatic transmission. As with the CTS Sedan, the Sport Wagon includes All Wheel Drive as an option.

An efficient 2.9L turbo-diesel engine is currently being developed for CTS models. Due for launch later in 2009, it is a compact, dual overhead cam, four-valve V6 engine from GM’s family of diesel engines. The engine is rated at 184 kW (250 hp) and delivers optimal fuel economy, low emissions and noise levels. It is expected to significantly boost demand for the model in key European markets.  Like other historic Cadillac designs, the new CTS Sport Wagon has an unmistakable and dynamic presence, striking a sporting stance, with a wide track. Signature exterior cues include horizontal spline lines and dihedral, v-shaped hood. Further exterior highlights include 19-inch wheels and the option of a large, panoramic sunroof.

“The addition of this dramatically-designed Sport Wagon is well synchronized with today’s changing consumer tastes as a compelling alternative to SUVs or other larger vehicles,” says Jim Taylor, Cadillac general manager. “This is an important step in Cadillac’s ongoing global expansion, and of course in international markets like Europe, wagons have been and continue to be very significant.”
The CTS Sport Wagon rides on the same 2,880mm wheelbase as the CTS Sedan, but offers a generous cargo area behind the rear seats. Functionality was a guiding factor during development, but so was injecting emotion into the normally sedate wagon category.  One example of this integration of form and function is found in the seamless roof load management system. Rather than brackets and cross bars that protrude above the roof line, the CTS Sport Wagon’s system blends with the roofline, maintaining an uninterrupted appearance.  The center section of the roof panel angles downward inside the roof edges. This allows an unobtrusive placement of the cross bars and creates a subtle fin effect at the trailing edges of the rear panels.

An intricately cut rear profile injects fashion-forward design into a distinctive silhouette that suggests speed and aerodynamic efficiency. The Cadillac “V” motif culminates in a spine at the center of the power-opening liftgate, accented with a subtle spoiler at the top of the backlight.  The rear quarter panels extend slightly beyond the inward-angled planes of the V, creating a distinctive W shape at the rear of the vehicle. Large, prominent vertical tail lamps – with Cadillac’s signature light pipe technology – are the final, dramatic touches to the rear-end styling.

The interior of the CTS Sport Wagon is common to the much-acclaimed Sedan, including streamlined instrumentation, LED lighting and hand-cut-and-sewn accents with French stitching.  Again combining form and function, an integrated cargo management system offers adjustable in-floor containment. The CTS Sport Wagon, like the Sedan, includes available features such as a 40-gigabyte internal hard drive, pop-up navigation screen and a hand-cut-and-sewn interior with Sapele wood accents. Extra safety is offered by a rear-view camera system, integrated with the navigation system.

The Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon will show up at European Cadillac dealerships during 2009. Price information and equipment details will be announced later.

CTS SPORT WAGON PRELIMINARY SPECIFICATIONS

Vehicle type:     four-door, five-passenger rear-wheel-drive/all-wheel-drive wagon
Wheelbase (mm):     2880
Length (mm):     4859
Width (mm):     1842
Height (mm):     1502
Track (mm):     1570 (front); 1575 (rear)
Engines:     3.6L V-6 VVT DI (227 kW/311 hp)
Transmissions:     Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic
Suspension:     four-wheel independent: MacPherson strut front; multilink rear, progressive rate coil springs, monotube shock absorbers
Steering:     variable-assist rack-and-pinion
Brakes:     four-wheel disc; dual-piston front calipers; single-piston rear calipers
Wheels:     18-inch or 19-inch aluminum
Luggage capacity (L):     349 (behind rear seats), 704 (behind front seats, 2nd row seats folded)
Total volume (L):     3081

Autoblog admires the Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon, Jalopnik the Volt

Autoblog has a post with a photo gallery of the 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon.

I keep saying Sport Wagon but sometimes it is shown as the plural Sports Wagon.  I’ll work on it.  GM messaging looks like it always shows it singluar. Anyway, good that the ‘general’ car blogs are picking up on the new CTS Sport Wagon.

Meanwhile Jalopnik is running info on the Chevrolet Volt.    GM showed the Volt live this morning as part of GMNext.com day and the 100th birthday celebration.   The Volt is more and more interesting if the powerplant may next migrate to a future Cadillac model.

The dramatically-designed 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon makes its European premiere at Paris, followed by production launch in spring of 2009.

The dramatically-designed 2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon makes its European premiere at Paris, followed by production launch in spring of 2009.

GM is noting that the Volt is NOT a plug-in hybrid, but rather an extended range vehicle.  Ah; I’ll have to think about that, but I think they are pointing out the difference between a hybrid with minimal battery backup like the Toyota Prius or the  2-mode Cadillac Escalade Hybrid, and a car like the Chevrolet Volt that actually is an electric car with a gas engine generator to recharge on the go.

Top speed of 100mph may be new news, but seems plenty fast enough for most people.

Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon speeding closer

GM Europe has a highlight article on the new 2009 CTS Sport Wagon up.

GM Europe’s article has an intro write-up, then rather more coverage on the Cadillac BLS, which is of course currently available in Europe.

CTS Sport Wagon:  Cadillacs Renaissance takes a new form

Click on the ‘more’ button and you get more info on the CTS Sport Wagon:

The CTS Sport Wagon, due in showrooms from summer 2009, rides on the same 2,880mm wheelbase as the CTS Sedan, but offers a generous cargo area of 720 liters behind the rear seats. Further design highlights include new 19-inch wheels and the option of a large panoramic rear sunroof.

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon rear

2010 Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon rear


I am confused as to whether the Sport Wagon will arrive in time to be a 2009 model or not.  All good either way.  I did not pick up on the switch to 19″ wheels, which may be very popular.