Chrysler 300's Designer to Redesign Minivans

**Ming** · 08-16-2004, 11:19 PM

Rising Chrysler star to redesign minivans, says automaker can't afford 'regular'
MARY CONNELLY
Automotive News

DETROIT - The young Chrysler group designer who crafted different personalities for the hot new Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum will try the same trick with the company's next-generation minivans.

Ralph Gilles, 34, Chrysler's rising design star, says he will keep functional interiors in the redesigned minivans. But after that, anything is possible.

The Chrysler Town & Country and the Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan will be restyled for the 2007 or 2008 model year, according to industry sources.

The sales success of the 300 sedan has been a wake-up call for the company, Gilles says.

"We cannot afford to do 'regular,' " he says. "America rewards you when you do something with passion and you take a chance."

That philosophy works even with family-hauling minivans, he says.

"You have to protect the one thing that is sacred about the product," Gilles says. "On the minivan, it would be the interior package. The interior package is sacred. Everything else is game."

FULL Article Here

SuperDave479 · 08-16-2004, 11:46 PM

Well now, this promises to be interesting. Let's just hope we don't see another Quest...

ByTheLake · 08-17-2004, 08:23 AM

Excellent choice DCX.

I've long felt that the minivan market has lacked unique styling.

I'll be very interested to see what comes from this effort. Maybe a stylish minivan could help change the image from 'soccer mom' to 'family tourer'.

69nova · 08-17-2004, 09:02 AM

"America rewards you when you do something with passion and take a chance"
A very appropriate statement for Chrysler considering the models that they have introduced in the past years (minivan pioneer, PT Cruiser, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum,...).
I dwelled on a similar thought after noticing more Chrylser 300's, Magnums, tons of PT Cruisers in my suburban neighborhood.
Bravo Chrysler.

Darc Requiem · 08-17-2004, 09:06 AM

Why am I suddenly getting the picture of a giant Scion xB with a 300c grille and a hemi wedged in the engine compartment? Am I the only one with this horrifying vision in my head? I've had enough of the brick with wheels design already.

Darc Requiem

**jro4566** · 08-17-2004, 11:44 AM

No matter what though, the next DCX minivans will have extraordinary styling that either wows the public or severely turns them off...

**Rex Raider** · 08-17-2004, 11:50 AM

I just did this quick chop.
Hopeully theirs will be better than mine.

ByTheLake · 08-17-2004, 12:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rex Raider@Aug 17 2004, 11:50 AM
I just did this quick chop.
Hopeully theirs will be better than mine.

With a quick chop you've created a design that would likely attract buyers, if not attention. Made me giggle but it clearly shows that there is room for more styling.

Imagine what a dedicated design effort could produce? We'll probably have to wait a while before we see the fruits of DCX's minivan design effort.

Smaart Aas Saabr · 08-17-2004, 12:34 PM

I'll make a good quick chop for yall...

**Rex Raider** · 08-17-2004, 01:32 PM

Smaart Aas Saabr: What's with the astro pic?

1999 White C5 Coupe · 08-17-2004, 03:01 PM

In the 1980's, I purchased a 1984 Caravan LE and later a new 1989 Grand Caravan LE. I liked the exterior styling of both vehicles at the time.

I have never liked the exterior styling of the newer Chrysler minivans (rounded exterior with a steep, sloping hood - it looks too feminine).

If Chrysler would dramatically improve the exterior styling, I believe their sales would greatly increase.

Now, at age 51, I would buy another Chyrsler minivan if the exterior styling was more rugged.

I hope this restyling is dramatic.

tgagneguam · 08-17-2004, 03:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rex Raider@Aug 17 2004, 03:50 PM
I just did this quick chop.
Hopeully theirs will be better than mine.

No offense, but that won't do.

jfnz24 · 08-18-2004, 11:41 AM

Things should get interesting...

idontcareican · 08-22-2004, 02:28 AM

Rex Raiders that is a funny chop. Make the windows a little smaller like the 300's. Im kind of thinking PT Cruiser on steroids. Chances are they are going to make more power since Chrysler figured out how to make massive horsepower on the cheap. Will a Hemi in a minivan even make sense? Maybe if it looks like a massive PT Cruiser it could at least look like it.

**Ming** · 08-22-2004, 09:38 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Rex Raider@Aug 17 2004, 10:50 AM
I just did this quick chop.
Hopeully theirs will be better than mine.

That is frightening Rex. The thing I dislike the most about the DCX minivans are those nasty taillights that look like they came from some 1996 design. Somehow I doubt they would carry over. Hope! :lol:

Given this task, I'm sure the designer will make a much more stylish minivan with nice proportions ---- how he can manage to do this while maintaining interior space amd versatility (no chopped roof or raked look) will be interesting to see.

08-16-2004, 11:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
Ming GMI Staff Member Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: SE Texas Posts: 13,396	Rising Chrysler star to redesign minivans, says automaker can't afford 'regular' MARY CONNELLY Automotive News DETROIT - The young Chrysler group designer who crafted different personalities for the hot new Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum will try the same trick with the company's next-generation minivans. Ralph Gilles, 34, Chrysler's rising design star, says he will keep functional interiors in the redesigned minivans. But after that, anything is possible. The Chrysler Town & Country and the Dodge Caravan and Grand Caravan will be restyled for the 2007 or 2008 model year, according to industry sources. The sales success of the 300 sedan has been a wake-up call for the company, Gilles says. "We cannot afford to do 'regular,' " he says. "America rewards you when you do something with passion and you take a chance." That philosophy works even with family-hauling minivans, he says. "You have to protect the one thing that is sacred about the product," Gilles says. "On the minivan, it would be the interior package. The interior package is sacred. Everything else is game." FULL Article Here __________________ The Latest: Necromancer A Web Browser for the Commodore 64?

08-16-2004, 11:46 PM	#2 (permalink)
SuperDave479 2.4 Liter ECOTEC Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 108	Well now, this promises to be interesting. Let's just hope we don't see another Quest... __________________ '98 Camaro Z/28 A4 Toyota - Moving Forward (very slowly)

08-17-2004, 09:06 AM	#5 (permalink)
Darc Requiem 6.0 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,670	Why am I suddenly getting the picture of a giant Scion xB with a 300c grille and a hemi wedged in the engine compartment? Am I the only one with this horrifying vision in my head? I've had enough of the brick with wheels design already. Darc Requiem __________________ Darc Requiem President of the Buick Loadmaster Fan Club

08-17-2004, 11:44 AM	#6 (permalink)
jro4566 GMI Staff Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Dallas, Texas Drives: 2001 Oldsmobile Silhouette 2003 Suzuki XL-7 2005 Posts: 5,050	No matter what though, the next DCX minivans will have extraordinary styling that either wows the public or severely turns them off... __________________ 2007 BMW 328i. Black sapphire metallic. Terra leather. Poplar wood. Automatic trans. Xenon adaptive headlights. BMW Assist. Bluetooth. Premium package. Heated seats. iDrive navigation system. Rear sonar. Comfort access. LOGIC7 surround sound. Sirius. 18" BMW wheels. Rear spoiler. 2006 Suzuki Grand Vitara Luxury. Black onyx pearl. Beige leather. 4WD. Chrome hood vents, mirror covers, exhaust. Silver grille, taillight trim. Brushed metal bumper protector. Running boards.

08-17-2004, 11:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
Rex Raider Administrator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Drives: 2009 Camry Hybrid (company car) Posts: 11,782	I just did this quick chop. Hopeully theirs will be better than mine. __________________ Sure, I drive a Toyota, but at least I don't have to pay for it.

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08-17-2004, 08:23 AM	#3 (permalink)
ByTheLake 6.2 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Traverse City, MI Drives: '04 Corvette, '08 CTS Posts: 2,695	Excellent choice DCX. I've long felt that the minivan market has lacked unique styling. I'll be very interested to see what comes from this effort. Maybe a stylish minivan could help change the image from 'soccer mom' to 'family tourer'.

08-17-2004, 09:02 AM	#4 (permalink)
69nova 4.4 Liter Supercharged Northstar Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 2,287	"America rewards you when you do something with passion and take a chance" A very appropriate statement for Chrysler considering the models that they have introduced in the past years (minivan pioneer, PT Cruiser, Chrysler 300 and Dodge Magnum,...). I dwelled on a similar thought after noticing more Chrylser 300's, Magnums, tons of PT Cruisers in my suburban neighborhood. Bravo Chrysler.

08-17-2004, 12:34 PM	#9 (permalink)
Smaart Aas Saabr 7.0 Liter LS7 V8 Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Montréal, Québec Posts: 8,587	I'll make a good quick chop for yall... __________________ What will destroy our country and us is not the financial crisis but the fact that liberals think the free market is some kind of sect or cult...That’s not what the free market is. The free market is just a measurement, a device to tell us what people are willing to pay for any given thing at any given moment. The free market is a bathroom scale. You may hate what you see when you step on the scale. ‘Jeeze, 230 pounds!’ But you can’t pass a law making yourself weigh 185.

08-17-2004, 01:32 PM	#10 (permalink)
Rex Raider Administrator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Toronto, Canada Drives: 2009 Camry Hybrid (company car) Posts: 11,782	Smaart Aas Saabr: What's with the astro pic? __________________ Sure, I drive a Toyota, but at least I don't have to pay for it.

08-17-2004, 03:01 PM	#11 (permalink)
1999 White C5 Coupe 3.8 Liter Supercharged V6 Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 523	In the 1980's, I purchased a 1984 Caravan LE and later a new 1989 Grand Caravan LE. I liked the exterior styling of both vehicles at the time. I have never liked the exterior styling of the newer Chrysler minivans (rounded exterior with a steep, sloping hood - it looks too feminine). If Chrysler would dramatically improve the exterior styling, I believe their sales would greatly increase. Now, at age 51, I would buy another Chyrsler minivan if the exterior styling was more rugged. I hope this restyling is dramatic.

08-18-2004, 11:41 AM	#13 (permalink)
jfnz24 5.3 Liter Vortec V8 Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Pittsburgh, PA Drives: 1996 Cavalier Z24, 2000 Blazer LT Posts: 1,422	Things should get interesting... __________________ 2000 Chevrolet Blazer LT -- 66000 miles 1996 Chevrolet Cavalier Z24 -- 166000 miles MEDIOCRITY: It takes a lot less time, and most people won't notice the difference until it's too late.

08-22-2004, 02:28 AM	#14 (permalink)
idontcareican 3.9 Liter V6 Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 784	Rex Raiders that is a funny chop. Make the windows a little smaller like the 300's. Im kind of thinking PT Cruiser on steroids. Chances are they are going to make more power since Chrysler figured out how to make massive horsepower on the cheap. Will a Hemi in a minivan even make sense? Maybe if it looks like a massive PT Cruiser it could at least look like it.

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