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IMPORTANT EMBARGO NOTE. According to chryslerweblog, the cat is officially out of the bag, and we all have permission to release all minivan info now. I don’t know why, but that’s what they said, and they followed up with every minivan photo they had. Then Edmund’s released the actual text, so now we’re following and doing the same! |
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The fifth generation Chrysler minivans will arrive in Fall 2007, with a new theme of “family rooms on wheels.” There will be five models, three distinct seating and storage systems, and three powertrains, including the first six-speed automatic installed in a minivan.
Perhaps the most remarkable feature is Swivel ’n Go™, which brings to mind RVs and custom vans: the second row seats swivel 180 degrees to face the third row, with a removable table 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 is available with an optional industry-first integrated child booster seat in the second-row quad chair and an optional 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 – Chrysler Group Front-wheel-drive Product Team. “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 continues to be emphasized, with all-row supplemental side-curtain air bags, Electronic Stability Program (ESP) with traction control and brake assist, the industry-first integrated child booster seat, rear back-up camera, a rearview interior mirror, integrated child safety seat, and ParkSense® rear back-up system. Parents have been buying flimsy add-on rear-view interior mirrors for years to check on their kids and make sure they're still in their seat belts and not doing anything especially suicidal; the built in version should provide a clearer picture with more convenience. Given what kids do, we wouldn’t be surprised if it saves a few lives - even if the distraction of looking at it might take a couple as well. Pictured later in this article.
“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.” |
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Storage space abounds, with a multi-function, front-row sliding console, dual glove boxes, second-row covered storage bins, third-row storage area, and clever storage bins and pockets. |
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Three distinct seating configurations are available for 2008 in North America: 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 with 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. |
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Standard or optional 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. |
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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.
Minivan models
The five models are the Dodge Grand Caravan SE and SXT, and Chrysler Town & Country LX, Touring, and Limited. Three powertrains are available, starting with the 240 horsepower 4.0 liter V6 with six-speed automatic; 198 hp 3.8 liter V6 with six-speed automatic; and 170 hp 3.3 liter V6 with four-speed automatic replacing the 2.4 liter four-cylinder. The 3.3 is flexible-fuel certified, and can run 85% ethanol. Buyers outside North America will be able to buy diesel-powered minivans, as in the past.
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. |
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The Volkswagen version of the Chrysler minivan
A new Volkswagen minivan based on the Chrysler and Dodge minivan platform, which will be sold only in North America, will be produced beginning in 2008. Chrysler Group President and CEO Tom LaSorda said, "With our manufacturing and platform engineering flexibility, we can deliver a high-quality product specifically tailored to Volkswagen's customers' tastes with little or no substitution effect on the current Chrysler and Dodge minivan lineup."
Other expected 2008 minivan features
Key features of the 2005 (rather than 2008) vans included rapid stowing of second and third row seats into the floor with one-handed operation (available on long-wheelbase vans) that does not require headrests to be removed or cupholders to be folded in; spacious storage bins with integrated lids in the back rows; cargo nets integrated into the storage bins; new high density cushions; for-aft adjusters and reclining seat backs for second row seats; single-pull easy access to the rearmost seats; split-bench rearmost seats; and reclining third-row seats. These are expected to remain, with refinements; possibly including having stow-and-go with short-wheelbase models to be announced later.
2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Specifications |
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Engine
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Horsepower
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Torque
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Transmission
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4.0 liter
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240 hp (179 kW)
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253 lb.-ft. (343 N•m)
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6 speed
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3.8 liter
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198 hp (148 kW)
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230 lb.-ft. (312 N•m)
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6 speed
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3.3 liter
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170 hp (127 kW)
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205 lb.-ft. (278 N•m)
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4 speed
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Specification
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Inches (mm)
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Wheelbase
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121.2 (3078.2)
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Overhang — Front
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37.6 (955.4)
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Overhang — Rear
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43.7 (1108.9)
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Track — Front
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65.0 (1651.0)
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Track — Rear
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64.8 (1645.9)
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Overall Length
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202.5 (5142.5)
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Overall Width
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76.9 (1953.2)
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Overall Width with Mirrors
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88.5 (2246.8)
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Overall Height
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68.9 (1750.0)
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Liftover Height
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24.4 (619.9)
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Cargo Width at Wheelhouse
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49.03 (1245.5)
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Angle of Approach (Curb Load)
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14.3°
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Angle of Departure (Curb Load)
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18.7°
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Breakover Angle (Curb Load)
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14.5°
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Minimum Running Ground Clearance (Curb Load)
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6.1 (154.2)
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Fuel Tank Capacity, gal. (L)
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20.5 (77.6)
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EPA Total Interior Passenger Volume, cu. ft. (cu. m)
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163.5 (4.63)/156.1 (4.42)
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2008 Dodge and Chrysler minivans - Interior Dimensions |
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Front
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Head Room
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39.8 (1010.9)
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Head Room with Sun Roof
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37.2 (946.0)
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Leg Room
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40.6 (1031.2)
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Shoulder Room
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63.0 (1600.2)
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Hip Room, SE / LX
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57.0 (1447.8),
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Hip Room, SXT, Touring, Limited
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57.6 (1463.0)
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Seat Travel
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8.7 (220)
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Front Passenger Volume, cu. ft. (cu. m)
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58.7 (1.7)
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Intermediate (Middle Row)
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Head Room, SE / LX
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39.2 (996.7),
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Head Room, SXT, Touring, Limited
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39.7 (1008.1)
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Leg Room
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36.3 (923.8)
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Knee Clearance, SE / LX
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3.5 (88.9),
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Knee Clearance, SXT / Touring, Limited
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3.6 (92.7)
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Shoulder Room
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64.7 (1643.4)
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Hip Room
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64.8 (1646.0)
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Seat Travel, Optional Swivel ’n Go™ Seats
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4.0 (100.6)
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Middle Row Volume, cu. ft. (cu. m), SE / LX
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53.4 (1.51),
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Middle Row Volume, cu. ft. (cu. m), SXT, Touring, Ltd
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54.0 (1.53)
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Rear Row
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Head Room
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37.9 (961.9)
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Leg Room, SE, LX
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37.6 (995.0),
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Leg Room, SXT, Touring, Limited
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31.8 (807.7)
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Knee Clearance
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4.4 (111.8)/6.2 (157.5)
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Shoulder Room
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62.0 (1574.8)
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Hip Room
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48.7 (1236.9)
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Rear Volume, cu. ft. (cu. m), SE, LX
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51.1 (1.4),
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Rear Volume, SXT, Touring, Limited
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43.2 (1.2)
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Cargo Volume
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Cargo Volume, cu. ft. (cu. m), SE, LX
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144.4 (4.1),
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Cargo Volume, SXT, Touring, Limmited
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140.6 (4.0)
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Behind Second-row Seats, cu. ft. (cu. m)
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83.0 (2.4)
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Aft of Third-row Seat, cu. ft. (cu. m)
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32.7 (0.93)
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Passenger + Cargo Volume, cu. ft. (cu. m), SE, LX
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199.9 (5.7),
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Passenger + Cargo Volume, SXT, Touring, Limited
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192.5 (5.45)
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Maximum Cargo Height, SE, LX
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48.56 (1233.4)
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Maximum Cargo Height, SXT, Touring, Limited
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46.16 (1172.4)
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