Chrysler minivans (S)
| Chrysler minivans (S) | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Corporation |
| Also called | Dodge Caravan Plymouth Voyager Chrysler Voyager (Europe) Chrysler Town & Country Dodge Grand Caravan (LWB) Plymouth Grand Voyager (LWB) Chrysler Grand Voyager (LWB, Europe) |
| Production | November 2, 1983 – 1990 |
| Model years | 1984–1990 |
| Assembly | Windsor Assembly, Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Designer | Bob Hubbach (1980) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 3-door minivan |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive |
| Platform | Chrysler S platform |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 2.2 L K I4 2.5 L K I4 2.5 L Turbo I4 TURBO 2.6 L Mitsubishi G54B I4 3.0 L Mitsubishi 6G72 V6 3.3 L EGA V6 |
| Transmission | 4-speed A460 manual 5-speed manual 3-speed A413 automatic 3-speed A470 automatic 3-speed A670 automatic 4-speed A604 automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 1984–1988 SWB: 112.1 in (2,847 mm) LWB: 119.1 in (3,025 mm) 1989–1990 SWB & C/V: 112 in (2,844.8 mm) |
| Length | SWB & C/V: 175.9 in (4,468 mm) LWB: 190.5 in (4,839 mm) 1989–1990 LE SWB: 177.3 in (4,503 mm) 1989–1990 LWB LE: 191.9 in (4,874 mm) C/V Extended: 190.6 in (4,841 mm) |
| Width | 1984–1988: 69.5 in (1,765 mm) 1989–1990: 72 in (1,829 mm) |
| Height | 1984–1988 SWB: 64.4 in (1,636 mm) 1987–1988 LWB: 65 in (1,651 mm) C/V: 64.2 in (1,631 mm) 1989–1990 SWB: 64.6 in (1,641 mm) 1989–1990 LWB : 64.8 in (1,646 mm) |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Chrysler minivans (AS) |
The S-platform Chrysler minivans are a series of passenger minivans marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from model years 1984 to 1990, the first in six generations of Chrysler minivans. Depending on the market, these vans were known as the Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country and the Chrysler Voyager.
Lee Iacocca and Hal Sperlich had conceived their idea for a modern minivan during their earlier tenure at Ford Motor Company. Henry Ford II had rejected Iaccoca's and Sperlich's idea (and a prototype) of a minivan in 1974, then rumored to carry the name "Maxivan". Iaccoca followed Sperlich to Chrysler Corporation, and together they created the T115 minivan — a prototype that was to become the Caravan and Voyager, known in initial marketing as the Magic-wagons. The vans used Chrysler' new S platform, derived from the Chrysler K-platform. The vans shared components with the Dodge Aires including portions of the interior, e.g., the Aries' instrument cluster and dashboard controls, along with the K-platform front-wheel drive layout and low floor, giving the vans car-like driving characteristics and driving positions. Chrysler introduced the Dodge Caravan and the Plymouth Voyager in November 1983 for the 1984 model year; The Chrysler minivans launched a few months ahead of the Renault Espace (the first MPV/minivan in Europe, initially presented to executives as a Talbot, which was made up of Chrysler Europe's disposed assets) in 1979, but not launched until 1984), making them the first of their kind — effectively creating the modern minivan segment in the US.
Original commercials for the 1984 Voyager featured magician Doug Henning as a spokesperson to promote the Voyager "Magic Wagon's" versatility, cargo space, low step-in height, passenger volume, and maneuverability. Later commercials in 1989 featured rock singer Tina Turner. Canadian commercials in 1990 featured pop singer Celine Dion.
Initially, the Chrysler minivans were sold by Chrysler's Plymouth and Dodge divisions as the Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan, respectively, in one short-wheelbase, three door minivan bodystyle. Both the Voyager and Caravan were offered in three trim levels: an unnamed base model, mid-grade SE, and high-end LE, the latter bearing simulated woodgrain paneling.
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