Chrysler Town & Country/Voyager (5th Gen) 2007-

[hchanhle]

Hello Friends.

Here are the leaked pics of the new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country/Voyager to be presented at the LA International Auto Show...

I know, It's a minivan, but it's also one of the most important vehicles for Chrysler... So...

Some specs:
- 2 bodies available: 4.80 m short version & 5.10 m long version.
- 5 motors. 2 gasoline (2.4 l 152 Hp and 3.3 l of 174 Hp). 2 Diesel engine (2.5 l 143 HP and 2.8 l 150 Hp). All new 4.0-liter, V6gasoline engine.
- 4 -wheel drive versions available.
-seven seats, with two individual seats in the second row and a sidewalk of three seats in third.
-Revolving 2nd row seats and available table between those seats and third row.
-Electrically folding 3rd row seats.
-Multi-usage center console.


My main comment on that vehicle: why can't designers be more creative or executives allow designers to be more creative as this is another boring cube-like vehicles. These people should get some inspiration from Vans sold in Europe by Citroen, Ford ,or even Toyota... Nice interior though, but gain, nothing new here: features copied from the Renault Espace (revolving 2nd row seats, table)...

[hchanhle]

All-New 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country Minivans Raise the Bar for the Minivan Segment

* Fifth generation of industry-leading Chrysler Group minivans to arrive this fall
* All-new exterior and interior design for a more contemporary appearance
* Thirty-five new or improved features make the 2008 Chrysler Group minivans “family rooms on wheels”
* Five models, three distinct seating and storage systems and three powertrains, including a minivan-first six-speed transaxle, offer the right ingredients for any active lifestyle

Detroit, Jan 7, 2007 - The all-new 2008 Dodge and Chrysler minivans once again prove they have the right ingredients to be the best vehicles to move people and cargo. With 35 new and improved features, the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country aren’t just practical vehicles, they also have the right mix to be “family rooms on wheels,” with something for everyone to enjoy.

“The all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan spice up the minivan recipe by offering an all-new contemporary appearance, five different models, three distinct seating and storage systems, unmatched entertainment systems and the safety you expect and deserve,” said George Murphy, Senior Vice President – Marketing, Chrysler Group. “Add in three powertrain options, clever interior features and industry-leading functionality, and you have a recipe that will be a favorite with any family.

The newest ingredient for functional family seating is the all-new Swivel ’n Go™ seating system. Swivel ’n Go offers second row seats that swivel 180 degrees to face the third row with a removable table that installs between the two rows, covered storage bins in the floor of the second row, third-row uncovered storage and fold-in-the-floor third-row seating. Swivel ’n Go also offers an available industry-first integrated child booster seat in the second-row quad chair and an available minivan-exclusive one-touch power-folding third-row 60/40 bench seat.

“Chrysler Group engineers turned the tables on traditional seat systems to come up with a technology that lets families have more choices of how to spend their time while traveling,” said Larry Lyons, Vice President – Front-wheel-drive Product Team, Chrysler Group. “With Swivel ’n Go, second- and third-row passengers can face each other to have a conversation, play games or have a meal on the go.”

Safety is a key part of any minivan recipe, and that continues to be true with the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. All-row supplemental side-curtain air bags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with traction control and brake assist, LATCH child seat anchor system and a patented, energy-absorbing steering column are among the standard safety features included in the 2008 Dodge and Chrysler minivans. Innovations like an industry-first integrated child booster seat, ParkView™ rear back-up camera, a rearview interior conversation mirror, integrated child safety seat and ParkSense® rear back-up system also ensure peace of mind while traveling.

Minivan Innovation Leadership

The modern minivan was invented by the former Chrysler Corporation in 1983. Since then, the Chrysler Group has sold more than 11 million minivans and invented more than 60 minivan firsts that not only have revolutionized the minivan segment, but made their way into other vehicle segments as well.

“Chrysler Group is the leader in bringing innovations to the minivan segment, and those innovations seem to have an uncanny way of ending up in other products,” said Lyons. “Integrated child safety seats, dual-zone temperature controls, a power liftgate and DVD entertainment are just some of the features that started in a minivan, but are now available in other vehicle segments.”

For 2008, the Chrysler Town & Country (sold as the Chrysler Grand Voyager in most markets outside North America) and Dodge Grand Caravan offer value, functionality, safety and a package of innovative features that no other manufacturer can match. With 35 new or improved features, the all-new 2008 Chrysler Town and Country and Dodge Grand Caravan offer consumers a home away from home.

“The 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan offer the best amenities for today’s busy families,” said Murphy. “With a dual DVD system that plays different media at the same time, pinpoint LED lighting to read by, a table to play games or finish homework, a voice-activated navigation system with real-time traffic, power sliding doors and liftgate and YES Essentials® cloth seats, every member of the family will enjoy their journey.”

Unmatched Functionality and Entertainment

The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country have spiced up the recipe for minivan success to include a place for everything. A premium, multi-function, front-row sliding console, dual glove boxes, second-row covered storage bins, third-row storage area and clever storage bins and pockets offer more places to store things than ever before.

Three distinct seating configurations are available for 2008 in North America. They include a second-row bench seat with second-row covered storage bins and third-row fold-in-the-floor seating, a Stow ’n Go® seating and storage system that offers the only second- and third-row fold-in-the-floor seats in the industry and the new Swivel ’n Go seating that 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 with a fold-in-the-floor third-row seat. A one-touch power-folding third-row seat also is available.

Available comfort and convenience features include a new, removable sliding front console that is large enough to store a purse; remote start; heated first- and second-row leather or cloth seats; rearview interior conversation mirror; YES Essentials stain-resistant, odor-resistant, anti-static cloth fabric; a removable flashlight in the rear quarter panel; first- and second-row power windows; second- and third-row retractable sun shades; power sliding doors; power liftgate with power button on the key fob and rear-pillar, ambient halo lighting; movable, pinpoint Light Emitting Diode (LED) reading lamps; map lights; and a dual- or tri-zone heating and cooling system.

“To get the best recipe of comfort, security and flexibility that fits any lifestyle, we added comfort features like remote start, heated first- and second-row cloth or leather seats and ambient lighting, then mixed in standard safety features like all-row supplemental side-curtain air bags and ESP,” said Ann Fandozzi, Director – Front-wheel-drive Product Marketing, Chrysler Group. “Clever features found in the 2008 Chrysler Group minivans include a ‘Swiss-army-knife-like’ sliding front console and a removable flashlight in the rear quarter panel.”

Entertainment features include a dual DVD, multimedia entertainment system that can play different media at the same time, MyGIG™ CD/DVD/HDD/MP3/satellite radio with voice-activated capability, touch screen and real-time traffic and navigation, UConnect hands-free communication system with Bluetooth® technology, mesh side pockets on the second-row seats that can hold iPods, hand-held gaming systems or beverages, 110V inverter, two second-row output/input jacks with a 12-volt power outlet and an overhead console with bins large enough to store headphones.

Model Lineup

Five models and three powertrains are available for the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country. Dodge offers two models: the Dodge Grand Caravan SE and Dodge Grand Caravan SXT. Chrysler offers three models: the Chrysler Town & Country LX, the Chrysler Town & Country Touring and the Chrysler Town & Country Limited.

Powertrain choices for North America include a new 4.0-liter V-6 aluminum engine mated to a new six-speed transaxle that produces 240 hp (179 kW) and 253 lb.-ft. (343 N•m) of torque, a 3.8-liter V-6 aluminum engine mated to a new six-speed transaxle that produces 198 hp (148 kW) and 230 lb.-ft. (312 N•m) of torque or a 3.3-liter flex-fuel-capable (FFV) V-6 aluminum engine mated to a four-speed transaxle that produces 170 hp (127 kW) and 205 lb.-ft. (278 N•m) of torque. The varied powertrain options provide a pleasant driving experience in a variety of conditions.

“Chrysler Group has been a leader in flex-fuel-capable vehicles,” said Lyons. “We sold our first minivan capable of running on E85 in 1998, and since then, Chrysler Group has sold more than 1,330,000 flex-fuel minivans.”

Full model details and feature availability for markets outside the United States will be released ahead of the vehicles’ launch in each respective market.

Manufacturing Information

The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans will be built at Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and St. Louis South Assembly Plant in Fenton, Missouri.

The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country are expected to be in dealerships in the United States in the fall of 2007.

[Ferrer]

A step back aesthetically in my opinion. And the technical features don't seem to be particularly enticing either. Most probably it won't be able to beat the Espace or the new S-Max/Galaxy.

[digitalcraft]

Sweet! A minivan. I'm going to use it for my desktop. They can beat Corvettes you know, with enough NOS and stickers.

[Timothy (in VA)]

I personally rather like the styling. Curves may be more stylish, but boxes (or at least boxy shapes) offer more in terms of interior volume. The revolving seats and the table may not be new in Europe, but this vehicle marks their mainstream American debut (I think the Volkswagen Eurovan had something similar, but they've never been very popular).

Also, this vehicle was the subject of one of the most amusing spy-shots I've seen, published in Automobile Magazine. There were two Chrysler employees and a white prototype. One of the guys is pulling the cover over the van while the other guy is pointing directly at the camera. I can just imagine what he's saying....

[zeppelin]

Ugly yes, but I didn't expect much; I really don't like Chrysler's new styling direction. However, it does look like a huge step up in terms of quality and features. Looks pretty cool, I especially like the swivel seats with table ensemble.

[NSXType-R]

Yes, it is ugly. I don't think the swivel seats will make it in the final version. How are they going to get crash ratings for that? Physics still wins either way, especially when you're not buckled in.

[bruxell]

Yes, it is ugly. I don't think the swivel seats will make it in the final version. How are they going to get crash ratings for that? Physics still wins either way, especially when you're not buckled in.

Maybe they won't, but I hope they do.

[Matt]

Yes, it is ugly. I don't think the swivel seats will make it in the final version. How are they going to get crash ratings for that? Physics still wins either way, especially when you're not buckled in.

This isn't a concept. This is the final version. Swivel seats have been in conversion vans for decades.

[NSXType-R]

This isn't a concept. This is the final version. Swivel seats have been in conversion vans for decades.

But this one isn't a conversion, it's a factory made car. How are they going to make it to conform to crash test standards?

[hchanhle]

But this one isn't a conversion, it's a factory made car. How are they going to make it to conform to crash test standards?

FYI, Swivel seats have been in European vans for years (Renault Espace). Guess, they passes US safety regulations...

[Gtek-i]

I have nothing to comment against American vans. Out of all the van on the market...I'd take the Oddessey hands down

[hchanhle]

I have nothing to comment against American vans. Out of all the van on the market...I'd take the Oddessey hands down

Check-out the Citroen C4 Picasso for comparison purposes, better design than the Japanese minivans...

If it was available in NA and I'd have a family, I would definitely consider it...

[cmcpokey]

thats the thing though.. its largest market is north america, and it is light years ahead of other american minivans. really the only two that are in the same level are the nissan quest and the odyssey. so they will have significant sales, with little competition.

[Ferrer]

thats the thing though.. its largest market is north america, and it is light years ahead of other american minivans. really the only two that are in the same level are the nissan quest and the odyssey. so they will have significant sales, with little competition.

I have to say, I certainly don't envy you...