Chrysler minivans

The Chrysler S platform and its successors are automobile platforms upon which the minivans manufactured by Chrysler Group LLC are built. The minivan platform has evolved through five generations, from the original S platform forming the basis of the Dodge Caravan, Plymouth Voyager (now defunct) and Chrysler Town & Country — to the current RT and RM platforms, which underpin the current Dodge Grand Caravan, Chrysler Town & Country, Chrysler Grand Voyager, Ram C/V, and Volkswagen Routan.

The minivans are currently manufactured at the Windsor Assembly plant in Windsor, Ontario, Canada.

S

S Platform, Generation I, 1987-1990 Dodge Grand Caravan

The S platform descended from the Chrysler K platform and underpinned the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans, as well as the now defunct Plymouth Voyager minivan. Chrysler manufactured the Generation I minivans, internally codenamed T-115 during development from 1984 until 1990. Origins of the T-115 platform date back to the late 1970s.

The earlier Minivan models included a sedan delivery model with optional double back doors in place of the one-piece lift-gate, as well as the overwhelmingly popular station wagon model.

As with the Suburban moniker for their Plymouth passenger-car based station wagons, Chrysler reportedly failed to trademark the Minivan name. The Suburban name was then trademarked by General Motors for their Carryall light truck-based vans which evolved into light-truck-based station wagons now commonly referred to as SUV's and the term minivan became applied to all van-type wagons and is sometimes applied to cabover type vans.

Models:

• 1984–1990 Dodge Grand Caravan
• 1984–1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager
• 1988–1990 Chrysler Grand Voyager (Europe)
• 1990 Chrysler Town & Country

AS

AS Platform, Generation II, 1994-1995 Plymouth Grand Voyager SE

Generation II was introduced in 1990 and called AS. This was the last K-based version of the S platform, as the NS platform switched to a new cab forward design.

Models:

• 1991–1995 Chrysler Town & Country
• 1991–1995 Dodge Grand Caravan
• 1991–1995 Plymouth Grand Voyager
• 1991–1995 Chrysler Grand Voyager (Europe)
• 1993–1995 Chrysler TEVan

CS

The CS is a variant of the RS platform made specifically for the Chrysler Pacifica crossover SUV.

Models:

• 2004–2008 Chrysler Pacifica

NS

NS Platform, Generation III, Dodge Grand Caravan ES

Generation III of the platform was introduced in January 1995 and called NS.

Models:

• 1996–2000 Chrysler Town & Country
• 1996–2000 Dodge Grand Caravan
• 1996–2000 Plymouth Grand Voyager
• 2000 Chrysler Grand Voyager

GS

The Chrysler GS platform is the European counterpart to the North American Chrysler NS platform.

Model:

• 1996–2000 Chrysler Grand Voyager

RS

RS Platform, Generation IV, 2007 Dodge Caravan SXT (SWB model)

Generation IV of the platform was introduced on January 10, 2000 and was called RS.

Models:

• 2001–2003 Chrysler Voyager
• 2001–2007 Chrysler Town & Country
• 2001–2007 Dodge Grand Caravan

RG

The Chrysler RG platform is the European counterpart to the North American Chrysler RS platform.

Model:

• 2001–2007 Chrysler Grand Voyager

RT

RT Platform, Generation V, Dodge Grand Caravan SXT

Generation V Chrysler minivan was introduced at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show as a 2008 model, based on the new RT platform. It offers a new 4.0 L V6 as its top engine, mated to a six-speed automatic. The short-wheelbase model was dropped, and, as a result, there is no longer a Dodge Caravan, only the Grand Caravan. A version of the Chrysler Town & Country is sold in Europe and several other export markets as the Chrysler Grand Voyager. In Europe this version is equipped with a standard 2.8 L 4-cyl turbodiesel engine and six-speed automatic transmission. For 2011, all the previous engines were dropped and replaced with Chrysler's new 3.6L Pentastar V6.

Models:

• 2008–Present Chrysler Town & Country
• 2008–Present Dodge Grand Caravan
• 2008–Present Chrysler Grand Voyager
• 2011–Present Lancia Voyager
• 2012-Present Ram C/V

RM Volkswagen

RM Platform, 2009 Volkswagen Routan SE

A new Volkswagen minivan, named Routan, was introduced at the 2008 Chicago Auto Show and is manufactured by Chrysler alongside its own minivans in Windsor, Ontario. The Routan, marketed by Volkswagen exclusively in the North American market, is based on the RT platform and drivetrain — with revised interior and exterior styling as well as feature content from the Chrysler vans.

See also

• Chrysler platforms

References

• "Generations: Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth Minivans". Edmunds.com. Retrieved January 3, 2006.
• Allpar minivans section - Chrysler Corp. minivan history, each generation, and 2008 rumors/spy shots
• Internet forum (in French) [1] www.minivanchrysler.com