It's not exactly a tidal wave yet but there are hints that some manufacturers may drop their sedan models in Europe because the trend is moving toward crossovers (CUV's) and minivans (the latter in more compact European format, of course). Enthusiasts who prefer their vehicles low to the ground will be shocked at this news. I'm not. After years of anti-SUV raving, I've concluded that the CUV represents the future of the automobile, even in ultra-conservative North America where notchback sedans still find favor over more practical hatchbacks. History prompted my change of heart. During much of the last century the typical family auto was upright, spacious, easy to clamber in and out (and that includes the rear seating area). Those of us old enough to remember need only look back. The rest of you should look around a collector car show. This illustration of a 1937 Oldsmobile, from a catalog available at McLellan's Automotive, is ample evidence, even allowing for artistic exaggeration.