Bob Lutz's Traveling Old Time Niche Product Sideshow

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

Are more losses showing up on your post-bankruptcy financial statement? Are uptight Europeans and Republicans making your overseas division rescue harder than it needs to be? Is the thought of another year defined by Consumer Reports mediocrity getting you down? Good news! GM’s court jester Bob Lutz hasn’t been shipped off to chair Opel just yet, and he’s been sprinkling the autoblogosphere with his patented enthusiast-baiting niche product hints.

Did you know you’ll be able to buy a Cadillac CTS-V as either a sedan, a coupe or a wagon? When Car and Driver hear the news they “kept an external cool, but inside, we were overjoyed.” I guess I’d have been more curious how long the 550+ hp brute will be available at all, when an RWD Impala is being ruled out on fuel efficiency concerns. But there’s more wagonmania to come! Were you aware that GM is considering a wagon version of its just-announced, Opel Insignia-derived Buick Regal? How else were they going to take on Acura’s recently-announced TSX Wagon? Plus, a GS version of the Regal (aka Insignia OPC) is being hinted at as well. A station wagon with a 335 hp-ish turbocharged V6, AWD and a manual transmission? Sounds like a forum fanboy dream come true until you realize how much it would cost once they ship them over from Germany. Sadly, Lutz reveals that the chances of a Regal wagon depends on the success of the CTS sportwagon. Never mind then. But a twin-turbo Camaro? That’s a solid “ perhaps,” according to GM’s Man of Maximum. Now discuss these possible maybes ad nauseum at your forum of choice, and stop asking about financial reports, struggling overseas divisions and IPOs. Niche station wagons are what this industry is really about. Take it from Bob.

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Russycle Russycle on Nov 17, 2009

    Wagons schmagons. Let's see more El-Caministos like the one in the picture. Caddy is overdue for an El Camino clone, bring it on Bob, the market is wide open!

  • CamaroKid CamaroKid on Nov 17, 2009

    Just what GM needs, yet another car that no one will buy... How many CTS Wagons have they sold so far? Over 100? Lets face simple facts, Americans DO NOT buy wagons... stop wasting money on them

  • Michael I don’t have the luxury of choosing the color of my car and even people in my life who have recently purchased relatively expensive new cars are having their choice of what local dealers have or what they’re getting in soon, shades of grey and white. If I had the choice I would have gone with color when I was younger but now would choose a silver, grey, or black. Whatever looked best on the model.
  • CoastieLenn That price seems a bit high for a high mileage mid-tier Accord, especially a coupe whose resale is typically lower than the stalwart sedan. I do like this generation coupe a lot though.
  • La3541 Red is my go-to color. I love candy-apple red (guards red on Porsche). I have had several red cars. Maroon is not good though.I have always loved British racing green and recently got my first one. A British racing green 4-series that I had to special-order.Silver, black, gray, and white are pretty boring. However, as RNA656.. stated, white looks good on some cars. for more boring colors, I also like chalk on porsches. Nardo gray on Audis is pretty nice.
  • CoastieLenn They're gonna sell tens of these, and I don't believe those presented numbers for a second! Good on them for offering it though.
  • Chris P Bacon Tuscadero is pink, but eye-searingly is a bit of a stretch. It's actually a little on the darker side in person. Jeep dropped the color just before we could order our '22 4xe. So we got one in High Velocity yellow. Sahara, with a soft top. Was the first one that made it to the dealer when it was delivered, salesman told us everyone in the showroom went out to see it when the truck rolled in. The missus loves it. It's not a color you could put on anything, but it works on the Jeep.
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