Chrysler’s Marchionne says only one minivan per brand C Max competitor coming

Chrysler CEO Sergio Marchionne says the automaker plans to only offer one minivan in the future, eliminating either the Chrysler Town and Country or Dodge Caravan by 2013. Additionally, the company is working on a smaller “people mover,” that will go to whichever marque doesn’t retain the minivan.

“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,” Marchionne said in an interview with reporters at the North American International Auto Show.

The smaller “people mover” is being engineered from a new architecture that will underpin several new vehicles in the Fiat and Chrysler lineups. Though Marchionne didn’t get into specifics, the platform is likely to be developed for the Fiat Giulietta, with Chrysler and Fiat engineers planning to expand and adapt the chassis to serve as the basis for a replacement for the Jeep Compass and Patriot, among other vehicles.

Inititally, Marchionne indicated that he would prefer to keep the Dodge Caravan and make the micro-van a Chrysler. In Canada, 80% of the minivan mix is comprised of the Dodge Caravan. But the Town and Country outsells the Caravan in the U.S. and other markets. “We will have to look at the branding, but we are absolutely going to one minivan.” One consideration for Chrysler planners will be that it would be difficult to get the premium price points – over $40,000 for the top-of-the-line Town and Country – for a Dodge branded minivan. LIkewise, it will be difficult to get prices North of 30,000 for even a loaded Chrysler micro-van.

Marchionne also said that both the minivan, and the micro-van would be built at the company’s Windsor, Ontario plant where the minivans are currently produced and designed to compete against the Mazda5 andFord Grand C-Max.

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2012 Ford C Max Review

Ford C-Max

Summary
Ford C-Max seven vehicles that meet the same floor area with a seat Toyota Corolla. Access to the rear seat is to use a sliding door, which displays the minivan. Cars such as the C-Max is very popular in Europe (where it was made), with sliding doors and up to three rows of seats that can accommodate up to seven, the C-Max compete in a limited segment of open road in the United

exterior
With a great light front trapezoidal air intake, fog the triangular portals and grill thin, C-Max looks like a super-sized version of the Ford Fiesta subcompact. Around back, the lights behind the back seat beside a big window. Ford C-MAX successfully combines compact body height and crossover SUV is very effective,

interior
there are several different seating configurations are available for Ford C-Max, which features a comfortable interior that is generally plenty of room for front seat, enough room for the second row and nothing for the third row. In front, the cabin brought a lot of similarities with the Focus. A central pod stereo and ventilation controls sit on the plate of the climate, and to model level has a black and silver accent colors and piano, and dual-zone automatic climate control.

Performance
Standard C-Max 2.5-liter four-cylinder engine 168 horsepower and 167 pounds doing-feet of torque. A choice of 1.6-liter turbocharged four-cylinder 168 hp 173 makes similar but slightly higher pound-feet of torque, with better fuel efficiency to boot. Ford C-Max will most likely be available in two engines in the United States. A 2.5-liter inline four-cylinder engine will come standard, delivering 150-160 horsepower.

Safety
car designed for the European market tends to perform well and as C-MAX comes with the expectation the U.S. shall be not less; standard safety features include three rows, rollover sensor side curtain air bags, ABS brakes and Electronic Stability system.

Competitor’s
competitors currently in the United States is six passengers Mazda 5, Mazda5 is much cheaper, encouraging rapid and agile and slide the second row seat provides less room on the third row seats, but not much. Ford C-Max competed in a limited segment of a breakthrough in America: a compact minivan. The only real competitor is the Mazda5, but you also can keep the Ford C-Max small crossover with an optional third row, such as the Toyota RAV4 and Kia Sorento.

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