2017 Chrysler Pacifica – Review and Price
Chrysler prepares to launch a new generation of minivan, 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. The Town & Country is one of the most popular minivans on the US market and for a good reason. It is relatively fast, cheap to run and it offers a great amount of space. However, the model is old and it just can’t match is newest rivals such as the Sedona or even the new Sienna.
In order to be able to compete and possibly dethrone these, a new model is expected to be released at the 2016 Detroit Auto Show with the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica. This new car should come on the market soon after its official release at a similar price-point to the ongoing model.
What’s new for 2017?
Chrysler has a lot of surprises for its customers so the new model will actually be using an all new platform which it will likely share with the 200 sedan. This means it will remain a front wheel drive minivan at its core but thanks to the new platform, it will be quite a bit lighter and more rigid than before. The new platform also means that the passengers will enjoy a higher safety rating as well as a more comfortable ride.
2017 Chrysler Pacifica – Engine
Engine wise, the new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica has been rumored to receive two different powertrains. The base model will not use a 3.6 liter V6 but a smaller 3.2 liter naturally aspirated Pentastar V6 which first debuted on the new Cherokee. This engine sports direct injection and variable valve timings, so with the help of a new tune and probably a different intake system, it will easily be able to boast just as much power as the larger V6. We expect it to offer around 280 horsepower and 250 lb-ft of torque.
All of these will be routed to the front wheels as standard via a 9 speed automatic gearbox. Thanks to that, it should get a much improved fuel consumption of around 22 MPG in the city and at least 30 MPG on the highway.
A hybrid is also expected to be launched soon after release. The details of this system are still unknown at this point but we expect it to get a 3 liter V6 petrol engine coupled with a rear-mounted electric motor and a small battery pack. This will not only offer the car all wheel drive but it will also improve its efficiency quite a bit, the only drawback being the larger price-tag.
Redesign – Interior & Exterior
The design of the new Chrysler Town has been rumored to be based on the 700C concept for a long time but only a week ago when a model has been caught without camouflage this rumor became true. It seems that the car will be using a nearly identical front end to the 200 sedan. On top of that, it will look more planted than the current model thanks to its wider and lower stance. Also, the car looks to be slightly longer than before which could suggest more room inside the cabin as well.
Inside view
On the interior, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica should borrow design cues from the 200 and 300 sedans but it will also get its own unique touch. The instrument cluster is likely going to be replaced by a customizable screen which will supply the driver all the information it needs while the infotainment system is definitely going to be replaced by Chrysler’s own 8.4 inch uConnect unit which is one of the best in the industry. As an extra, this time around the Town might actually receive a trunk-mounted vacuum cleaner, an idea which first debuted on the Odyssey.
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Price
The official price will be announced in the mid of 2016 but it should cost around $29,000 for a base model, a $2,000 drop which was needed in order to compete with its less expensive rivals.
The new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica has beenpresented officially, at 2016 Detroit Auto Show.
Competition: Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna.
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