sic transit L.A.

So you thought the sport-utility craze was whacked out, and the title of brawniest condomobile was retired by the 3-ton, 8-passenger, makes-no-sense Lincoln Navigator?

* Well, Ford is designing a Crew Wagon that is 2 feet longer than even the 18-foot Chevrolet Suburban and with careful cramming will hold a party of 10.

* A study by AutoPacific Group of Santa Ana says there are three dozen sport-utility vehicles on the market, with that model count expected to rise to four dozen by 2000.

* Fifty percent of this year’s new car buyers say they will consider buying a sport-ute next time around.

* These padded trucks are vehicles of choice for every demographic group of buyers except the over-65 bunch.

* And survey respondents say they’re not buying for the fad of it, but for the vehicle’s interior packaging, driving fun and perceived sportiness--with security against road rage just appearing on marketing radar.

A final word last week from Giampaolo Letta, communications manager for Ferrari of North America: “We have no intention of building a sport utility vehicle.

“At least, not for the moment.”