Caddy’s great estate unveiled

Cadillac has given its CTS the boot! The Sports Wagon version of its BMW 5-Series rival was unveiled at the Pebble Beach Concours D’Elegance motor show in California. And as our pictures show, it keeps the bold looks of the striking saloon we drove last week.

As the name suggests, it has been designed with sporty styling and load-lugging ability in mind. It has the same wheelbase as the four-door,but is 7mm shorter overall.

It still manages to offer 720 litres of storage capacity behind the rear seats, though, beating rivals such as the Audi A6 and Mercedes E-Class estates.

The roof rails have been designed not to protrude and ruin the car’s lines. And while the UK engine range hasn’t been finalised yet, it is sure to include the 208bhp 2.8-litre V6 and 307bhp 3.6-litre V6 from the saloon. A 247bhp 2.9-litre diesel – also a V6 – is being developed for European and Asian markets, and should make its way here, too.

Like the saloon, the Sport Wagon will be right-hand drive and boast high levels of equipment, with prices likely to start at around £29,000 in 2.8-litre V6 form. It will arrive on these shores in autumn next year, with a production version of the CTS coupé concept joining it shortly after.

Cadillac has also used Pebble Beach to showcase its all-new SRX Crossover, which will launch alongside the CTS Sports Wagon in autumn 2009. Looking similar to the Provoq study, the car will appear at major motor shows later this year. It will offer improved dynamics and wet-weather traction over the current SRX, and has what Cadillac describes as an ‘elegantly modern cabin’. The car will share underpinnings with Saab’s 9-4X and have a similarly styled bodyshell.