- Update: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan [preview]
- Update: 2008 Chrysler Town & Country [preview]
- Visit the 2008 Chrysler Minivan Photo Gallery
I'll be updating this article as new information becomes available as we get closer to the official unveiling of these vehicles in January 2007.
Launch Timing:
The Detroit Auto Show
Several Chrysler PR and management personnel have been quoted as saying that the 2008 Dodge and Chrysler minivans will be officially unveiled at the Detroit Auto Show, which begins on January 7th, 2007. These new minivans should roll into dealer showrooms in early Q3 2007.
Transmissions: The 6-Speed Arrives
According to a story over at the Detroit News, the new minivans will likely be offered with a 6-speed automatic transmission. Our guess is that it will probably be offered only on upscale trim levels of both Dodge and Chrysler minivans. This would likely be the same 6-speed transmission currently used in the 2007 Chrysler Pacifica, and should help Chrysler meet (or exceed) the transmission offerings provided by their primary competitors. The existing 4-speed automatic transmission will likely continue as the standard gearbox for entry-level Caravan and Town & Country models.
Engines: More Power
The new vans should also have a new top-level engine: the same 4.0 liter V6 currently found in the 2007 Pacifica. This engine generates 255 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque, and should compete well with the latest V6 engines from Hyundai, Kia and Toyota. (A story over at The Detroit News points towards the presence of the 4.0 liter engine as well.)
Although a bit more of a guess on our part, it would make sound business sense for Chrysler to also offer the new 2.4 liter "world engine" (now used in the Dodge Caliber and Jeep Compass) as the base engine option in short wheelbase (SWB) Dodge Caravan models. This would give Chrysler a low-cost, high-MPG model that competitors currently lack, and would help fend off competition at the lower end of the market. The 2007 Dodge Caravan SE (using an outdated 2.4 liter 4-cylinder engine) is currently the gas mileage champ in the full-size minivan category, earning the #2 spot on our list of Minivans with good gas mileage.
The current 3.8 liter OHV V6 and the e85 ethanol-friendly 3.3 liter V6 will likely continue as midrange engine options for both Dodge and Chrysler minivan lines.
Interior: A Family Room on Wheels
Chrysler spokeswoman Kathy Graham was recently quoted in an Associated Press article (dated 10/15/06) saying that owners often use minivans as “a family room on wheels.” Graham went on to state that “...features that would either enhance or kind of make that family room experience better, I think, is what you're going to see in the minivans of the future."
According to an article by Greg Keenan at the Canadian Globe and Mail newspaper website, the 2008 Dodge / Chrysler minivans will also -- according to sources quoted in the story -- feature rotating second-row passenger seats.
Nearly all competitive minivans are now equipped with vertically-sliding power windows located in the ubiquitous sliding minivan passenger entry doors, so the addition of this feature is likely a given. The stain-resistant YES Essentials fabric by Milliken -- currently available in several Dodge, Chrysler and Jeep vehicles -- will undoubtedly be offered in the new vans as well.
New electronics will grace both vehicle lines, with touch-screen navigation systems and iPod/AUX music inputs likely. The 2007 Sebring’s “MyGIG” harddrive-based multimedia system for storing music and media files seems like a strong candidate for inclusion as an option in select Town & Country trim levels.
A cooled storage container -- dubbed the ”chill zone” -- is now available on Dodge Caliber/Jeep Compass models, which would undoubtedly be a perfect feature for busy parents to keep snacks cool and teething rings chilly for infants. Heated and cooled cup holders are offered on the ’07 Sebring, and will likely be optional on ’08 Town & Country models. Chrysler executive Jeff Bell was quoted in an article over at Inside Line hinting at a panoramic roof option, multiple rear-seat LCD monitors and additional electronic and communication features.
Allpar.com has an impressive summary of other potential '08 minivan features, including word of a diaper-changing station and speculation that the short-wheelbase (SWB) minivan models may be replaced by vehicles based on the Dodge Kahuna concept vehicle.
Last and certainly not least, the Stow 'n Go seating system has been a standout success for Chrysler, so look for the system to be refined and improved for the 2008 minivans. A power-folding seat option for second and third rows would be a must, especially considering that Toyota has introduced a power-folding 3rd row seat in the Toyota Sienna 2WD Limited. Stow n' Go was a brilliant mid-cycle engineering and marketing success for Chrysler, and has helped the outdated Grand Caravan and Town & Country remain atop the segment sales charts.
- Visit the 2008 Chrysler Minivan Photo Gallery