Spycam: Cadillac CTS Wagon

The wagon variant of the Cadillac CTS has been caught testing ahead of its likely debut at the Paris Show in October, where it will probably be shown with the new 250hp, 406lb ft 2.9-liter V-6 turbo-diesel that will be critical for CTS' success in the European market.

The CTS wagon will be produced along side the sedan and coupe versions at the Lansing Grand River Assembly Plant in Michigan starting in the spring of 2009. Production volume is expected to be around 10,000-12,000 vehicles, with the majority destined for Europe.

The CTS wagon has been the subject of huge debate within GM. Execs with a North American focus couldn't see the point of doing a wagon because volumes would be small; more global oriented execs realized a wagon had a lot more acceptance in Europe, and would help grow (with the Coupe) perception of the CTS as a family of vehicles.

In the U.S., the CTS will help the upcoming Lambda-based crossover -- which will not, despite reports to the contrary, be called the BRX -- fill the void left by the moribund SRX, which gets the axe in the first half of 2009.

Approving the development of the CTS wagon was a critical step in the globalization of GM, and of the Cadillac brand.