All-New 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan Earn Top Safety Ratings from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS)
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AUBURN HILLS, Mich., May 22 -- The all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan earned "good" ratings, the highest ratings available from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), in both frontal offset and side crashworthiness tests.
"Minivans are the one of the safest vehicles on the road and our all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan are built with more than 25 years of proven engineering innovations," said Larry Lyons, Vice President -- Car and Minivan Product Team, Chrysler LLC. "Our Chrysler and Dodge minivans come loaded with standard features including all-row supplemental side-curtain air bags, advance multi-stage front driver and passenger air bags and an Electronic Stability Program."
Chrysler and Dodge minivans are committed to safety and security and IIHS tests are one of the many metrics, along with U.S. Federal Government requirements and internal metrics used to continually improve vehicle performance.
All-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country
The all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country offers an all-new contemporary appearance, three different models, three distinct seating and storage systems, unmatched entertainment systems and safety features. The Chrysler Town & Country has 35 new and improved features, including a new 4.0-liter V-6 engine mated to a minivan-first six-speed transaxle, more standard equipment including Electronic Stability Program (ESP). The newest feature is the Swivel 'n Go(TM) seating system, offering second row seats that swivel 180 degrees to face the third row with a removable table that installs between the two rows, covered storage bins in the floor and the second row, third-row uncovered storage and fold-in-the-floor third-row seating. The 2008 Chrysler Town & Country has received the U.S. Government's highest Five Star crash test rating in both front and side impacts. The starting U.S. MSRP of the new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country is $23,595.
All-new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan
As the first to introduce the modern minivan in 1984, Dodge continues to revolutionize the family road trip. Its all-new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan has 35 new or improved features including the exclusive Swivel 'n Go(TM) seating system, turning the minivan into a "family room on wheels." The vehicle also offers an entertainment system with dual DVD players and SIRIUS Backseat TV with family programming channels that include Nickelodeon, Disney Channel and Cartoon Network Mobile. The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan has received the U.S. Government's highest Five Star crash test rating in both front and side impacts. The starting U.S. MSRP of the new 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan is $22,700.
More than 40 Safety and Security Features
The all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Grand Caravan offer more than 40 safety and security features including:
Advanced multi-stage air bags: Uses a low-risk deployment air bag for the front passenger All-speed Traction Control: Senses drive-wheel slip and applies individual brakes to a slipping wheel(s), and can reduce excess engine power until traction is regained Anti-lock Brake System (ABS): Senses and prevents wheel lockup, offering improved steering control under extreme braking and/or slippery conditions Auto-reverse sun roof: Advanced sensing system that automatically engages and reverses the sun roof (to the open position) Auto-reverse windows: Automatically engages and reverses the driver's side window (to the down position) Brake Assist: In a panic brake condition, the system applies maximum braking power, providing the shortest possible stopping distance Brake/Park interlock: Prevents an automatic transmission or transaxle from being shifted out of Park unless the brake pedal is applied Child seat anchor system: LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) is designed to ease installation of compatible aftermarket child seats Child-protection rear door locks: Disables the rear doors' inside-release handle via a small lever on the door-shut face Constant-Force Retractors (CFR): Distributes force or load exerted on a seat belt, and then gradually releases the seat-belt webbing in a controlled manner Crumple zones: Designed to compress during an accident in order to absorb energy from an impact, decreasing transfer of that energy to the occupants Digressive load-limiting seat belts: Retractor senses a vehicle impact and immediately applies a load to the seat belt in order to properly position the occupant before the full load from the vehicle impact is imparted onto the occupant. It then reduces the seat belt load to moderate forces imparted onto the occupant during the impact event Door Alert: Periodically activates a chime and illuminates an icon in the instrument cluster to remind the driver if a vehicle is driven without the doors being properly closed Electronic Stability Program (ESP): Enhances driver control and helps maintain directional stability under all conditions. Provides the greatest benefit in critical driving situations such as turns, and is especially valuable when driving on mixed surface conditions including snow, ice or gravel. If there's a discernible difference between what the driver asks through the steering wheel and the vehicle's path, ESP applies selective braking and throttle input in order to put the vehicle back onto the driver's intended path Energy-absorbing steering column: The steering column utilizes two hydroformed coaxial tubes that can move relative to each other in order to allow the column to move forward for enhanced energy-absorption during a crash Enhanced Accident Response System (EARS): Makes it easier for emergency personnel to see and reach occupants in the event of an accident by turning on the interior lighting and unlocking the doors after air bag deployment. Also shuts off the flow of fuel to the engine Head rests in all positions: Each seating position, including Swivel 'n Go(TM) and third-row middle seat, utilize head restraints Height-adjustable front seat belts: Allows occupants to raise and lower the shoulder belt. Encourages seat belt usage by offering a comfortable fit High-intensity Discharge (HID) headlamps: Provide approximately three times the light output of conventional reflector lamps for improved nighttime illumination HomeLink universal home security system transceiver: Stores three separate transmitter radio-frequency codes to operate garage-door openers, security gates, security lighting or other radio-controlled devices Integrated child booster seats: Allow children up to 4-foot 9-inches tall and between 48 and 85 pounds to sit in the adult-belted zone and are available with the Swivel 'n Go(TM) seating system Integrated Child Seats: Designed for children at least one year old, between 22 and 50 pounds and are no more than 47 inches tall. Seats are conveniently designed within an available second-row bench seat Interior head-impact protection: Interior pillars above the beltline and instrument panel, including areas around windshield and rear window headers, roof and side-rail structures, and shoulder belt turning loops specifically designed to limit head-impact force Keyless ignition system: A fob with integrated key and a wireless ignition node with integral ignition switch replace the metal key. The double-sided integrated key is inserted into the ignition switch to start the vehicle. The fob also contains the Remote Keyless Entry and a removable valet key Knee bolsters: The lower instrument panel and the glovebox door are designed to properly position the occupant, enabling air bags to work effectively Occupant Resistant Controller (ORC) with rollover sensor: Determines the appropriate output for the multi-stage driver and low-risk front-passenger deployment air bags, along with side air bag curtains during a rollover event ParkSense(R) Rear Park Assist System: Assists at low speeds in Reverse to detect stationary objects. Consists of visible (interior lights seen with rearview mirror) and audible warnings for the driver ParkView(TM) Rear Back-up Camera: Provides a wide-angle view of the area immediately behind the vehicle, giving the driver greater peace of mind before backing up. Also aids in lining up a trailer to the vehicle's trailer hitch, when so equipped. The image automatically displays on the navigation screen when the transmission is shifted into Reverse Power-adjustable pedals: Allows brake and accelerator pedals to move toward or away from the driver in order to help achieve a safe and comfortable seating position for improved vehicle control Power liftgate with obstacle detection: Detects obstacles in the path of a closing power liftgate and will automatically stop and reverse the power-closing operation Power sliding passenger doors with obstacle detection: Detects obstacles in the path of a closing power sliding door and will automatically stop and reverse the power-closing operation Rearview interior conversation mirror: A convex mirror located in the overhead console above the inside rear-view mirror allows the driver to see rear-seat occupants while looking forward Remote Keyless Entry: Locks and unlocks doors, and turns on interior lamps. If the vehicle is equipped with a vehicle-theft security alarm, the remote also arms and disarms that system Remote start: Conveniently starts the engine from outside the vehicle by using the fob while maintaining vehicle security Safety cage body structure: Key structural enablers help keep the passenger compartment intact during a crash Seat-belt pretensioners: During a collision, impact sensors initiate the front seat-belt pretensioners to immediately remove slack, thereby reducing the forward movement of the occupants' heads and torsos Sentry Key(R) engine immobilizer: Utilizes an engine key that has an embedded transponder with a preprogrammed security code to discourage vehicle theft. When the key is inserted into the ignition, the controller sends a random number to the transponder and the engine is allowed to start. If an incorrect key is used, the engine will shut off after only a few seconds Side impact door beams: Add extra protection in the event of a side impact Sliding door alert system: Warns other drivers by flashing the exterior lamps when passengers are entering or exiting the vehicle Supplemental side-curtain air bags: Extends protection to all outboard front- and rear-seat passengers, including third-row outboard passengers. Each side air bag has its own impact sensor that autonomously triggers the air bag on the side where the impact occurs Tire Pressure Monitoring (TPM): Informs occupants when tire pressure is too low. Pressure-sensor modules within the valve stems of all four road wheels send continuous radio-frequency signals to a receiver and the system Three-point lap shoulder seatbelts: All seating positions, including Swivel 'n Go(TM) and third-row middle seat, utilize three-point seatbelts UConnect(R) Hands-free Communication System: Uses Bluetooth(R) technology to provide voice-controlled wireless communication between the occupants' compatible mobile phone and the vehicle's onboard receiver. The hands-free option promotes safety, freedom, value and flexibility Chrysler Brand
Chrysler is the seventh largest brand in the U.S. automotive market. The brand's succession of innovative products continues to solidify Chrysler's standing as the leader in design, agile performance and innovative technology built around a customer's needs, all at an extraordinary value. The award-winning all-new 2008 Chrysler Town & Country has 35 new or improved features that include the innovative Swivel 'N Go(TM) seating system. Arriving later this year, the new 2009 Chrysler Aspen Hybrid will give a unique option to customers who need the cargo and towing capability of a sport-utility vehicle, but want a more efficient alternative. Chrysler Aspen Hybrid is more than 25 percent more fuel efficient overall, and up to 40 percent more fuel efficient in the city. Also, for customers seeking fuel efficiency, the Chrysler Sebring sedan and Chrysler Sebring Convertible both achieve 28 miles per gallon (mpg) highway fuel economy and have been certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) SmartWay program, which recognizes the cleanest, most efficient vehicles sold in the U.S.
