Chrysler Will Heavily Update the Pacifica As It Temporarily Becomes a One-Model Brand
Chrysler’s vehicle lineup has dwindled to the point that the automaker is left with a single horse in its stable: The Pacifica minivan. However, despite the contraction in its product offerings, the automaker isn’t going away, and neither is its van. The minivan pioneer has big plans for its family hauler, and company CEO Christine Feuell recently told journalists that it would roll out a mid-cycle update for the vehicle soon.
Chrysler has been making minivans for 40 years and, more recently, electrified the Pacifica with a plug-in hybrid drivetrain. Though we’re calling this a mid-cycle refresh, Feuell noted that it would be a more significant overhaul.
“We’ll be doing a refresh on the Pacifica, and it will be more than just a moderate refresh. It will be pretty significant. I’m not at liberty to say what year that will come out. It will be some point after we launch the first new Chrysler BEV product.”
The automaker’s first EV is due in 2025 and will be based on the Airflow concept it showed off last year. Until then, the company is content leaning on the Pacifica as its only model. The 300 recently ended production, following the Dodge Charger and Challenger. The van is offered in gas and plug-in hybrid formats and is a solid option in the segment, though its age is starting to show.
[Image: Chrysler/Stellantis]
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Chris grew up in, under, and around cars, but took the long way around to becoming an automotive writer. After a career in technology consulting and a trip through business school, Chris began writing about the automotive industry as a way to reconnect with his passion and get behind the wheel of a new car every week. He focuses on taking complex industry stories and making them digestible by any reader. Just don’t expect him to stay away from high-mileage Porsches.
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Are the brands still individually staffed with their own marketing dollars or all in one pot? Either way I believe these came out in 2017 so they needed to redesigned twice not a heavy refresh. An echo of other recent posts that most of Stellantis' lineup is growing a long white beard but they are way less popular than Santa Claus.
I never mind getting these on the rental lot. If I was still in the minivan phase of life this would make the list
"The minivan pioneer has big plans for its family hauler, and company CEO Christine Feuell recently told journalists that it would roll out a mid-cycle update for the vehicle soon."
Attention, professional resume writers: Christine Feuell will soon be knocking on your door. Introduce yourselves now.
The only reason I notice these is because my son at 3 or so would shout out Pacifica every time he saw one on the road, for a good 6 months. He could see them a mile away. Grandma had rented one, and riding around in it got him all excited to see one.
Otherwise, yawn...