Chrysler Out of Short Minivans?

Twenty-four years after it unveiled the first modern-day minivan, Chrysler has refreshed the segment again with the all-new Town & Country.

Also available as the Dodge Grand Caravan, it boasts 35 new and improved features over the outgoing model. But as the pair took the stand at theDetroit show, the question TheCarConnection asked marketing boss Thomas Hausch was, what about the short-wheelbase model?

He would only say that the company will reveal its plans in due course. But it’s widely believed there will be no cut-price smaller version for families who don’t want the fold-flat Stow ‘n Go system, or the new Swivel ‘n Go seating option that was unveiled at the Cobo Center exhibition.

The smart money is on Chrysler offering some sort of crossover vehicle instead. Dodge-badged prototypes of such a machine have been snapped by spy photographers in recent months, with the car believed to be codenamed JC49.

Related Articles

2007 Detroit Auto Show Coverage by TCC Team (1/7/2007)
Lights, cameras, Cobo – action.

2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Preview by Joseph Szczesny (1/4/2007)
Chrysler sticks with the minivan wars.

2008 Dodge Crossover Spy Shots by Marty Padgett (12/17/2006)
Dodge spins a Sebring-based competitor for the Edge et al.