Canada's Report on Business had a good old chin wag with Steven Landry. Chryslerberus' Canadian-born and educated executive vice-president NAFTA sales, global marketing service and parts is charged with reigniting the market for the automaker's new, Canadian-built minivan. According to Landry, Swivel 'N Go seating is the key. "It becomes a lifestyle type of vehicle versus a people transporter." The new minivans will also sport a dual TV system; second and third row sprogs can watch different satellite TV channels or DVDs– unless you're sitting in the second row facing the third row, in which case you can watch the third row watching the screen. Siriusly. If Chyslerberus was going down this path, why doesn't their van have a bed or move the Caliberesque "chillzone" drinks cooler to the rear? In short, it looks like the van's success will ultimately depend on the aftermarket.
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I wrote an article about the eventual merging of features between minivans and conversion vans about a year ago. It’s been on the industry radar for several years now, and it loks like Chrysler will be the first one to throw the proverbial gauntlet.
Believe it or not folks, the days of the $50,000 minivan are coming very soon. Every major manufacturer in this market is going to follow suit because it represents one of the few areas in the market where profits can remain strong.
Who remembers when full size work vans were being converted with swivel seats, tables, shag carpeting?
The minivan is going in the same direction as the station wagon, with crossovers emerging as the mainstream minivan replacement.
Is it possible (and legal) to drive with second row facing rearward?
Steven,
I think you are right. The Suburban and R-class are already at the $50K threshold. As more and more kids spend half their lives in the backseat, these features will become more important to their chauffeur-parents.
Is there something wrong with today’s children that they can’t sit in a car and not be jerks? Are game tables and DVD players really necessary in cars?
Seriously–it is something in the vaccines and food additives like the Hippies claim?
As of today, no one is allowed to tell me I don’t need 400 horsepower as long as vans like this are allowed to exist.
Minivans are going to be marketed as ‘road trip’ vehicles that give you more luxury and space than anything else out there.
Here are a few features you can expect within the next two years.
1) 2nd and 3rd Row seats that fold down with the touch of a button.
2) The swivel seats, satellite TV and chairs that have already been mentioned.
3) There will be at least one manufacturer that will enable you to use the rear as a ‘bed’ like surface in a way that’s akin to how Peugeot has done it in Europe.
4) Video game systems will be incorporated into these vehicles as ‘options’ with a library of games to boot.
5) Many of the engine technologies that are being used for fuel efficiency will be available. Honda and Toyota already do this but within a couple of years other manufacturers will get in the act.
6) There will be at least one diesel model. Honda will adapt theirs for this model and Toyota may follow suit… but that probably won’t happen until 2010. Toyota will definitely incorporate their hybrid technologies into the next Sienna and may even bolster the battery power due to the greater opportunity to use it in a larger vehicle.
7) Ford and GM will ‘re-release’ new models that will be heavily based on their current European models. This time GM will limit the number of brands that have a minivan.
I believe this niche will actually be among the fastest growing over the next few years. I will add though that this growth will be heavily based on the ‘features’ end of the scale and empty nesters will account for a lot of the incremental increase.
If the M-B R Class is any indication of where this supposed upmarket segment of the minivan is going, we have the answer.
I agree with NICKNICK until these minivans which are usually driven aggressively with no more than 2 passengers at any time are on the road. Driving
a 500HP machine that uses Sunoco 94 is acceptable.
Whenever one is actually used as a “people carrier” and is involved in an accident on the highway most of the passengers fly out of them since they don’t wear their seatbelts sitting in the back.
I don’t see how, in an era of car seats (and tickets for not using them), that a “Romper Room” in the rear of a van makes any sense. Do you get an optional day school nanny to ride herd on the rugrats while you pilot this through traffic?
Steven Lang, why do you see empty nesters buying this vehicle? Aren’t they the people who don’t have anyone to carry in the back?
The minivan is going in the same direction as the station wagon, with crossovers emerging as the mainstream minivan replacement.
Yes, crossovers are edging out BOF SUV’s, but there will always be us diehards wanting the extra cargo space and remote power sliding doors that only a minivan can deliver. Odyssey and Sienna sales have been stable the past couple of years.
Is it possible (and legal) to drive with second row facing rearward?
Rear facing child seats do it already. I am guessing that additional engineering was required to have a seat capable of crashing both ways.
Grandkids, friends, overall comfort, and the neverending opportunity to buy and carry ‘stuff’.
The idea of turning the second row around and having a small table between them is brilliant. The kids can play card and board games on long trips.
Ford had an option on the Windstars some years back where you could order second and third row seats that folded down to create a bed. I don’t think it was very popular though.
I personally don’t see any great need for a TV in the back, although I have joked about installing a bookcase for my kids.
The idea of having a table is really appealing and we have seriously considered getting a VW Multivan so we can have rear facing seats, a table, and space for a cooler to simplify lunch at the trailhead, or rest area. Our need is more for a “day camper” than in motion play, especially given my wife’s loathing for car pools and insistence on walking or biking whenever possible, to the point of wanting to buy a cargo bike for grocery shopping.