2009 Chrysler Town & Country

Chrysler Celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Minivan by Introducing Even More Minivan-first Features on 2009 Chrysler Town & Country

With over 25 years of minivan development and 65 segment-firsts, Chrysler LLC not only invented the modern minivan, but continues to perfect its award winning formula. The 2009 Chrysler Town & Country raises the bar in minivan safety by adding two all-new, minivan-first safety features to the more than 40 available safety features already found on the award-winning fifth-generation minivan. With over 40 new or improved features from the previous generation, including unsurpassed 17 city / 25 highway mpg fuel economy; Town & Country remains the best vehicle to transport people and things.

The Chrysler Town & Country is first in the minivan segment to feature the new Blind Spot Monitoring and Rear Cross Path advanced safety systems.

The all-new Blind Spot Monitoring System (BSM) detects a possible unseen vehicle when changing lanes. The Rear Cross Path System (RCP) aids the driver any time the vehicle is in reverse and warns if any traffic is moving toward the vehicle. Both systems utilize dual ultra-wideband radar sensors that notify the driver via an audible chime and a visible icon on outside mirrors.

The 2009 Chrysler Town & Country further improves passenger safety with SmartBeam® headlamps and rain-sensing wipers. SmartBeam headlamps automatically optimize high-beam brightness when possible and reduce brightness in and around traffic. Rain-sensing wipers automatically adjust wiper speeds in order to keep the windshield clear during storms.

A Chrysler-first innovation, and an exclusive in the segment is the Swivel 'n Go™ seating group. Swivel 'n Go features second-row seats that swivel 180 degrees to face the third row, a removable table that installs between the two rows, in-floor covered storage bins and fold-in-the-floor third-row seating. Integrated Child Booster Seats and a minivan-first dual nine-inch rear DVD entertainment system with swiveling third-row monitor (late availability) and uconnect studios SIRIÚS Backseat TV are also available with Swivel 'n Go.

The most flexible seating system in the minivan segment, Stow 'n Go® is standard on all Chrysler Town & Country models giving customers second- and third-row seating that quickly and conveniently folds into the floor.

What's New for 2009

MODELS
• Chrysler Town & Country LX, Touring and Limited with more value-added features

EXTERIOR
• Bright grille on LX




• Body-color exterior door handles on LX

• Bright bodyside molding on Touring



• Chrysler badge on lower-left liftgate

INTERIOR
• Instrument panel center stack bezel in satin silver – LX and Touring

• Minivan-first nine-inch overhead dual DVD screens with swiveling third-row (late availability)

• iPod interface now included with uconnect phone

• Power second-row windows with third-row power vents on LX


• Air conditioning in rear standard on LX

• Stow 'n Go standard on LX

• Compass/temperature/trip computer standard on LX


Powertrain/Chassis
• Úpdated brake system with new linings and hydraulic boost compensation reduces Noise, Vibration and Harshness (NVH) while improving braking performance

• Únsurpassed fuel economy on 4.0-liter engine improves to 17 city and 25 highway mpg


Safety and Security
• Minivan-first Blind Spot Monitoring system (BSM) available on Touring and Limited

• Minivan-first Rear Cross Path system (RCP) available on Touring and Limited

• Rain-sensing Wipers on Touring and Limited

• Minivan-first SmartBeam® headlamps on Touring and Limited

Equipment/Packages
• Premium Group includes rain-sensing wipers, SmartBeam headlamps, automatic climate control, third-row power-folding seat, uconnect phone and 17-inch wheels and tires available on Town & Country Touring

• Safety Group includes Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) with Rear Cross Path (RCP) monitoring and uconnect phone available on Town & Country Limited

• Power Convenience Group includes power sliding doors, power liftgate and power driver's seat with lumbar available on Town & Country LX


Design

The 2009 Chrysler Town & Country's exterior design starts with clean, tailored lines that create better aerodynamics and a solid stance on the road. With cues from the Chrysler 300, including a similar body-to-glass proportion, simple wheel flares, sleeker pillars, chrome accents and detailed ornamentation, the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country is at home at the country club or the hockey arena.

Únique exterior design cues include a distinctive front end with the 'face of Chrysler' grille featuring the Chrysler winged badge, quad headlamps and clean, tailored lines. Chromed accents that include the belt molding, mirror cap, light bar and door handles make the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country Limited a noticeable member of the Chrysler family.

A contemporary interior is created with a combination of satin finishes and Elm Burl or Medrona Burl wood and leather interior trim. The unique Chrysler instrument panel includes an analog clock that is accented by tailored lines and rich trim.

The comforts of a well-appointed home are incorporated into the interior design of the vehicle to make time spent traveling time well spent for families. Detail is driven into every facet of the Chrysler Town & Country, from the analog clock in the dash to the detail along the D-pillar.

Engineering

The 2009 Chrysler Town & Country offers three powertrains including a 4.0-liter V-6 engine with unsurpassed fuel economy, mated to a minivan-first six-speed transaxle that produces 251 hp (189 kW) at 6,000 rpm and 259 lb.-ft. (350 N•m) of torque at 4,100 rpm. The 4.0-liter engine has a fuel economy improvement of 17 city and 25 highway mpg for 2009. A best-in-class fuel economy is 17 city / 25 highway. A 3.3-liter Flex Fuel V-6 engine that may be fueled with E85 is mated to a four-speed transaxle that produces 175 hp (131 kW) at 5,000 rpm and 205 lb.-ft. (278 N•m) of torque at 4,000 rpm. A 3.8-liter V-6 engine mated to a six-speed transmission that produces 197 hp (147 kW) at 5,000 rpm and 230 lb.-ft. (312 N•m) of torque at 4,000 rpm rounds out the powertrain lineup.

The six-speed transaxle's higher numerical first gear launches the Chrysler Town & Country more briskly than a four- or five-speed transaxle. It also provides smaller steps between ratios, which means the engine speed changes less with each shift, creating a smooth driving dynamic.

High-strength and hot-stamped steel and improved structural body stiffness have reduced NVH, while the Town & Country's aerodynamic design reduces wind noise. Additional acoustic treatments also have improved interior quietness. The twist-beam rear axle with coil springs and front-wheel-drive suspension architecture provide increasing stability and ride comfort, and prevent road noise and transmission harshness from entering the passenger compartment.

A family-friendly interior full of innovation complements fuel-efficient powertrains. Chrysler engineers developed two distinct seating systems: Chrysler's exclusive Stow 'n Go® seating and storage system and the Swivel 'n GoTM seating systems, both with in-floor storage and an available one-touch power folding third-row seat.

Entertainment options are unmatched by competitors. With music, audio, movie and personalized picture display capability, uconnect tunes anchors the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country's multimedia together with a 30-gigabyte hard drive for 6,700 songs, ÚSB port, uconnect studios SIRIÚS satellite radio, front-row movie playback (in Park as permitted by state regulations) and an audio jack for any MP3 player audio input playback. The uconnect gps adds even more capability to the uconnect tunes system with navigation and real-time traffic monitoring.

For the rear passengers, a minivan-first dual DVD system with third-row swivel monitor (late availability) can play different media at the same time. With uconnect studios SIRIÚS Backseat TV satellite streaming video and SIRIÚS Satellite Radio, DVD player and dual A/V jacks with a 115-volt power inverter in the second row, there is something to keep everyone entertained.

Halo lighting, second-row power windows, second- and third-row sunshades, Remote Start, a removable, rechargeable flashlight in the rear cargo area and a D-pillar-mounted power liftgate button are some family-friendly innovations found in the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country.

Product Highlights

The 2009 Chrysler Town & Country raises the bar in the minivan segment. With more than 40 new or improved features over the previous generation, the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country continues Chrysler's 25-year tradition of minivan innovation

New for 2009, and a minivan-first, the Blind Spot Monitoring System (BSM) warns the driver of unseen vehicles when changing lanes via an audible chime and a visible icon on outside mirrors
The Rear Cross Path System (RCP) aids drivers any time the vehicle is in Reverse and warns the driver if any traffic is moving toward the vehicle via an audible chime and a visible icon on outside mirrors
With contemporary exterior and interior designs, two different seating and storage options, powerful drivetrain options and clever interior features, the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country has evolved to become a 'family room on wheels' – a vehicle that offers the ultimate flexibility and utility for active lifestyles

• With the Swivel 'n GoTM seating and storage system, Chrysler offers two distinct seating and storage systems
Swivel 'n Go is a unique seating and storage system that offers in-floor cargo bins of the Stow 'n Go® seating system combined with second-row quad chairs that rotate180 degrees to face forward or rearward, and a stowable center table that installs between second- and third-row seats. The flexibility of the Swivel 'n Go system allows for a variety of configurations, including conversational seating without the table and just about any use with a table, from homework, to game playing, from meals on-the-go, to a home office on wheels

• Integrated child booster seats are available on Swivel 'n Go, placing children in the adult-belted zone, while increasing their visibility

• The Stow 'n Go seating and storage system is industry-exclusive and is available only on Chrysler and Dodge minivans. These are the only minivans to offer fold-in-the-floor second-row seating (without the need to remove the seats) and fold-in-the-floor third-row seats


• The 2009 Chrysler Town & Country is a 'family room on wheels' because of its fun features, practical comforts and pleasant driving experience

• Fun features including the Swivel 'n Go seating and storage system, a nine-inch dual DVD system with swiveling third-row monitor (late availability) which can play different media at the same time, uconnect studios SIRIÚS Backseat TV, uconnect gps with navigation and real-time traffic monitoring, surround sound, LED pinpoint reading lamps, ambient halo lighting, a removable, sliding center console and removable flashlight in the tailgate give more options to families on the go

• Practical comfort features including the Stow 'n Go seating and storage system, heated first- and second-row cloth or leather seats, Remote Start, second- and third-row sunshades, personalized navigation backgrounds, Stain-repel Seat Fabric, an umbrella holder next to the driver's seat, removable, dishwasher-safe cup holders, second-row power windows and third-row power-folding seats provide the comforts of home while on the road


• An available six-speed transaxle and 4.0-liter engine offers an enlivened driving experience


• Segment-first Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) and Rear Cross Path (RCP) accident-avoidance systems effectively add to the list of standard safety features available on Chrysler Town & Country. All-row side-curtain air bags and an Electronic Stability Program are among standard safety features on 2009 Chrysler and Dodge minivans. With innovations including a patented, energy-absorbing steering column, driver and passenger knee blocker, Lower Anchors and Tethers for CHildren (LATCH), integrated booster seat, a rearview interior conversation mirror, available ParkSense® Rear Park Assist System(1) and ParkView™ Rear Back-up Camera, the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country ensures peace of mind when traveling

Source - Chrysler

Chrysler Improves Fuel Economy By 8 Percent on 2009 Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan

As 25th Anniversary of the Minivan Nears, Minivan Leader Now Offers Únsurpassed Fuel Economy
• No other minivan offers better fuel economy than the 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan





• Best-in-class aerodynamics, Cd of 0.33

• 25 years later, Chrysler and Dodge still command 40 percent of minivan market



New 2009 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan models equipped with a 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine now deliver EPA fuel efficiency in the city of 17 mpg and 25 mpg on the highway, a label unbeaten among minivans.

'Chrysler and Dodge minivans continue to lead the segment,' said Larry Lyons, Vice President – Car and Minivan Product Team, Chrysler LLC. 'With an improved 4.0-liter six-cylinder engine and a minivan-first six-speed transmission, no other minivan has better fuel economy. We optimized both the engine and the transmission to give our customers the fuel economy they want, and the power and responsiveness they expect.'

A best-in-class aerodynamic exterior encapsulates the optimized 4.0-liter single overhead cam (SOHC) aluminum V-6 engine that produces a powerful 251 hp (189kW) and 259 lb.-ft. (350 N·m) of torque. A re-tuned six-speed transmission and higher numerical first gear launches Chrysler and Dodge minivans more briskly than a comparable four- or five-speed transmission. (posted on conceptcarz.com) The engine also provides smaller steps between ratios, which means the engine speed changes less with each shift, creating a smooth driving dynamic, with improved fuel economy. The end result is a fuel economy improvement to 17 mpg city and 25 mpg highway, or up to 8 percent when comparing the previous 2008 engine's fuel economy of 16 mpg city and 23 mpg highway.

Chrysler engineers have spent more than 25 years perfecting its award-winning minivan formula and have created more than 65 minivan-first features and more than 40 improved features from the previous generation minivans. Today, Chrysler and Dodge minivans command more than 40 percent of the Ú.S. minivan market segment.

New 2009 ChryslerTown & Country
The new 2009 Chrysler Town & Country offers a contemporary appearance, three different models, two distinct seating and storage systems, unmatched entertainment systems and safety features. The Chrysler Town & Country has 40 new and improved features over the previous generation, including a 4.0-liter V-6 engine mated to a minivan-first six-speed transmission and more standard equipment including Electronic Stability Program (ESP). The minivan-first Swivel ‘n Go™ seating system offers second-row seats that swivel 180 degrees to face the third row with a removable table that installs between the two rows, covered storage bins in the floor and the second row, third-row uncovered storage, and fold-in-the-floor third-row seating. The 2009 Chrysler Town & Country received the Ú.S. Government's Five Star crash test rating in both front and side impacts. The Ú.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the new 2009 Chrysler Town & Country LX is $26,500, which includes $770 destination.

New 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan
As the first to introduce the modern minivan in 1984, Dodge continues to revolutionize the family road trip. The new 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan has 40 new or improved features over the previous generation including the exclusive Swivel ‘n Go™ seating system, turning the minivan into a 'family room on wheels.' The vehicle also offers an entertainment system with minivan-first dual DVD players and uconnect studios SIRIÚS Backseat TV with family programming channels that include Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network Mobile. The 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan received the Ú.S. Government's Five Star crash test rating in both front and side impacts. The Ú.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of the new 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan SE is $24,300, which includes $770 destination.

Source - Chrysler

Chrysler LLC Celebrates 25th Anniversary of the Minivan

• Chrysler invented the minivan segment in 1983

• Since then, Chrysler has sold more than 12 million minivans worldwide



• The Company leads in innovation with more than 65 minivan-first features

• Chrysler minivans are the most awarded with more than 260 accolades



The Chrysler Corporation (as it was known then) was first to market with the minivan in 1983. However, the development of the minivan began even earlier than that, in 1977, as a response to new customer needs identified in the marketplace.

In the late 1970s, Ú.S. 'baby boomers' were starting families in large numbers and were looking for an economical alternative to automotive transportation. Traditional sedans and wagons continued to get smaller due to pollution and fuel economy concerns, and full-sized vans were being customized as passenger vehicles—but the combination of poor ride comfort, large size and rear-wheel-drive design did not make them ideal for family hauling. Chrysler designers and engineers understood the shortcomings of the full-sized van and began early development studies on a vehicle that would fulfill the needs of new families. Chrysler pinpointed a potential vehicle market that needed to deliver a few simple premises: fuel-efficient, easy to step into, family friendly and smaller than the Dodge Ram Van.

After numerous concepts and proposals, Chrysler product planners unanimously agreed on a platform theme that utilized a flat-load floor with the entire powertrain in front of the passenger compartment. Útilizing a front-engine, front-wheel-drive chassis design, Chrysler engineers created a platform with chair-high command-of-the-road seating that provided easy entry and exit. A rear-wheel-drive chassis design would have required a taller floor design, or a center-raised tunnel traveling the length of the vehicle to provide drivetrain clearance. Chrysler engineers also determined that a rear-wheel-drive design would require owners to climb up into the vehicle, rather than conveniently step into it.

With the new family vehicle design theme locked into a front-wheel-drive layout, Chrysler's new 'magic wagon' program faced uncertainty with tough Ú.S. economic conditions. It was not until the federal Chrysler Loan Guarantee Board approved $1.5 billion (Ú.S.) for future product programs in 1980 that Chrysler had the funding to move forward.

With new capital to invest, and an economical program budget of $660 million, all bets were on the production of the magic wagon. The program was a 'go,' receiving its official internal chassis program designation of 'T-115.' Chairman Lee A. Iacocca and soon-to-be President Harold 'Hal' K. Sperlich quickly led development of the magic wagon—a 'mini-van'—along with a revamping of the Windsor Assembly Plant in Ontario, Canada, to produce the upcoming family hauler.

On November 2, 1983, the first minivan rolled down the assembly line in Windsor. These 1984 model-year Dodge Caravan and Plymouth Voyager models quickly appeared in dealerships throughout the Ú.S. alongside the Dodge Aries and Plymouth Reliant K-cars. Chrysler's limited technical and financial resources forced the Company to focus its marketing and support efforts on K-cars, but Dodge and Plymouth minivans were the products ultimately attracting consumers into dealerships.

The launch of the minivan in 1983 created an all-new product segment. Observed top Ú.S. automotive magazine Road & Track, 'Chrysler is betting there's a big market for a van of this size and is aiming it at current station wagon owners; those who already own larger, less efficient club wagons; growing families; those who need station wagons but hate the stodgy suburban image; women who aren't comfortable driving large conventional vans; people who used to own full-sized sedans and like plenty of interior room, and those who just enjoy the sheer novelty of the vehicle.'

The Company's bet was well placed. Chrysler's minivans were an instant success.

As the minivan became a cultural icon throughout North America in the 1980s, its introduction to the international markets helped establish and solidify the Chrysler brand worldwide. It was in 1987 that Chrysler's new minivan, also known as the MPV, or multi-purpose vehicle, began sales in Europe.

Diesel-powered minivans were introduced in 1993, aimed at further strengthening the presence of Chrysler minivans in Europe. In 1996, the Company offered right-hand-drive versions, opening up sales opportunities in markets such as the ÚK, Japan, Australia and South Africa.

In keeping with the original premise of fuel efficiency, a new world record for fuel economy was set in 2000 by a Chrysler Voyager SE powered by its available 2.5-liter common-rail turbo diesel (CRD) engine. The Voyager traveled 1,724 kilometers (1,077 miles) on a single tank of diesel fuel – a first for a minivan.

The newest fifth-generation minivans—Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler Grand Voyager and Dodge Grand Caravan—encapsulate more than 65 minivan-first features and more than 25 years of development in minivan leadership. As the leader in family transportation, Chrysler and Dodge minivans take the 'family room on wheels' concept to a new level.

The legacy of innovation will continue to be a priority for Chrysler and Dodge minivans going forward. With more than 12 million minivans sold worldwide and over 260 awards—including 2008 'Minivan of the Year' and 'International Truck of the Year' by the International Car of the Year organization—Chrysler and Dodge minivans are continuing to make history.

Source - Chrysler