Detroit — The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is not like other minivans … or at least that's what the automaker wants you to think.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles unveiled the updated kid toter Jan. 11 at the 2016 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. It's Chrysler's bid to redefine the minivan segment, a category Chrysler invented 30 years ago, Tim Kuniskis, Fiat Chrysler's head of passenger car brands in North America, said at the event.
In designing the Pacifica, Chrysler started from scratch and “picked the best material for every part,” Kuniskis said. The changes skimmed 250 pounds of weight from the vehicle, and Chrysler also emphasized the its reduced noise, vibration and harshness.
Catering to families' changing needs, the Pacifica was designed to offer family-friendly utility along with modern style and connectivity, Kuniskis said. Plastics appear in the vehicle's sleek style details and convenience features.
The vehicle has a sleeker, more fluid exterior with prevalent chrome detailing — likely plastic parts with a chrome finish. The design cue is carried over into the interior of the vehicle as well, which features chrome details along with piano black surfaces for a luxury appearance.
Chrysler's aim was to create a sleek and stylish vehicle, “the first minivan you buy where your children let you pick them up in front of the movie theater,” according to Kuniskis.
