As everyone waited for the first press conference of the day at Cobo, I wondered if DaimlerChrysler was sending the right message about its redesigned 2008 minivans. An oversized "bag" of Wonder Bread declared the Dodge Grand Caravan "vantastic," while a "Land O' Vans" butter box put forth the Chrysler T&C as a "sweet family vehicle." Wonder Bread? Butter? Aren't they at least partly responsible for Americans being overweight and sickly?
Ah, but that's why Chrysler Group vice president and CEO, Tom LaSorda, shed his jacket, donned an apron and beckoned chef, Bobby Flay, of Food Network semi-fame, to cook up a couple new delectables to represent the redesigned minis. For the "bold and powerful" Dodge, it was spice-rubbed pork tenderloin with habanero-infused mango salsa. For the "smooth and sophisticated" Chrysler, it was a chocolate layer cake coated in ganache.
Really, it was more of a cooking show than a press conference, as I'm now qualified to cook up either recipe in the privacy of my home. Still, the food was just a distraction from bigger issues -- like the fact that DCX really needs these vans to sell well. In the midst of cooking, LaSorda admitted, "The kitchen's been pretty hot lately."
Later, as he spread the ganache (which, by the way is a blend of heavy cream and melted chocolate), he offered, "Nice and smooth and creamy -- what a great interior." Uh, we'll reserve judgment until we get a bigger bite. --Erin Riches
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some news confrence while yes its nice that the guest chefs canmake a good choclate cake and food What was the point in the first place? I swear this has had to be the cheesiest, stupidest, most pathetic attempt at vechicle marketing I have ever seen. they might as well driven these things to a soccer field to do the unveling for soccer moms everywhere, but no instead of that slightly less pathetic option they chose this. Bad move Chrysler. Chrysler needs this van to be a top seller but once again the idiots over at Chrysler advertising and marketing departments managed to screw this up and this looks like it would be one of their most costly screw ups ever.
If not then this unveling will be the laughing stock of the whole NAIAS ha Land O vans what a joke.
I think this is a great introduction.
This is a family friendly vehicle. Tough unruly guys need not apply.
Except I don't see the double leg room in the swivel' n' go...
thats fine i respect your opinion billt but you and i can agree that making food that represents the vans was a little stupid
I like the new design of the Town&Country better than the Caravan. And the cooking show idea was stupid
Nice van. Chrysler put money in developing it and I bet they'll reap the rewards. Shame on GM for "wimping" out on the family van. I disagree that they'll drop their vans to flock to their CUVs especially when Chrysler is sugar coating the van market.
and not only the seat room bilit but also the safety. Its not going to be pretty when the van is involved in a crash with those seats and knowing some soccer moms will be idiots and not remove the table while driving that table is going to be a real safety hazard as well.
and im a car guy
GM did not "wimp" out of the minivan segment they just could not compete in it. GM vans do have one innovation and thats the remote sliding doors introduced on their dustbuster minivans from the 90's. But other than that they were always inferior to the competion from chrysler and the imports. The CUVs are better than the curent crap vans by leaps and bounds and I think they are a step in the right direction. If you are a comcast suberciber and u get the GM showroom on ON demand (im a subscriber) its not a good thing when buick either directly or indirectly stated at least 5 times that the terazza was made for families on the go and 1 direct refrence to the soccer mom world by stating the van can fit a whole soccer team. The new CUVs even come with a nav system something that the Terazza should have had. Because lets face it, Chrysler and a third of the imports have one whats stopping GM from puttiing one in the Terazza?Its a buick its not a cheap chevy or saturn van. We should at least see a nav system in a van that claims to be the most luxurious of the three current vans out. and I'm also glad the CUVs don't come with phatnoise. I know I sound kind of silly hating Phatnoise but they download the cartridge they provide for you with tons of kids shows and other kid friendly material. I had to help a buddy erase his phatnoise drive and you would not belive all the crap we took out to make room for his music.
man those new seating things are a gimmick. i don't see moms or dads having the seats swiveled around. That will just make more problems for them, e.g. fights between kids. Parents use the seating to separate fighting siblings!
I think these minivans are going straight to fleet again!
Gmguy,
Thanks for setting me straight on that. I just hope that if their CUVs are a success (they look solid) they can utilize the Lambda platform and do a minivan right.
I have an '05 Jeep Grand Cherokee and an '02 Madza MPV; which pretty much saids it all. But I will be replacing my MPV and the Dodge is looking pretty nice right now.
BTW, Not going for Swivel 'n Go...Stupid idea except for reststops. Stow 'n Go gives you so much more room.
I agree that stow'n'go will still be the best selling version, it's the most practical of all. But I wonder why they didn't improve the 3rd row seat, it's as uncomfortable as the '05-'07 version. The imports, Toyota, Honda and Kia, have much better designed 3rd row seats. You sit much higher, and have a better view out.
I also wonder what's up with that interior? Didn't Chrysler learned a lesson from the latest releases (Sebring and others) that most experts are bashing the interior quality? And they're still using the same stuff over and over again? They should focus on quality and refinement for the DRIVER! All gadgets and seating and lights aside, the driver is the one who needs to be comfortable and pampered! Improve quality on all switches, dials and stalks, with good feel, and impressive fit and finish! Move the climate controls up closer to the driver, give the shifter a better location, and... should I go on...?
I also think that the interior should be of higher quality. The swivel seats might be good for families with smaller children, but how long will they be little. When I checked out the car, the swivel seats left almost no leg room for bigger people. And when people complain about the stow seats being uncomfortable, well, they're for the kids not for adults! They are WAY more versitile then the swivel seats. Stow n go will deffinitely be more popular. I like the Chrysler since it is more luxury orientated. Nice leather and look. Overall, nice car.