Reborn 2025 Chevrolet Astro Van Is Nothing but Wishful Thinking, Still Utterly Cool

Alas, we are in the realm of automotive possibilities, so if you are looking for a passenger van and don't mind all those soccer mum and hockey dad jokes, then the choice is scarce. You could buy the Chrysler Pacifica, which is the only model from the once-great American brand, starting next year as the Chrysler 300 was recently axed, and the last Hemi-powered 300C sedan has already left the factory premises.

Or you could opt for the Asian configuration made out of the Kia Carnival, Honda Odyssey, or Toyota Sienna. That's about it, although we could also consider the Mercedes-Benz Metris passenger version as a viable alternative if you don't mind the commercial vehicle roots. There aren't too many options, right? However, not long ago, that was not the case, and just about every major automaker had at least one MPV in its lineup.

General Motors, for example, decided to fight the Chrysler and Dodge rivals with something that wasn't necessarily a direct response – Chevrolet and GMC used for the Astro and Safari models a rear-wheel drive layout, similar to the Ford Aerostar van they also featured light-truck powertrain components – the engines and transmissions were shared with the Chevy S-10 truck model, thus allowing for a greater towing capacity of up to 5,500 lbs (2,500 kg).

The three-door MPV even had AWD and was offered on the market in various configurations, including traditional panel vans and passenger minivans. Just two generations were produced – the original from 1985 to 1994 and its sole follow-up for another decade, until 2005. Alas, that doesn't mean there are few enthusiasts of the series. In fact, there are fans even across the imaginative realm of digital car content creators – and that's where Dimas Ramadhan, the virtual automotive artist behind the Digimods DESIGN channel on YouTube, has taken up the task of revealing an all-new Chevy Astro van.

Looking contemporary with the current roster of crossovers and SUVs from Chevrolet, this hypothetical design project sports the company's split headlight signature style combined with modern LED taillights in the rear. On the sides, though, it's not a three-door minivan anymore – and instead unofficially fights the Pacifica, Carnival, Odyssey, Sienna, and Metris with a full complement of rear sliding doors.

Interestingly, the pixel master doesn't reference the old-school boxy design of the first- and second-generation Astro models – so maybe that's not going to bode well for traditionalists. However, it does look cool on its own – in a decidedly quirky way, of course. What do you think – would you buy this revived Astro van if Chevy made it for real?