"If our Project Genesis [a plan to have all Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep showrooms at a single dealership] goes to its conclusion, which is the plan, then it makes no sense to offer consumers two minivans differentiated only by equipment," the CEO stated during an interview at the Detroit Motor Show, according to autoblog.
It’s unclear which model will be removed from production, as the Grand Caravan has historically outsold the Chrysler Town & Country, but this the latter was segment leader last year. However, Marchionne said that the Town & Country has refinement that Chrysler does not want to lose. The remaining model will need “to house all-wheel drive and front-wheel drive and an E segment car.” Chrysler is also coming with a new nine-speed front-wheel drive transmission by 2013.
The new “people mover” will be created from the ground up using a new architecture that will underpin several new vehicles in the Fiat and Chrysler range. Both minivan and micro-van will be built at the company's Windsor, Ontario plant where the minivans are currently produced and designed to compete against the Mazda5 and Ford Grand C-Max. It makes perfect sense for the carmaker to be looking at something smaller once again.
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