Auto News 5

Does the Volvo station wagon have a future in America? We've come to the French Riviera to drive the 2015 Volvo V60 tomorrow and find out, but tonight we're sitting down to an alfresco dinner with brand executive Joe Haslem, who pointedly states the obvious: "We have so much equity in wagons." Indeed, the station wagon is a defining part of Volvo's identity. It all started with the 1953 Duett, a cargo hauler that could be used for work during the day and personal chores at night -- thus the name. It was followed by the transformational 1960s P220 Amazon estate, which was less of a commercial truck and more of a true family car. With the stylish Amazon, Volvo had found its niche. Through the 1970s and 1980s and well into the 1990s, station wagons helped the brand cultivate the loyalty of customers ranging from tweedy college professors to upscale suburban families.