CADILLAC is breaking a 104-year-old tradition with its plans to launch an estate version of its BLS saloon in Europe later this year.

The front-wheel-drive BLS Wagon will be available with a choice of turbo-diesel and three turbocharged petrol engines.

The 1.9-litre four-cylinder diesel engine, with common-rail direct-injection technology, will deliver 150 horsepower and the petrol engines include two 2.0-litre and a 2.8-litre V6. The BLS Wagon offers six-speed manual transmissions and five- or six-speed automatic transmissions, depending on engine.

Cadillac general manager, Jim Taylor, said: "The Cadillac BLS Wagon is an appealing addition to the Cadillac portfolio for customers preferring dramatically designed luxury vehicles that offer versatility and performance along with outstanding ride and handling characteristics.

"This is the first Cadillac wagon in our 104-year history, and we think it will do well in many European markets where consumers desire a high degree of versatility and functionality in their performance luxury vehicles."

Ed Welburn, GM vice-president of global design, said: "The whole team was very excited to apply Cadillac's design language to a wagon for the first time. The V-shaped chrome-plated grille, a Cadillac hallmark, is picked up again by the shape of the rear window, and the body side character lines make it unmistakably a Cadillac."

The BLS Wagon also features jewel-like headlamps, fog lamps integrated into the body-coloured bumper and a wide air intake below the grille. Prices will be announced closer to the launch date, which is expected to be in the third quarter of the year.