Minivan-Firsts From DaimlerChrysler Corporation
27 June 2000
Thinking of Minivan-Firsts is a 'Picnic' At DaimlerChrysler Corporation AUBURN HILLS, Mich., June 27 Ann Heiser was attending a
company picnic when the topic of manually opening and closing minivan
liftgates surfaced. "Several small-statured women were discussing the
challenges of reaching up and closing their minivan liftgates," said Heiser.
"Some said they used umbrella handles to reach up and close the liftgate and
one woman explained how she actually tied a cord to the inside handle of her
liftgate in order to pull it shut."
Lucky for millions of future minivan owners around the world, Heiser works
for DaimlerChrysler Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of minivans.
Heiser, a senior administrative assistant at DaimlerChrysler Corporation's
Liberty and Technical Affairs Division in Rochester Hills, Mich., brought the
issue to the attention of the division's vice president, Tom Moore, who
immediately authorized a power liftgate study and task force.
"After reviewing a variety of concept drawings and design approaches, we
discovered a solution and yet another minivan first," said Moore. "An
electric-powered device was chosen to operate the liftgate not only for its
simplicity and low cost, but also because it fit into the existing structure
of our minivans. After conducting market research, minivan platform engineers
quickly embraced this mechanism and worked to enhance and refine the
technology into today's design."
Powered by an electric motor, opening or closing the liftgate takes
approximately four seconds. Push buttons on the key fob and in the overhead
console operate the power liftgate. The power liftgate includes an obstacle
detection feature that works in both opening and closing directions. In order
to alert people in the vicinity of the opening or closing liftgate, a "beep"
from a tone generator in the light bar sounds for two seconds before the
liftgate starts to open or close. The beeping continues during the first two
seconds of movement.
As with the power sliding doors, the mechanism detects resistance to
movement and reverses to avoid damage to the door or the obstruction. In
addition, pinch sensors attached to the sides of the liftgate opening detect
the presence of hands or other objects that offer too little closing
resistance to be detected by the primary obstacle detection system.
The power liftgate is just one of numerous minivan firsts to look for in
the all-new 2001 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country minivans that
arrive in dealerships this fall. Other minivan firsts include:
* Industry-first removable, powered center console
* Power dual sliding doors, allowing minivan-first manual override,
powered by an industry-first inside-the-door motor
* Industry-first power sliding door obstacle detection system when
opening and closing
* Minivan-first engines with power over 210 horsepower, including the new
230 hp 3.5-liter engine -- the most powerful in its class
* Minivan-first pop-up rear cargo organizer
* Minivan-first three-zone automatic temperature control system
* Minivan-first split rear 50/50 Easy-Out Roller Seats(R)
* Minivan-first wireless headphones, included with Mopar Rear Seat
Video(R) entertainment system option
DaimlerChrysler Corporation's complete list of nearly 50 minivan firsts
include:
* First minivan to offer front-wheel drive (1984)
* First minivan to offer selection of engines, V-6 or four cylinder
(1987)
* First to offer long wheelbase minivans (1987)
* First to offer luxury minivan with introduction of Chrysler Town &
Country (1990)
* First minivan to offer standard driver-side air bag (1991)
* First minivan with center high-mounted brake light (1991)
* First minivan with child safety locks on sliding door (1991)
* First minivan to offer four wheel antilock brakes (1991)
* First minivan to offer Quad command seating (1991)
* First minivan to offer all-wheel-drive on front-wheel drive platform
(1991)
* First minivan to offer integrated child seat (1992)
* First minivan to offer standard passenger-side air bag (1994)
* First minivan with dynamic side-impact protection (1994)
* First minivan to meet California 1997 Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV)
certification (1994)
* First minivan to meet Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV)
certification (1995)
* First to introduce electric minivan, EPIC - Electric Powered Interurban
Commuter (1995)
* First minivan with seamless passenger-side air bag door (1996)
* First minivan in U.S. market to offer driver-side sliding door (fourth
door) (1996)
* First minivan to offer Dual Zone Temperature Control (1996)
* First minivan to offer windshield wiper de-icer (1996)
* First minivan to offer 16-inch wheels and tires for enhanced
performance (1996)
* First minivan to offer power memory seat and mirrors (1996)
* First minivan to offer Easy-Out Roller Seats(R) (1996)
* First minivan to offer adjustable cup holders (1996)
* First minivan with cab forward design (1996)
* First minivan to offer adjustable reclining back child seat with molded
seat cushion (1996)
* First minivan with removable windshield wiper module (1996)
* First minivan with mid-cabin upper level comfort control (1996)
* First minivan with computer controlled evaporator (1996)
* First minivan with patented long-travel suspension (1996)
* First minivan with self-contained load leveling rear suspension shock
absorbers (1996)
* First minivan with dual-action rear drum brakes (1996)
* First minivan capable of transporting 4' x 8' material on top of folded
seat backs or with seats removed and liftgate closed (long wheelbase,
1996)
* First minivan with rear seat back-mounted grocery bag hooks (1998)
* First minivan to offer Flexible Fuel Vehicle Availability,
Ethanol/Gasoline (1998)
* First minivan to offer 17-inch wheels and tires for enhanced
performance (1999)
* First minivan to offer AutoStick(R) transmission (1999)
* First minivan to offer wireless headphones for in-vehicle entertainment
systems (2000)
* First minivan to offer 6.4-inch LCD screen for in-vehicle entertainment
systems (2000)
* First minivan to offer power up and power down liftgate (2001)
* First minivan to offer removable, powered center console (2001)
* First minivan with power dual sliding doors, allowing for minivan-first
manual override, powered by an industry-first inside-the-door motor
(2001)
* First minivan to offer power sliding door obstacle detection system
when opening and closing (2001)
* First minivan to offer engines with power over 210 horsepower,
including the new 230 hp 3.5-liter engine, the most powerful in
class (2001)
* First minivan to offer pop-up rear cargo organizer (2001)
* First minivan with three-zone automatic temperature control system
(2001)
* First minivan with rear split 50/50 Easy-Out Roller Seats(R) (2001)
Between Dodge and Chrysler, DaimlerChrysler Corporation sells more than
600,000 minivans worldwide every year and owns approximately 40 percent of the
North American minivan market. Since introducing the minivan segment in 1983,
DaimlerChrysler Corporation has sold more than 8 million Dodge and Chrysler
minivans worldwide and received more than 145 awards.
Even after 17 years, the minivan market remains strong. Industry-wide,
minivan sales account for approximately eight percent of all new vehicles sold
in North America. From 1993 through 1998, industry-wide minivan sales
averaged 1.4 million sales per year in North America. In 1999, the segment
climbed to an all-time high of 1.6 million sales.
