Wrong. At least that's what we think. We're the country that turned our wagons into drag strippers and ghost busters. Clearly we can complete with the likes of Benzies and Bimmers. With gas prices going up, maybe the days of the luxury SUV are numbered and the luxowagon will take it place. Or are we just dreaming?

Personally, I've never been a huge fan of the standard Quattroporte's styling. Yes, the car has a cool demeanor. My problem was I always saw the portholes as gaudy, the C-pillars as awkwardly chunky, and the entire front end as particularly unflattering in anything but dark colors. So for me, the Bellagio doesn't just have the inherent awesome-ness of being a wagon, it also addresses all my quibbles. The portholes have been replaced by a singe vent on each side, the C-pillars have been swept into graceful shapes, and the whole thing is covered in slick deep charcoal paint. Do want.
[Car Body Design, autoblog.nl]

We started the day off with a right and proper declaration of wagon war. A proper recognition of our net based wagon loving forefathers at the resting, but ready for a return stationwagons.com followed as is proper when drumming up support for a cause.

Then straight to the heart of the matter, holla-holla-Hardigree served us the question of the day straight up: Are Wagons Cool? The answer: You bet you're ass they're cool.

Proving the answer that question before you commenters could even dig your teeth in was the quattro engined, all wheel drive madness inducing Riviera Wagon Master. Visions of day long four wheel burnouts in clouds of billowing tire smoke while hauling engine parts danced in our head.

Europe proved is has none of the groundless fear of wagonocity when we learned Peugeot would be bringing its 308 SW to the upcoming Geneva Motor Show. We'll be there in a little over a month to appreciate the flat loading, cargo hauling, fuel economizing goodness.

Rinspeed proved wagons can be all things to all people with the Bedouin. Not only was it a shooting brake based on the 911, but it was also a halfback convertible and sported some mini-camino action. Try doing that with your SUV (okay, we'll be fair, GM's poorly received GMC Envoy XUV pulled a simililar move, but definitely with less style).

With yesterday's longest and certainly most British exotic car entry, the Aston Martin Lagondawagon blew everybody's mind with the strategic deployment of massive V8 combined with the almost unheard of E-pillar.

Everybody needs a place to call home. If you're a madman with a wagon all your own, not needing validation from society, knowing the wagon is superior to all other forms of transport, you many want to turn your eys to the American Station Wagon Owners of America.

Connecticut, you are so small, and yet your native sons (or flannel lovin' ladies) proved to us that yes Victoria, Wagons can compete in Hoon of the Day.

The Packard Wagon showed up in all its tealy goodness and rocked hard doing it. Even afterthought, budget badge engineered, crazy colored antique wagons show superior logic. With two antenna sprouting from each fin, fans of symmetry, and reception, are guaranteed to be happy.

Oh car chases, how do we love thee? A lot, especially if they sport the low ball pyrotechnics and outhouse crushing sensibilities displayed in the Vista Cruiser Chase.

Rekindling fond memories of ghost themed 80's comedy movies gone by, the ECTO-1 brought back that illustrious feeling of purpose and badass that only a Cadillac wagon can provide.

Without racing, were would we be? Still driving solid front axle T's that's where. And in that spirit, the battle of the track day wagons warms our heart and calms the sensibiliies. Something is just so right about two Japanese guys duking it out on the track in wagonified Subaru's and Mitsubishi's.

A wagon for every stage of life. We start out with Radio Flyers and end up in a hearse. The funeral wagon, if you will, comes in many varieties and always does its solemn duty, but that doesn't mean it isn't still wagon at heart - stopped or otherwise.

And finally, because there's something in our makeup which forces bad Russian jokes, the four wheel drive, Lada/AutoVaz wagon combo to end the day.

It was a great day for wagons everywhere, and we hope to bring you more maximum something days in the future, but for now, let us rest on the laurels of a fine inaugural Maximum Wagon Day.

In 1958, just 158 of the wagons were produced making the remaining ones some of the most collectible Packards/Studebakers. We once called this car uglier than the Aztek, but it has a certain niche appeal. [The Studebaker Page]

This was put together by Roos Engineering, which is also responsible for the less impressive but probably more reliable Virage Wagon. Dare to dream, kids. Dare to dream. [Pestalozzi.net]

Peugeot 308 SW Press Release

This year's Geneva Motor Show will be the stage for Peugeot to unveil the new, innovative and practical 308 SW, which will replace the 307 SW.
Launched in April 2002, the Peugeot 307 SW offered a stylish and innovative alternative for customers who, for practical reasons, found that a hatchback vehicle lacked the flexibility and size they required and were uninspired by the design of conventional estate cars and medium size MPVs. Since its launch in the UK, the 307 SW has sold over 40,000 vehicles.

Like the 308 hatchback, the 308 SW builds on the strengths of its predecessor but develops them even further. For example, the panoramic glass roof is now 27% larger (total area of 1.68 m2) and extends beyond the heads of the second row passengers, the modularity is easier to operate and improved and it now has a very practical opening rear tailgate glass.

A lot of attention has also been paid to the modularity of the 308 SW so that it can be adapted simply and efficiently, according to the requirements of its occupants. The rear seats in the second row are all individual, easy to remove, identical in size and offer a multitude of combinations.

To enable seven occupants to be carried, two occasional rear seats can be fitted in the third row.

Access to the rear load area is either via the rear tailgate or the opening rear tailgate glass. With the second row seats in place it can accommodate up to 674 litres (573 dm3 VDA) under the rear load cover. With the seats removed it provides a total volume of 2,149 litres up to the level of the roof (1,736 dm3 VDA).

The 308 SW is based on platform 2 of the PSA Peugeot Citroën group and compared to the hatchback, the wheelbase of the 308 SW has been increased by 100 mm and the rear overhang by 124 mm.

With regards to secondary safety, the structure (thanks in particular to the presence of three impact absorption beams) has been designed to provide optimal protection, combined with the ability to absorb the maximum amount of impact energy in a controlled manner. In addition, the SW can be equipped with up to seven airbags, including a steering column airbag.

The 308 SW is available with a wide choice of modern, high performance, economical and environmentally-friendly powertrains.

The use of the latest technology in both the petrol and diesel engines, combined with the car's efficient aerodynamics, weight saving measures and the use of Michelin Energy Saver tyres, reduces the fuel consumption, compared to the 307 SW, by up to 10% .

With regards to road holding, the suspension set-up and wheel size options have been borrowed from the 308 hatchback but revised to meet the special requirements of the SW version.

The 308 SW range will go on sale in the UK in June and more information concerning specification and prices will be announced nearer the launch date.

[Source: Peugeot via World Car Fans]

In addition to being an issue of generation and geography, it's a matter of taste: Misha Barton or Beyonce. Personally, we'll take Beyonce. Do you like junk in the trunk? Are wagons cool? We're not just looking for a simple yes or no. We want proof. We want evidence.

Our Proof? RS2 Avant.

We're thinking about what it takes to run a site nowadays and webmaster Steve Manning had to be a serious web ninja at that time to dig up all-wagon all-the-time coverage. Sure a lot of their links have long since gone cold, but there is still some solid gold in there, 1959 Chevy wagon on a boat anyone? Like super tipster (is that like a superdelegate?) Mad_Science, we think there's great potential here. We envision daily rants about the superiority of wagons to all manner of crossover and SUV. Amusing postings about crude and strangely engineered Soviet-era wagons. Station wagons with monster truck tires or horribly dilapidated ones proposed as project cars, wagons covered in neon lights and chrome... wait a minute.

Thule Trail includes many mini-games and scenarios that real-life cross-country road trippers will encounter like hitchhikers, prostitutes, dice games, hunting for food and more. It just reminds me of the days hunting and killing 999 pounds worth of buffalo, but only being able to carry 50 and being scolded for being wasteful, then getting dysentery and blaming karma for letting my daughter drown while crossing the river. Maybe this can help you enjoy the rest of your workday. [Thule Trail via Kotaku]

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[wagonsofsteel.com]

Related:
Wagons of Steel, Ho Ho Ho! [Internal]