Based on the hot-selling CTS sport sedan, and a sister vehicle to the CTS Coupe Concept, the Sport Wagon extends the design-driven renaissance of Cadillac. Following this special premiere at Pebble Beach, the CTS Sport Wagon moves to the worldwide auto show circuit this fall — and into to Cadillac dealerships in mid 2009.

"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," reckons 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."

It rides on the same 2880mm wheelbase as the CTS sport sedan and is 7mm shorter. However, it offers a cargo area of 720 litres behind the rear seats.

"It's a taut design that not only suggests sleekness, but delivers it," figures Clay Dean, global design director for Cadillac. "Indeed, the drama of the sedan is amplified in the CTS Sport 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 liftgate area, for example, is a confluence of angles and planes. Cadillac's "V" motif is most prominent here, culminating in a spine at the centre of the liftgate that is 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 touches to the rear-end styling.

"Functionality was certainly a guiding factor during development," said Dean, "but so was the idea to inject emotion into the normally sedate wagon category."

One integration of form and function is found in the roof load management system. Rather than stylised stanchions, brackets and cross bars that protrude above the roof line, the Sport Wagon's system blends with the roofline, maintaining an uninterrupted appearance. The centre section of the roof panel angles downward inside the roof edges, allowing an unobtrusive placement of the cross bars and creating a subtle fin effect at the trailing edges of the rear panels.

The interior of the Sport Wagon is common with the sport sedan, including streamlined instrumentation, LED lighting and hand-cut-and-sewn accents with French stitching.

The CTS Sport Wagon's 3.6-litre V6 pushes out 227kW, while the 3.6-litre VVT engine that produces 196kW and 343Nm serves as the base engine in North America.

Just like the CTS sport sedan, the V6 engines are matched with fuel-saving six-speed transmissions, including an Aisin six-speed manual or an electronically controlled Hydra-Matic 6L50 six-speed automatic. As is the case on the sport sedan, CTS Sport Wagon includes AWD as an option.

An efficient 2.9-litre turbo-diesel engine is being developed for CTS models primarily in European and Asian markets. It is a compact, dual overhead cam, four-valve V6 engine rated at 184kW.

The CTS chassis infuses the wagon with a balance of performance and luxury. It uses an independent short/long arm front suspension system and a multi-link rear suspension, while the multi-link rear suspension features a fully isolated subframe.

Advanced chassis technology in the form of Cadillac's StabiliTrak electronic chassis control system integrates the car's standard four-channel ABS with the full-function traction control, hydraulic brake assist and engine drag control systems to deliver a safer, more confident driving experience. Additional chassis details include a structure-enhancing tower-to-tower brace under the hood; large, four-wheel disc brakes and premium steering.