However it's not called a station wagon any more; Dodge calls it a "sport tourer." Others call this new direction a sports wagon. And that's what it is: a crossover between sports car and station wagon. More accurately, the Dodge Magnum is a crossover between muscle car and station wagon. Eminently civilized, of course.

The grille is clearly from the Dodge Ram truck family, but it's smaller, softer and classier. The headlamp units are a nice integrated wedge shape. We like them better than those on the new Chrysler 300, the Magnum's sister car, which try harder to be retro. The air dam/bumper cover wraps up under the headlamps and grille, and looks impressively beefy and functional.

From the side, the Magnum looks like it could be rolled onto the floor of a hot rod show. The wheel cutouts are profound, and especially imposing with the 18-inch 10-spoke wheels on the RT. But a bigger visual effect is created by the tinted glass and roofline sloping back and pinching the rear window. This serves an innovative purpose. The one-piece liftgate is hinged about two feet up into the roof, providing a vast and liberating opening to the cargo area. It requires less ducking to reach things in there, and will be easier on lower backs of all ages.

The black trim around the windows is in keeping with the car's style, but the chrome ding-strip down the side seems gratuitous.