Chrysler research cues new crop of minivans

[mkaresh]

Detroit News published an article today on the enthnographic (observational) research Chrysler used to come up with 35 new features for its 2008 minivans.

http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll...701040364/1148

The article hints at a big new feature. I believe thiis is second row captains that swivel around to face the third row, and an optional table to go between the rows.

The idea for such seats isn't new, but they've always been ruled out by the complications of making the seats safe in both directions. It's possible that Chrysler will say the swivel function can only be used when the vehicle is not moving. GM actually fitted swivelling front seats to the Opel Sintra, the Euro version of the late 1990s minivans.

[Dave B]

I was hoping for a swimming pool.

Dave

[Buick61]

I think the "new feature" that they won't yet talk about are seats that swivel around, so you can face other passengers.

Just my guess.

[TiburonJT]

Swivel seats have been in conversion vans for years, so as long as there is enough room, and apparently there is, I think they're a great idea for minivans.

[Robert G]

Seems like that's one of them. See autoblog:

"For instance, as is evident in the images, the second-row captains chairs are able to swivel 180-degrees and still do the whole Stow N Go thing. A small, stowable table can also be placed between the rotated second-row captain's chairs and the back bench to create a nice place to play Texas Hold 'Em on long trips."

http://www.autoblog.com/2007/01/04/t...-leaked-again/

Originally Posted by Buick61

I think the "new feature" that they won't yet talk about are seats that swivel around, so you can face other passengers.

Just my guess.

[Bravada]

I think Mercedes and VW passenger vans have had this for a long time now, and I would be pretty sure Kia's Carnival had that from day one... If that's Chrysler's innovation for 2008, I am pretty worried...


1996 Mercedes V-Klasse

[Media!]

[uboys]

Now tell me why GM couldn't have done this?

[rhvfd10]

Dang. Is that a drink chiller I see between the 1st row chairs? And what is that mirror thing... a security camera?

I think that the T&C sets a new standard for the "luxury" minivan.

[boblutzfan]

As was pointed out on a similar thread on C&G today - the Lambda CUVs have a major weakness for families that a minivan does not have. Because a CUV has a higher load floor and less interior height - it is not as easy to get into and out of the rear seats. This is particularly made difficult if you have three kids and have any combination of car seats and/or booster seats. In order to get into the third row in a Lambda CUV the seat folds up - making the second row useless for any kind of car seat (front or rear facing) or booster seat. Did GM think of this? Does anyone have any idea how hard it would be to put an infant or toddler in the third row of a Lambda CUV? Very difficult. In a minivan it is much easier to access the third row without removing the car seat in the second row.

The Lambda CUVs are great vehicles - some of the best to come out of GM in decades - but this feature will deter any parent that has kids in car seats that might occasionally need the third row. As a parent of a toddler with an infant on the way - I will have two car seats in the second row - that means a Lambda will not work for me. I am shocked and saddened that GM didn't think of and design around this issue.

The DCX vans are looking better and better....

[boblutzfan]

The damn has broken...

http://www.autoblog.com/photos/2008-...and-country-1/

In these images you can clearly see that there are two second row seating options. In the image that shows the mirror for watching the rear of the van it shows the standard sto-n-go second row seats. These are very different from the plush seats that can turn around and face the rear. Yet, in the picture that shows one seat facing forward and one facing rearward - you can still see the bin for the second row seats. I suspect that Chrysler is going to give us the option of these plush second row seats that can rotate or sto-n-go as I doubt the bigger chairs will fit in the floor. The nice thing is that when you option for the second row rotating captains chairs - you still get the storage bins in the second row - very clever. I suspect this will find lots of takers as many people would rather have the more comfortable second row seats if they aren't home depot junkies...

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by Bravada

I think Mercedes and VW passenger vans have had this for a long time now, and I would be pretty sure Kia's Carnival had that from day one... If that's Chrysler's innovation for 2008, I am pretty worried...


1996 Mercedes V-Klasse

Chrysler was the first to bring it to the minivan segment for North America - so it is still innovation. Personally I love this new set up. I also like it that you still get the storage bins in the floor when you opt for the full size swivel captains chairs over the standard sto-n-go second row. Best of both worlds.

[boblutzfan]

Originally Posted by uboys

Now tell me why GM couldn't have done this?

Because the minivan was too sick when Bob Lutz joined the team. GM never had a good minivan platform - the CSVs and their dust buster predecessors were too narrow and the Astros were too big and clunky for the minivan segment. GM sat and watched for 24 years while Chrysler consistently turned out the product that the buying public wanted. Honda and Toyota first tried to compete with their idea (Japanese - too small) version of a minivan - but it wasn't until they copied the Chrysler formula that they found success. And then there is KIA - they found the right size on just their second generation...four years and they got it right.

Why couldn't GM and Ford for that matter quit trying to be unique and just try and compete with Chrysler head on. They could have done it...instead they walked away and lost millions of successive sales in the process. How many people trade in their Honda or Toyota minivans for GM product? Minimal I suspect - they buy another Japanese product. Same goes for Chrysler. Many like my parents keep buying Chrysler minivans - long after the kids grow up and leave home - because they love the vans - cult like almost.

GM really dropped the ball on this one.

[throwback]

Originally Posted by Bravada

I think Mercedes and VW passenger vans have had this for a long time now, and I would be pretty sure Kia's Carnival had that from day one... If that's Chrysler's innovation for 2008, I am pretty worried...


1996 Mercedes V-Klasse

I don't think any mini-van in the USA has swivel seats, so this would be an innovation to our market. It is a great idea, plus you can still stow them. My brother has a T&C and they love the stow n go.
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[Realist]

The exterior and interior styling really isn't all that great for the new Chrysler vans. That wood trim looks horrible. As for interior features and options, that looks like a pretty unique feature, even if it's not a new one. Swiveling seats have not been offered on North American minivans, AFAIK. It remains to be seen if North American customers will like this feature.

Credit must be given to Chrysler for trying to innovate. Swivel seats and Stow N Go is still available.