 2004 Chrysler Pacifica. Photo: Grant Yoxon. Click image to enlarge |
by Paul Williams
What was new at the 2003 North American International Auto Show in Detroit? Something you’ve seen before, and maybe vowed you’d never own. What with all the lights, smoke and fireworks, you’d think that flying jet cars were under wraps, but after the covers were lifted, the murmur from the crowd was frequently, “Wait a minute, I know what that is. It’s a station wagon!”
The traditional station wagon largely disappeared in North America after 1980. For a while, companies like Honda and Toyota tried producing tall, all-wheel drive versions of their Civic and Tercel hatchbacks, and Nissan produced the Multi, but none of these caught on in a big way. The Minivan ruled, followed by the increasingly popular big SUV.
Station wagons were for the terminally practical. For car lovers, there was something fundamentally disappointing about the design. It was, of course, asymmetrical. Rather than properly balancing the front of the car with a trunk of suitable proportions, the roof persisted, all the way to the back, where it ended up in rough company with a truck-like tailgate.
It was not a marriage made in heaven, and it created a vehicle in which it was impossible to be cool.
But this year, vans and SUVs are morphing into suspiciously wagon-like vehicles, as automakers recognize the desire for more efficient — or at least less conspicuously consuming - designs. The difference is these new versions are are tall, sporty and stylish. In some cases, however, utility is clearly playing second fiddle to performance and looks.
Given their proliferation at the show, this new breed of wagon appears to be the shape of things to come.
The Chrysler Pacifica is a case in point. Due to be released this spring. the Pacifica is 25 cm taller than an Intrepid, but not as tall as a Minivan. It’s longer than an SUV, but has all wheel drive. It’s available with a gorgeous leather interior, beautiful alloy wheels and power to burn (250 horsepower). Show its profile to someone in the ’60s, though, and it would be described as a wagon. Chrysler calls it a “sports tourer.”
 BMW Xactivity. Photo: G. Yoxon
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The BMW xActivity concept was presented as a Sports Activity Vehicle (SAV). According to BMW, “It suggests where BMW is heading as far as the expansion of the X family is concerned.” The company already makes what you might call conventional wagons, but the long wheelbase and strong horizontal lines of the xActivity place it between those wagons and the X5 SUV.
The xActivity was unveiled with a couple of mountain bikes in the back, a typical depiction for vehicles of this type. The target market is “young actives,” and if they can’t afford it, the young at heart and fat of wallet will do.
Porsche literature states that the Cayenne’s lines are, “Unquestionably those of a Porsche. It’s size and spacious interior unmistakably that of an SUV.”
You could effectively argue against both those statements. While not detracting from the performance of the Cayenne (the Turbo version has 450 horsepower and does 0-100km/h in 5.4 seconds), this vehicle in profile is a tallish, truncated wagon. No wood paneling, mind you, but its design cues reverberate back to the prescient 1980 American Motors Eagle four-wheel drive wagon, although the edges have been softened. Performance it’s got, but Porsche may not have taken the Cayenne far enough into SUV territory to firmly establish its identity.
Maserati is not going to sell many vehicles in North America. The Italian sports car builder has a limited dealer network, a questionable reputation for reliability and stratospheric pricing. But unlike other companies, Maserati makes no bones about naming its new Kubang concept a GT Wagon. Kubang, a concept from designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, is an all-wheel drive vehicle that has a center of gravity 100 mm lower than the typical SUV, and it’s not designed for off-road activities. It’s these two features, street use and lower roofline, that for Mr. Giugiaro transform the vehicle from an SUV to a GT Wagon. Still, it was surprising to see this choice of vehicle on the Maserati stand at all.
But it wasn’t surprising to see the Pike’s Peak concept on the Audi stand. This stunning 500 horsepower vehicle had journalists hovering over it long after the official press introduction. Audi describes it as a 4+2 hatchback. In North America, calling it a hatchback may be even worse than calling it a wagon, but it certainly looks more like the latter than the former.
Audi isn’t sure what to call it. As well as describing it as a hatchback, they also characterize it as a crossover, sporty crossover, or SUV with sedan and van attributes. Obviously, Audi stylists recognize that vehicles of this type span several market segments.
The Ford Freestyle FX is described by Ford as, “The world’s first purpose-built crossover vehicle.” Although the Freestyle FX looks like a wagon, at the touch of a button it can mechanically change into something approximating a four-door sedan, or a SportTrac-like vehicle with a cargo bed (kind of like a Subaru Baja).
Freestyle FX features chunky 20″ aluminum wheels, fender flares, all-wheel drive, aluminum roof rack and accents, an adaptable interior and a rugged, sporty exterior. It looks best as a Sport Wagon and would probably sell well in that configuration, even without the trick variations. The Freestyle is scheduled to make its debut in 2004-2005.
The 2004 Cadillac SRX, rated at up to 315 horsepower from its Northstar V8, is a luxury utility that could be an all-wheel drive CTS wagon. It’s not, but it’s no Escalade either. Is it a sport-ute? Doesn’t look tall enough. But is it really a wagon? You be the judge.
One of the characteristics of the old-style wagon is that the rear wheel is usually behind the rear door, and the rear bed is about the same size as the passenger compartment. Like several other sport wagon crossovers, the design of the SRX blurs that distinction. The rear wheel significantly intrudes into the rear door, and the rear bed is half the size of the passenger
compartment. Third row seating almost fills the rear bed.
Take another look at the Chrysler Pacifica and you’ll see the rear wheel behind the rear door, but the bed is still comparatively short.
The Volvo XC90 was actually voted “Truck of the Year” at the Detroit show. At first glance, you’d be forgiven for thinking it’s a bigger version of the Cross Country V70 wagon. I’d forgive you at second glance, too. This vehicle can be bought with a twin-turbo 2.9-litre six-cylinder engine, making 268 horsepower.
The new Infiniti FX45 confused (and pleased) many people who saw it for the first time. Huge wheels, big dual exhaust, low centre of gravity, striking lines and performance to match are its signature features. It’s supposed to be a “premium crossover SUV.” But there’s that familiar profile again.
Finally, the “Hemi” powered, 430 horsepower Dodge Magnum SRT-8 concept was unveiled with great fanfare. According to its designers, the intention with this vehicle was to break away from the pack. But unwittingly, it may have simply joined the herd of similar wagon-like vehicles presented at the Detroit show.
The lumbering station wagon of old, with its wood paneling and bouncy suspension is long gone. The new wagon is tall, aerodynamic and luxurious. It has tapered “sports” back, attractive alloy wheels, dual exhaust, all-wheel drive, and a high performance engine.
Watch for its return as a crossover something-or-other (nobody wants to call it a wagon except Maserati!). But in the end, I think you’ll find these are the true Sports Utility Vehicles.