Filed under: Wagon
Return of the Wagon...?
We all have our favorite memories from childhood, and one of mine was piling into the back of the family station wagon, along with a passel of friends, to head to the Jersey Shore for my eighth birthday. Growing up as part of the 'Leave it to Beaver' generation, the wagon was as essential a part of life as Tang, TV and my mother's inevitably over-cooked pot roast.By the time we Boomers began to raise families of our own, the wagon had largely vanished, replaced first by the minivan and then the seemingly ubiquitous SUV. Oh, there were the odd few 'two-box' models left on the market, usually a European offering, and maybe the occasional Asian import, but for all practical purposes, the wagon was dead.
Here, in the U.S., anyway. In other parts of the world, Europe in particular, it has actually gained strength over the years, leaving global planners - and a few of us diehard wagon fans - scratching our heads and wondering if this most utilitarian of automotive designs might ever make a comeback here.
There've been a few false starts, promising new entries like the Dodge Magnum failing to gain traction. But if this year's New York International Auto Show is any indication, a new era of the American station wagon may finally be upon us. Maybe.
Paul A. Eisenstein is Publisher of TheDetroitBureau.com, and a 30-year veteran of the automotive beat. His editorials will bring his unique perspective and deep understanding of the auto world to Autoblog readers on a regular basis.
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TheDetroitBureau.com on Autoblog with Paul Eisenstein originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 02 Apr 2010 14:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.
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