25th Anniversary Minivans get interior spiffing

Looming assimilation by the GM Borg or not, Chrysler's not waiting around for something to happen. The automaker hosted a hootenanny at the Windsor, Ontario plant where its minivans are assembled, and 25th anniversary editions of Chrysler's family haulers were trotted out carrying upgraded interiors intended to thrill consumers into purchasing. The new outfitting comprises two different color combinations - dark slate and medium slate gray, with perforated leather french-stitched onto the seats. The most exciting historical homage, however, is the return of faux wood. The original vans had timberesque hunks of resin plastered around its innards, and it's heartwarming to see Chrysler embracing the 1980s by bringing back this accent and its corresponding "fresh sense of detail." Chrysler wants its employees to give people noogies until they relent and pony up for a new Grand Caravan, and it's still hard to argue with the efficiency with which a Chrysler minivan will haul all of your who knows what.
Gallery: 25 Years of Chrysler Minivans
[Source: Chrysler]
| Chrysler LLC Celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Minivan |
|
| Auburn Hills, Mich., Nov 3, 2008 - Chrysler LLC today introduced the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan 25th Anniversary Editions to celebrate the minivan segment's Silver Anniversary. 25th Anniversary models will be available this winter as special editions of the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan.
With more than 65 minivan-first innovations since 1983, the 2009 Chrysler and Dodge 25th Anniversary Edition minivans pay homage to the more than 12 million minivans sold worldwide, with unique exterior and interior appointments, large selection of popular features and commemorative 25th Anniversary badging that affirms Chrysler LLC as the leader in family transportation. "Twenty-five years later, Chrysler and Dodge continue to dominate and innovate in this important segment," said Deborah Meyer – Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Chrysler LLC. "With numerous minivan segment-exclusive features including Stow `n Go seating and storage, and the best fuel economy rating, it is no surprise that Chrysler and Dodge minivans command more than 40 percent of the U.S. minivan market." Understanding the changing needs of families around the globe has allowed Chrysler and Dodge minivans to lead the segment since the first-generation began production on November 2,1983 at the Windsor Assembly Plant. Chrysler designers and engineers studied the family vehicle market as early as 1977, knowing a family vehicle need existed between full-size vans and large station wagons. After numerous studies, a new "magic wagon" formula utilized a front-engine, front-wheel drive design, a low flat-load floor with chair-height seating and walk-through access from front-row to second-row, a convenient sliding door and an efficient "garageable" size. In comparison to full-size van and large station wagon, neither vehicle segment could match the combination of versatility, car-like ride and fuel efficiency of Chrysler's new "minivan" formula. New 2009 Chrysler and Dodge minivans continue to perfect the award-winning minivan formula that originated a quarter-century ago; offering the ultimate "family room on wheels" on the inside, a contemporary design on the outside, and a powertrain offering unsurpassed fuel economy performance in the segment. The most flexible seating and storage system in the minivan segment, Stow 'n Go® is standard on all 2009 Chrysler and Dodge minivan models giving customers second- and third-row seating that quickly and conveniently folds into the floor. Adding even more family-fun and entertainment, the minivan-first Swivel 'n Go™ seat system allows the second-row seats to swivel 180 degrees to face rearward. Swivel 'n Go also includes a removable table that fits between the second and third rows and a fold-in-the-floor third-row seat. A minivan-first one-touch power-folding third-row seat is available with either the Stow 'n Go or Swivel 'n Go seat systems. Innovative entertainment features complement Chrysler and Dodge minivans' unique second- and third-row seating. A large nine-inch dual-DVD system with third-row monitor plays different media at the same time, while the segment-exclusive uconnect studios SIRIUS Backseat TV with Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network Mobile provides satellite entertainment with family-fun programming. Front-row passengers may also enjoy features of the uconnect tunes with music, audio, movie and personalized picture display capability, a 30-gigabyte hard drive for 6,700 songs, USB port, SIRIUS Satellite Radio, front-row movie playback (in Park as permitted by state regulations), an audio jack for any MP3 player audio playback and iPod connectivity in the glove box. uconnect gps adds even more capability with navigation, voice controls and real-time traffic monitoring. Updating the classic, utilitarian shape of the first generation, the fifth-generation 2009 Chrysler and Dodge minivans feature a contemporary profile that is thoughtful, tailored, maximizes interior space, and features best-in-class aerodynamics (Cd of 0.33) to improve fuel efficiency. Behind the unique front-end designs of 2009 Chrysler and Dodge minivans, an available aluminum six-cylinder engine and a minivan-first six-speed automatic transmission offer unsurpassed fuel economy, and the segment's best combination of horsepower (251 hp) and torque (259 ft.-lb.). With an EPA fuel economy rating of 17 city and 25 highway mpg, the powerful 4.0-liter engine gives customers the fuel economy they want, the seven-passenger seating they need and the power they expect. 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan 25th Anniversary Editions Segment-exclusive uconnect studios SIRIUS Backseat TV with Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network Mobile, all-new Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path System are some of the available features on these special-edition 2009 Chrysler and Dodge 25th Anniversary Editions. Dodge Brand The Dodge brand's first crossover vehicle - the all-new 2009 Dodge Journey - arrived in dealer showrooms in the first quarter of 2008, and is now available outside North America in petrol and diesel powertrains in both left- and right-hand drive. Available now, Dodge added three more vehicles to its product lineup – the all-new 2009 Dodge Ram with game-changing exterior and interior design, innovations, best-in-class features and craftsmanship; and the all-new 2009 Dodge Challenger, a modern interpretation of the American muscle car. Last fall, America's best-selling minivan for over two decades, the all-new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan, was introduced with 35 new or improved features, including the newest innovation, the Swivel 'n Go™ seating system. In 2007, Dodge sold 33,500 commercial vehicles, a 285 percent increase over 2003 when the company returned to the commercial vehicle market and is now the sixth-largest manufacturer of commercial vehicles sold in the U.S. Chrysler Brand Loaded with premium features including fuel-saving Multi-displacement System technology, the 2009 Chrysler 300 continues to stand apart from the crowd. The dramatic exterior design of the award-winning Chrysler 300, along with sophisticated interior amenities and technologies, establish a new large-car formula. The award-winning 2009 Chrysler Town & Country is a "family room on wheels" with the Swivel `n Go™ seating and storage system, stowable table, dual-DVD entertainment system and SIRIUS Backseat TV available. For customers seeking fuel efficiency, the Chrysler Sebring sedan achieves 30 miles per gallon (mpg) highway fuel economy and has been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SmartWay program, which recognizes the cleanest, most efficient vehicles sold in the United States. |







Get a WordPress.com Blog




Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
TJ 9:30AM (11/04/2008)
But no pics of the interior upgrades?
Reply
Andrew L 9:50AM (11/04/2008)
More plastic
Mark 10:12AM (11/04/2008)
Well that would make sense!
MattF G419 10:35AM (11/04/2008)
Interior upgrades at Chrysler are like dressing up Hunt's point hookers and calling them Julia Roberts....
Judy Zik 11:11AM (11/04/2008)
They must be waiting for the pictures to be cleared by GM's PR department. I wonder if the interior upgrades include a snap on and off Dodge/Chrysler logo so you can stick a bow tie on it later.
All kidding aside I am glad to see some signs of life continuing at Chrysler. Cerberus would be foolish to allow the automaker to fall apart while they pin their hopes on GM.
Ricky 9:40AM (11/04/2008)
And no pic of the 96-2000 Caravan/T&C?
Reply
dukeisduke 9:40AM (11/04/2008)
Picture number 8 is a European edition. Note the repeater lights on the front fenders, and the tricolor taillights.
Reply
Derek 10:45AM (11/04/2008)
They've had faux wood every year since intro, including already currently--that's the Chrysler version trademark, inside.
Basically, this "upgrade" is just modified color schemes and upholstery changes to the generic plastic ware interiors and their big, flimsy gapped parts.
The VW Routan version should be the minimum for all of these vans in regard to interior trimming and suspension tuning, for sure, and then get better from there. Otherwise, ick, with the cheapo Dodge & Chrysler slosh boxes.
Reply
AZMike 10:56AM (11/04/2008)
does that include the putrid black carpeting (with every color interior) in the Routan that shows every speck of dirt?
I'll take the version as Chrysler originally designed it. they know best.
AZMike
Judy Zik 11:05AM (11/04/2008)
Black Carpeting? Are you kidding. On a van built in Canada. Now that's funny. The way they salt our roads and walkways black carpeting is the worst thing you can have it shows every grain of salt.
Epyx 9:56AM (11/04/2008)
My Mom had a 1988 Grand Caravan. Blue with woodgrain on the outside. It was sweet. Had a rockin' infinity sound system and a/c controls in the back (a big deal then). Learned to drive in that beast. I remember every one of my friends Mom's also had a Dodge or Plymouth minivan. Soon after they all got traded in on Grand Cherokees and Ford explorers. Before the minivan craze all the Mom's (mine included) had Subaru wagons. Funny how trendy cars become with Soccer moms.
Reply
Russ 11:20AM (11/04/2008)
I remember in the early to mid 80s, before there was the mini-van craze, all of my friend's Moms had full size conversion vans. Every thing was about those beasts with captain's chair's in the middle row and a 5" color television on the raised roof if you were rich.
Of course gas was like .60/gallon.
MemphisNET 10:30AM (11/04/2008)
Everyone has fond (and not so great) memories of the Chrysler mini's. Hopefully there will be another 25years of them.
Love the early examples myself -- but the 02 Dodge with AWD was awesome, especially in the snow :D
Reply
why not the LS2LS7? 10:42AM (11/04/2008)
Were these interior changes German engineered?
Reply
gotsmart 10:44AM (11/04/2008)
Your gallery is missing two or three generations of Magic Wagons.
Reply
adamt 11:33AM (11/04/2008)
I got my DL on a '89 Caravan with 2.5litre (non turbo) 4cyl mated to 5speed manual. The van was very light and fun to drive. A definite sleeper.
Reply
Patrick 11:50AM (11/04/2008)
The Chrysler headlights look very similar to the Routan headlights. Never noticed until now...
Reply
thomas 12:17PM (11/04/2008)
(insert joke about fine corinthian leather)
Reply
Cory 12:40PM (11/04/2008)
These vans are American through and through. Look at how they've have slowly bloated. According to the specs, length has grown about 27 inches. The original vans were actually shorter than the Mazda5. The newest vans are as long as a mid-90s Chevyvan. Not as "mini" as they used to be.
Reply
J. D. Billiford 1:55PM (11/04/2008)
>>> Twenty five years! I can remember the introduction of the Chrysler minivans when first seeing one on the cover of Motor Trend magazine. How the time has indeed gone by.
Congratulations, Chrysler!
Reply