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Chrysler Pacifica (minivan)

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This article is about the minivan. For the concept vehicle, see Chrysler Pacifica (1999 concept vehicle). For the mid-size crossover, see Chrysler Pacifica (CS).
Chrysler Pacifica
Overview
ManufacturerFCA US LLC (Fiat Chrysler Automobiles)
Production2016-
Model years2017-
AssemblyCanada: Windsor, Ontario (Windsor Assembly)/United States: Louisville, Kentucky (Fiat-Chrysler of Kentucky)
DesignerIrina Zavatski,[1] Winnie Cheung[2] (interior)
Body and chassis
ClassMinivan
LayoutTransverse front-engine, front-wheel drive
PlatformFiat Compact/Compact U.S. Wide
Doors4
Powertrain
Engine3.6 L Pentastar V6 (gasoline)
Transmission9-speed 948TE automatic
CVT automatic (PHEV)[3]
Electric range30 miles (EPA estimate)
Plug-in charging16-kWh lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery
Dimensions
Wheelbase121.6 in (3,089 mm)
Length203.6 in (5,171 mm)
Width79.6 in (2,022 mm)
Height69.9 in (1,775 mm)
Chronology
PredecessorChrysler Town & Country
Dodge Grand Caravan

The Chrysler Pacifica is an upcoming luxury minivan being produced by the Chrysler division of FCA US LLC for the 2017 model year. Although sharing its name with a discontinued crossover, it is designed as a replacement for the Chrysler Town & Country and the Dodge Grand Caravan.[4] The platform will be new.[5] It is expected to arrive in showrooms in early-to-mid 2016.[6]

History

In June 2013, it was reported that Chrysler was preparing to produce a new generation of its Town & Country minivan at the Windsor Assembly Plant, with production set to begin in 2015 and a release for the 2017 model year. An industry analyst reported that the new version would possibly be a crossover utility vehicle in the vein of the Pacifica.[7]

In 2015, FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne announced that it would invest $2 billion in developing a new minivan, and overhauling the Windsor Assembly Plant to facilitate its production.[8] A company roadmap revealed that a new Town & Country would begin production in February 2016 for the 2017 model year, and that the final-generation Dodge Grand Caravan would be maintained in parallel with the new Town & Country as a lower-cost option during the 2017 model year, after which it will be discontinued. Marchionne has been against "duplicate[d] investments" in product development—a strategy reflected by his reduction of badge-engineering between FCA US's domestic marques.[9][10][11] On November 3, 2015, FCA filed to have its trademark registration on the Pacifica brand renewed; FCA's Head of Passenger Car Brands Timothy Kuniskis denied that this was related to any new products, and that it was standard industry practice to continue renewing its trademarks because "you don't want to lose names. Establishing new names is expensive."[11]

The new vehicle debuted on January 11, 2016 at the 2016 North American International Auto Show. Rather than being named as the Town & Country, the new vehicle was branded as the Pacifica. The decision to drop the Town & Country brand was made primarily to distinguish the new vehicle from previous iterations; Director of Chrysler brand product marketing Bruce Velisek explained that the Pacifica was meant to "change the entire paradigm of what people know about minivans in the segment". Among its differences from the previous Town & Country is a new platform, and a design carrying a sportier appearance inspired by crossovers—a market segment that had cannibalized minivan sales—in an effort to disassociate the vehicle from other minivans with a boxier build.[12][13] Chrysler is also changing the minivan's sliding doors: they will be aluminum and hands-free, opening automatically when the fob holder waves under them.[14]

On March 10, 2016, FCA announced that the starting price of the 2017 Pacifica would be $28,595 (USD).[15] This is $1,400 less than the starting price of the 2016 Town & Country.

The production of a plug-in hybrid version, which will be the first of its class in the United States, was, according to chief engineer Kevin Mets, meant to create an electric vehicle that could feasibly be a family's "primary vehicle".[16]

Production

Production of the vehicle will be on an all-new platform at the Windsor Plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.[5][17]

Specifications

Powertrains

The Pacifica utilizes a new revision of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 engine, and will be produced in gas-only and plug-in hybrid (marketed as Pacifica Hybrid) models. The hybrid version utilizes a 16-kWh Lithium-ion battery, which can run for 30 miles before switching back to using gas only. The battery can be fully recharged in two hours using a 240-volt plug-in system. FCA US claims that the hybrid model can achieve at least 80 miles per gallon in fuel economy.[8][16][18]

Marketing campaign

Since April 8, 2016, comedian Jim Gaffigan has appeared with his family in a marketing campaign for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica.[19]

References

  1. ^ Payne, Henry (March 31, 2016). "Chrysler Pacifica designer makes minivans cool again". The Detroit News. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  2. ^ "2017 Chrysler Pacifica Design with Winnie Cheung and Brand Faurote". MSN. January 12, 2016. Retrieved April 28, 2016.
  3. ^ "2017 Chrysler Pacifica: New Look, New Name, New Hybrid Powertrain". Automobile Magazine. Retrieved 11 January 2016. If buyers do plug in and regularly top-up the battery pack, that number is expected to be 80 mpg, with about 30 miles of all-electric driving possible. Instead of the nine-speed automatic, an electrically controlled continuously variable transmission of Chrysler's own design will divvy up power to the front wheels.
  4. ^ "Chrysler Pacifica in Mississauga". Cooksville Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  5. ^ a b "2017 Chrysler Pacifica Release Date, Price and Specs - Roadshow". Roadshow. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  6. ^ "2017 Chrysler Pacifica: Reinventing the Minivan Segment | FCA360". www.chryslergroup360.com (Press release). Retrieved 2016-01-13.
  7. ^ "Next minivan to launch in 2015 as Chrysler Town and Country: Report". Windsor Star. 2013. Archived from the original on March 30, 2014. Retrieved 2013-09-10.
  8. ^ a b "2017 Chrysler Pacifica is a 'monumental leap' forward". Detroit Free Press. Gannett. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  9. ^ "Marchionne on consolidation: 'Something needs to give'". The Detroit News. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  10. ^ Vellequette, Larry P. (June 22, 2015). "Dodge plans to produce '17 minivan". Automotive News. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
  11. ^ a b Priddle, Alisa (December 5, 2015). "2017 Chrysler minivan coming; Dodge not leaving yet". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved December 16, 2015.
  12. ^ "2017 Chrysler Pacifica: All-new 'modern family' minivan". The Detroit News. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  13. ^ "2017 Chrysler Pacifica isn't your parents' Town & Country [w/video]". Autoblog. AOL. Retrieved 11 January 2016.
  14. ^ "Chrysler unveils all-new minivan at Detroit auto show". www.cbc.ca. Retrieved 2016-04-09.
  15. ^ "All-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Delivers Unprecedented Functionality, Versatility and Technology Starting at $28,595 MSRP". Retrieved 14 March 2016.
  16. ^ a b "Why Chrysler made the Pacifica Hybrid". Autoblog. AOL. Retrieved 12 January 2016.
  17. ^ "As Chrysler redoes the minivan, a look back". bsccomment.com. Retrieved 2016-01-17.
  18. ^ Valdes-Dapena, Peter. "Chrysler's new minivan of the future". CNNMoney. Retrieved 2016-01-11.
  19. ^ "Jim Gaffigan stars in Chrysler brand's 'Dad Brand' marketing campaign for the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica" (Press release). Penarth, Wales, UK: Automotive World. 2016-04-08. Retrieved 2016-04-19.
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