Celebration held for 25th anniversary of the minivan

Posted Monday, Nov 3, 2008, 12:22 pm in Company Comments Off

Last modified on Monday, Dec 1, 2008, 9:15 am.

Hundreds of employees joined company, union and civic officials this morning at the Windsor (Ontario) Assembly Plant to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the minivan.

Frank Ewasyshyn, Executive Vice President—Manufacturing, marked the occasion by introducing two new 25th anniversary editions: the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country (left) and Dodge Grand Caravan to celebrate the minivan segment’s Silver Anniversary. The 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 badges 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,” Deborah Meyer—Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, said. “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 Nov. 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 used 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™ seating system enables 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 seating system.

Innovative entertainment features complement Chrysler and Dodge minivans’ unique second- and third-row seating. A large 9-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 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, the powerful 4.0-liter engine gives customers the fuel economy they want, the seven-passenger seating they need and the power they expect.

Adding to the value of the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country Touring and Dodge Grand Caravan SXT, the 2009 Anniversary Editions feature new luxurious interior appointments. New Dark Slate and Medium Slate Gray interior combinations create a premium atmosphere while enhancing the interior of Chrysler’s fifth-generation minivans. A unique combination of wood trim on the instrument panel and doors accent satin finishes and provide a sense of detail. New monotone Dark Slate Gray or Light Shale seats feature perforated leather and are enhanced with French-seamed seat stitching. Additional standard features include minivan-first Stow ’n Go seating and storage system, heated first- and second-row seats, uconnect studios Sirius Satellite Radio, “25th Anniversary Edition” badges and unique 17-inch wheels and tires.

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.

In the photo below, Lee A. Iacocca, then chairman of Chrysler Corporation, introduced the company’s new breed of garageable 1984 front-wheel drive family wagons and vans—the Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan and Dodge Mini Ram Van. Foreseeing the future, Iacocca said, “I predict the Voyager and Caravan will be to the ’80s what the Mustang was to the ’60s—vehicles that create extraordinary excitement and buyer interest and force other manufacturers to come up with copycat versions.” Twenty-Five years later, his words couldn’t be more true.