New ‘wagon’ models from General Motors’ Cadillac and European Opel/Vauxhall units broke cover this week.
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Cadillac provided a sneak preview of the next-generation SRX Crossover, a 2010 model that will launch worldwide in mid-to-late 2009.
It claimed the SRX, unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, in Monterey, California, would “bring a more dynamic alternative to the heart of the luxury crossover segment, featuring a fresh iteration of Cadillac’s signature design language”.
The five-seat 2010 model makes its debut at major global motor shows later this year and will replace the current SRX launched in 2004.
The next-generation crossover is similar in styling and proportion to Cadillac’s Provoq concept shown at the British motor show last month.
Cadillac also used the Pebble Beach event to stage the global launch of its new CTS sport wagon – the sedan, or saloon, was recently launched in right-hand drive form here in the UK. Recent motor show sightings of a CTS coupe ‘concept’ suggest a production version is not far away.
Cadillac will also build right-hand drive CTS sport wagons and these are expected in the UK in autumn 2009.
“The addition of this dramatically-designed Sport Wagon is well synchronised with today’s changing consumer tastes as a compelling alternative to SUVs or other larger vehicles,” said Cadillac general manager Jim Taylor.
“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 is an important expansion to the Cadillac line-up worldwide.”
The wagon rides on the same wheelbase as the CTS sedan but is 7mm shorter overall and offers luggage capacity of 720 litres behind the rear seats.
UK engine and transmission options are yet to be finalised (the sedan offers two petrol V6s and a diesel V6, expected to be the volume seller is coming).
US models will be available with 3.6-litre V6 engines, and the 2.9-litre turbodiesel engine being developed primarily for European and Asian markets will also be offered. It is a 250ps, compact, dual overhead cam, V6 engine from GM’s family of diesel engines that delivers optimal fuel economy as well as reduced emissions and noise.
Meanwhile, Opel/Vauxhall has released photos of the ‘stand-alone’Insignia wagon soon to join the sedan and hatchback range currently being launched in Europe.
This body variant will be markted as the Sports Tourer and will be on sale here in the UK in the second quarter of 2009 with two new engines – a more powerful turbodiesel and a smaller capacity turbocharged petrol unit – in addition to the five powerplants available from launch in the sedan and hatchback models.
An ecoFLEX Sports Tourer with competitively low emissions and fuel consumption will also be available “in the near future”, GM Europe said.
The wagon retains the hatchback and sedan’s 2,737mm wheelbase but it about 80mm longer.
