DaimlerChrysler's Design Formula for the World's Best Selling Minivans
11 January 2000
DaimlerChrysler's Design Formula for the World's Best Selling Minivans
AUBURN HILLS, Mich., Jan. 10 -- DaimlerChrysler
had the minivan design formula right from the very beginning: a garageable
van, designed from the inside out, that offered easy ingress and egress,
chair-height seating for a command-of-the-road view, second seat access, low
flat floor, removable seats and front-wheel drive.
Throughout the minivan's storied 16-year history, designers enhanced the
formula by adding new ingredients to surprise and delight customers: sleek
new design, a driver-side sliding door and a minivan full of thoughtful
interior features. More than 8 million minivans later, DaimlerChrysler
continues to improve the formula while keeping its leadership position in the
segment.
"We design our minivans from the inside out," said Tom Gale,
DaimlerChrysler Executive Vice President of Product Development and Design.
"For our all-new minivan, we enhanced the interior in terms of comfort,
ergonomics, safety and even more minivan firsts. For the exterior, we
achieved even more of a sleek, yet robust appearance without sacrificing the
proportions, dimensions and packaging that have made Dodge and Chrysler
minivans first choice among minivan buyers for the past 16 years. In
addition, and just as important, we established even more brand distinction
for Dodge and Chrysler."
Exterior Design: Sleek, Yet Robust
Designers achieved a sleek, solid stance for the new generation of
Chrysler and Dodge minivans by giving the side profile more of a poised,
wedge-like shape. Specifically, the roof and beltline rise dramatically
toward the rear while the faster D-pillar and liftgate window are raked
forward. And similar to sport-utility vehicles, the corners of the rear
fascia were raised in the side view to provide visual lift to the rear of the
vehicle. The side profile is emphasized by a sharp longitudinal character
line that runs from head lamp to tail lamp. This distinctive line adds
tension and "stretches" the vehicle's length.
"The crisp character line accentuates the wedge profile and contributes to
the minivan's gesture," said Gale. "Combined with pronounced wheel arches,
the side profile of our new minivan is solid and forceful."
In harmony with the new bodyside design, door handles are linear and
placed lower to give the character line more prominence. Wrap-around tail
lamps are placed higher and are the target of the distinctive side character
lines.
Designers gave the side profile more of an integrated appearance by
shaping the trailing edge of the sliding door with a continuously curving
cutline.
For the rear view, designers moved the center high-mounted stop lamp
(CHMSL) to the spoiler formation of the liftgate from the middle of the rear
window in order to enhance visibility from the rear during braking action. A
cleaner appearance for the rear of the minivan was achieved by integrating the
rear washer nozzle into the CHMSL lens as opposed to applying a separate
piece.
Tail lamps now feature clear red lenses with bright housings that create a
jewel-like appearance. Raised ends of the rear fascia contribute to the
distinctive side appearance and are connected visually from the rear by a
carved, lower surface formation across the liftgate. The side character line
reappears just below the rear window.
"We gave the rear profile of our new minivan a fast, clean, sculpted
appearance," said Gale. "We swept up the outer corners of the rear fascia and
lifted the base of the rear window in order to raise the visual weight of the
minivan. The minivan's distinctive character line reappears just below the
rear window which tightens the surface appearance."
Brand Distinction: Dodge and Chrysler
For both Dodge and Chrysler minivans, designers gave the front end
appearance more visual mass and a robust quality by raising the hood surface
one inch. A pair of longitudinal character lines form a "V-groove" which
provides visual tension in the hood. Compared to the previous generation of
minivans, head lamps are nearly twice as large and contribute to the prominent
front end appearance while improving illumination for better visibility.
Dodge
Dodge Caravan's honeycomb grille is bigger and bolder than its predecessor
and features the brand's signature cross-hair motif, complete with an
integrated "ram's head" badge. To further build on Caravan's sporty
appearance, the grille nestles down into the lower front fascia where large
ported air intakes and fog lamps are recessed to distinguish the premium
model.
Brand distinction was also achieved from the side and rear. From the
side, Dodge Caravan features wheel flair formations in front and rear fascias
which add a sporty, aerodynamic accent. Caravan ES features wide side
moldings with chrome accents. From the rear, a bright chrome Caravan
nameplate is centered above the light bar. Dodge "ram's head" badging is also
featured on the center of each wheel. Caravan's new wheels and wheel covers,
in sizes up to a 17-inch chrome cast aluminum wheel for the ES, represent
variations on the Dodge brand's "five-spoke" theme.
Chrysler
Chrysler Town & Country's grille is also larger than its predecessor and
features an "egg crate" texture, cradled by chrome molding, with the brand's
signature winged medallion at the center. Lower body-colored horizontal
grille bars and fog lamps are flush to achieve a European look and stretch to
the corners to widen the solid, stable visual stance.
From the side, Chrysler fascias are smooth at the wheel openings while the
cladding on Town & Country LXi and Limited features lower-body ribbing that
fans to the rear, which accentuates the wedge profile. From the rear,
Chrysler Town & Country is distinguished by a chrome lightbar with an
integrated winged badge.
Chrysler Voyager has a larger, deeper grille with more of a coarse, "egg
crate" texture. The Chrysler winged medallion appears at the top of the
grille as opposed to the center.
Chrysler Voyager minivans for non-North American markets feature quad head
lamps as opposed to dual head lamps, tail lamp graphics, and fog lamp opening
inserts. In addition, they will incorporate the Town & Country grille and
fascia design where prior models featured Caravan's front end appearance.
Interior Design: Best Minivan, Inside Out
Interior design objectives included supporting the solid, robust exterior
theme, further improving ergonomics, establishing even more brand distinction,
and adding delightful, new interior features that minivan customers expect.
"In terms of the minivan design formula, we've known from the beginning
that the secret's inside," said Trevor M. Creed, Vice President of Design,
DaimlerChrysler. "The heart of a minivan is its interior. A minivan's
interior should provide a unique blend of spaciousness, accommodations and
thoughtful features. For our all-new minivans, we've added new ingredients
and enhanced the formula once again."
Added to an already excellent interior package are several industry firsts
including a removable powered center console that may be latched into place
either between the front or middle-row seats so owners may easily reconfigure
to suit their own needs and requirements. Docking into brackets attached to
the floor, the console provides power through an outlet designed into its
front compartment. When the console is removed, the bracket functions as a
storage tray, complete with rubber liner.
The removable center console includes two separate storage compartments
with lockable hinged, latching lids. The front compartment of the console
features a removable bracket holder for a cellular telephone and a power
outlet for the phone's battery charger. Power is supplied to the front
mounting location directly from the vehicle's battery to allow overnight
charging of a cellular phone or other battery-powered equipment. When mounted
between intermediate seats, the console is powered when the ignition is on.
The rear compartment is illuminated and has a large open storage area,
complete with removable bin. A pen/pencil holder is molded into the telephone
holder. A tissue and map holder are molded into the underside of the rear
lid.
Since the removable center console may be located between the middle row
seats, cup holders previously located on the inboard seat assembly have been
moved to the outboard sides of the seat risers. When the seat is tipped
forward for rear seat access, the cup holder remains in place as the seat
rotates around it in order to prevent spills.
A pop-up rear cargo organizer, mounted on the floor behind the rear seat,
represents yet another minivan first. When open, the cargo organizer forms a
storage bin with two folding dividers that are spaced to accommodate up to six
full-size paper grocery bags. The organizer may also be used with the
existing seat back-mounted grocery bag hooks to carry plastic grocery bags.
Both features allow owners to transport groceries without spillage. The rear
cargo organizer may be positioned at the floor level or raised to a mid-level
position.
In the raised position with storage compartments closed, the organizer
aligns with the surface of the folded down rear seat back to create a
continuous-load floor, allowing the user to carry 4' x 8' of sheets of
plywood. Also, while in the raised position, other items including strollers
and golf clubs may be stored beneath in the closed storage compartments.
Ergonomics
In order to maintain optimum cargo-carrying and passenger-carrying
flexibility while improving the removal process of the third row bench seat,
designers split the rear bench seat 50/50 which allows users to remove either
one or both of the seats. Each seat reclines, tilts, tumbles forward, folds
flat, or is easily removed. Each seat weighs approximately half the weight of
a bench seat (55 pounds) and is mounted on rollers for ease of removal and
storage.
"Another key ingredient to the minivan success formula is third row
seating flexibility," said Creed. "We wanted to give our customers the option
of removing one or both of the split rear seats depending on their cargo-
carrying or people-carrying needs."
Ergonomic improvements were made to better accommodate tall and small
drivers. Front seat tracks were extended by 10 mm to provide more leg room
for tall drivers. Adjustable pedals, which enter production later in 2001,
will help to accommodate small drivers.
Center console switches are .75 inch (19mm) closer to the driver than
their recessed predecessors. The face of the center stack is canted upward
for better visibility and easier access to all controls. Relocated front door
switch modules provide easier access as they are closer to the occupants and
angled farther inboard when compared to the previous model. Memory push-
button switches have been repositioned from the face of the door trim panel to
this module for easier access.
A new, molded front seatback includes an integral assist handle and two
shopping bag holders. Premium models add a vinyl map pocket on the passenger
side while luxury editions add a map pocket and umbrella holder on the driver
side. Re-contoured inboard armrests now provide more walk-through space when
folded upright.
Crisp Interior Lines
Design of the all-new interior repeats the sculpted character lines seen
on the exterior to create more of a taut, integrated appearance. Crisp lines
appear throughout the interior including on the center stack, front door trim
panels, pillar covers, quarter trim panels and steering wheel pad. Unlike its
predecessor, the instrument panel is visually detached from the door trim
panels. The hard line that defines the panel face is one of the design
elements that give the instrument panel its fresh, taut appearance. The
instrument panel features the signature message center and has a deeper soft-
touch pad area, extending farther forward to the base of the windshield.
Instrument cluster faces have a new appearance. Voyager, Town & Country
LX and all Caravan cluster faces are off-white with dark graphics and red
pointers. Blue-green nighttime illumination shines through the graphics.
Town & Country LXi and Limited instrument cluster faces feature black
"designer watch" graphics and red pointers on a "gold dust" background
highlighted by bright bezels similar to those on Chrysler LHS and 300M. Blue-
green electroluminescent illumination of the faces silhouette the graphics at
night.
The bold new center stack form is continuous from top to floor. Dual air
flow outlets at the top of the center stack provide a consistent appearance
while a fixed center vent directs air to the rear seats and also includes the
automatic temperature control sensor. Surface-integrated HVAC controls, audio
controls, new center stack module, and a minivan-first four-disc in-dash CD
player follow the contour of the center stack to maximize a built-in
appearance.
The redesigned overhead console features a single door that holds two
pairs of sunglasses. Switches for the power liftgate, power sliding doors and
HomeLink(R) universal transmitter are easily accessible and integrated into
the console. The overhead rear climate control module, which now includes
separate rear-area temperature controls, has been relocated from the driver's
side to the center, providing access for both center row passengers.