Enhancing the Formula with Even More Minivan Firsts

September 3, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. -  There’s something to be said for being first. Chrysler Group was the first to introduce the minivan 30 years ago. Over the past three decades, the company has introduced 78 minivan-first features:
 
  • 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 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 anti-lock 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 to offer Dual Zone Temperature Control (1996)
  • First minivan in U.S. market to offer driver-side sliding door (fourth door) (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 (1996)
  • First minivan to offer adjustable cup holders (1996)
  • First minivan with cab-forward design (1996)
  • First minivan to offer adjustable reclining rear 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 dual-action rear drum brakes (1996)
  • First minivan capable of transporting 4 x 8-inch material on top of folded seatbacks or with seat removed and liftgate closed (long wheelbase, 1996)
  • First minivan with rear seatback-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 Auto Stick transaxle (1999)
  • First minivan to offer wireless headphones for in-vehicle entertainment system (2000)
  • First minivan to offer 6.4-inch LCD screen for in-vehicle entertainment system (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 (2001)
  • First minivan to offer pop-up rear cargo organizer (2001)
  • First minivan with three-zone temperature control system (2001)
  • First minivan with rear split 50/50 Easy-Out Roller Seats (2001)
  • First minivan with Stow ‘n Go seating and storage system (2004)
  • First minivan with Super High Density (SHD) Foam Cushion Seating (2004)
  • First minivan with split-bench third-row reclining tailgate seating (2004)
  • First minivan with third-row easy entry system – with the pull of a single strap, the second-row seat tumbles out of the way (2004)
  • First minivan with a driver-side inflatable knee blocker (2004)
  • First minivan with Door Alert (2004)
  • First minivan with Overhead rail system with movable/removable storage bins (2004)
  • First minivan with Swivel ‘n Go seating system (2nd row seats swivel 180 degrees rearward) (2007)
  • First to offer removable, two-part sliding front console (2007)
  • First minivan with an umbrella holder (2007)
  • First to offer a dual DVD system that can play different media at the same time (2007)
  • First minivan with a six-speed transmission (2007)
  • First minivan with dual A/V jacks, 115 volt inverter and 12 volt power outlet in C-pillar (2007)
  • First to offer an ambient halo light package with moveable LED pinpoint lighting (2007)
  • First minivan to offer ParkView rear back-up camera (2007)
  • First minivan with a removable, rechargeable LED flashlight (2007)
  • First minivan with first- and second-row heated seats in cloth or leather (2007)
  • First minivan to offer YES Essentials stain-resistant, odor-resistant, anti-static cloth seats (2007)
  • First minivan to offer SIRIUS Backseat TV with network programing (2008)
  • First minivan to offer Blind Spot Monitoring System (2009)
  • First minivan to offer Rear Cross Path Detection System (2009)
  • First to offer SmartBeam headlamps (2009)
  • First minivan with a 180-degree rotating third-row DVD monitor (2009)
  • First minivan to offer iPod control through the radio head unit (2009)
  • First minivan with Brake system with Hydraulic-boost Compensation (HBC) (2009)
  • First minivan to have available FloTV with 20 channels of network programing (2010)
  • First minivan with a heated steering wheel (2011)
  • First minivan to offer the Stow ‘n Place roof rack system (2011)
  • First minivan with SIRIUS with Travel Link (2011)
  • First minivan with an integrated “super” console for first and second row passengers (2011)
  • First minivan to include a selectable fuel economizer mode (2011)
  • First minivan Blu-ray rear entertainment system (2013)
  • First minivan with two USB ports (2013)
  • First minivan with standard trailer sway control (2013)

Contact Information

Ron Kiino
Office: (248) 944-0641
Cell: (248) 202-9291
Rick Deneau
Office: (248) 512-2694
Cell: (248) 730-1685
Kristin Starnes
Office: (248) 512-0889
Cell: (248) 202-9906
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