Cadillac CTS Sport Wagon
My wagon fever has been largely dormant of late, but this saucy minx from Cadillac has re-ignited it. There's something about the combination of Cadillac's crisply folded styling and a rakish wagon profile that puts my adrenal glands on red alert.
The CTS Sports Wagon joins the Dodge Magnum in a uniquely lustful place in my heart reserved for lascivious sports wagons that, somehow, put me into a tuner mindset. I'm the farthest thing one could imagine from a tuner or a customizer, and no other car triggers that response from me. But I look at the Magnum and CTS and think, "Wow, just imagine that car in deep glossy black, with bigger rims, maybe lowered just a smidge. ..." I don't even recognize myself when it happens.
I have always liked Cadillac's "Art and Science" design ethic; it's genuinely fresh and distinctive, without relying on retro callouts or a mishmash of design cues. On the STS and the new CTS, I think the look has evolved and matured into something truly beautiful--completely new and genuinely Cadillac. It looks gorgeous in wagon form. One request for Cadillac--not that I'm unhappy with 305 available horsepower, but I'd love to see a Sports Wagon version of the CTS-V that could challenge the legendary Audi RS6 Avant for mega-wagon supremacy. Please?
"Fill my eyes, with that wagon fever ...
No disguise, for that wagon fever ...
Ooh, when it gets through to me, it's always new to me ...
My wagon fever gets the best of me!"
--Chris H.
Steaming Pile on June 03, 2009 at 10:12 AM
But if you lower it just a smidge, don't you forfeit the right to designate it a light truck for CAFE?
Mochi Mochi on June 03, 2009 at 11:41 AM
It's a beautiful stylish object. I just wonder how anyone will be able to see out of it. yeah this is me on my continued rant about the utter lack of unobstructed outward vision that plagues almost all vehicles designed today. I wont stop complaining until this era of blindness has passed. That said it's definitely cool looking.
Anthony Cagle on June 03, 2009 at 01:51 PM
I was about the say, the doorline looks a bit. . .off. . .to me.
I really hated that look when they first started with it. It seems like they've toned it down a bit so there are fewer weird angles, so now I don't mind it as much. Still not my favorite, but I could live with it.
That Car Guy on June 03, 2009 at 02:07 PM
Other than the grille looking a little droopy, I like it. I bet my neighbor leases one as soon as they come out!
tony on June 03, 2009 at 11:35 PM
haha - the Pontiac G8 lives on at Cadillac!
Check out the similarities with the Holden Commodore Sportswagon. The general styling cues are definitely there.
http://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/IT400C/sportwagon.jpg
Actually, I do recall reading somewhere that a Cadillac was going to use the Commodore (Pontiac G8) platform. I guess this is it.
Steaming Pile on June 04, 2009 at 10:33 AM
I hear you, Mochi. I can't see why there needs to be so much obstructive sheet metal that far away from the rear seat passengers. Wraparound tinted glass and minimal (or no) pillars back there FTW.
Bekleidung on June 04, 2009 at 11:12 AM
Cadillac has done some drastical improvements in the design But I agree With You at the point to see a Sports Wagon version of it.
David Drucker on June 04, 2009 at 12:31 PM
Holy mackerel, that's sweet. But you can keep the bigger rims, Chris. I don't need every expansion joint in the road telegraphed through my spine, and until Dr. Bose's active suspension hits the market (in my lifetime?) that's the primary result of big rims/short sidewalls.
CJinSD on June 04, 2009 at 02:56 PM
The grill outline continuing through the bumper is a tired cliche, and a loathesome one at that. Ruins it for me completely.
Shawn on June 04, 2009 at 04:42 PM
I'm with CJinSD and I'll extend my thoughts to include all cars that have gone "big grille" crazy over the last few years. I feel like we've reentered 1940's front end design.
ERIC D on June 04, 2009 at 08:15 PM
that is pure awsumness. and whats wrong with 40s car styling? now thats retro.
dwight on June 05, 2009 at 08:36 PM
I think i see my next domestic car purchase. It seems to be very nice ride but a agree with the lack of outward vision and the high beltline..that said make mine in AWD for the Chicago winters.
Tommy's Dad on June 08, 2009 at 01:36 AM
You know, I've spent the past bunch of days looking at this, wanting to like it. And you know what, I just can't do it. It's just too...ugh...SUV-ish. Too big, too chunky, too high of a belt line. I love the CTS, looove the XLR, and flat out dig the sharp-creased styling of the newer caddies as a whole. It's distinctive and unique and generally looks classy. But this...It just looks like it's trying so hard to be a small SUV. I like my wagons smaller and kinda svelte, this is just too big and chunky. Of course -and I say this knowing that it's going to earn me utter scorn and disgust from Chris- but I never cared for the new Magnum either for those same reasons either.
Chris Hafner on June 08, 2009 at 07:19 PM
Tommy's Dad: "Of course -and I say this knowing that it's going to earn me utter scorn and disgust from Chris- but I never cared for the new Magnum either for those same reasons either."
No worries on my end, TD - I sometimes question my passion for the Magnum and CTS Sports Wagon. They're not exactly the norm for Hafner passion. And all the points here are good. It makes me a tad uncomfortable that it sits so high - the profile is a little bit too reminiscent of a cross-over. And Mochi's point about visibility is a good one. I fell in love with the Audi TT a decade ago only to sour on it when I couldn't see out of the thing.
So it's possible that I wouldn't actually be able to live with one in the long term, but I'd be very happy with a one-night stand. I look at that rear 3/4 view of the CTS Sports Wagon, and I say ... rawr.
Tommy's Dad on June 09, 2009 at 10:29 PM
Spoken like a gentleman, sir. For what it's worth, that rear 4/4ths view *is* it's best angle, even if it still makes me shake my head in dismay. I've figured it out though, what I want this CTS wagon to be: I want it to be a Subaru Outback in terms of sizing and proportions, as done in the sexy, dagger-sharp Cadillac styling. Now THAT would be a wagon I could lust most unhealthily for. Mmmmm.
RMcAdory on July 22, 2009 at 04:14 PM
I live in The D and have seen these on the road around here already (GM company cars of course since it's not available for sale yet). I have to tell you, on the road while it's in motion, it's a beautiful car. It definitely doesn't sit too high like it's trying to be a CUV. Yes it has a high belt line. You either like that or you don't. The static photos do it no justice. As for the grille, yes it's big like many automakers are employing now (think Audi...Chrysler started this trend with the 300...as with the high belt line as well). But I like it when designers don't forget that the lower part of the front of a car (below the fascia/bumper) isn't just for air flow. This part can also have a design integration elemment as well.
Fragile Stump on August 15, 2009 at 01:31 PM
It needs black paint and backswept mud flaps.
Greg B. on October 10, 2009 at 07:40 AM
Another copy cat idea from GM. This ctx is very similar to my SRT
Dodge magnum. The style is beautiful but a little late,or more like
dodge was to early. If they make the 4x4 design which I'm not sure this will be a great car year around. As far as my SRT 2 wheel drive
with 425h.p. leave it in the garage all winter. Seems most the car makers forget about winter. The auto-designer's big grill's need to
go.