the air

Back in 1991, my parents purchased their first minivan, a Plymouth Grand Voyager. For them, it had been a remarkable vehicle. It had gone to Florida twice and we covered much of the Eastern seaboard with it. I still remember that van fondly and I just wish that it had not died due to old age. In fact, we kept that van for a little over 12 years, finally laying it to rest in March of 2003. Now that both my brother and I are grown up, we have no further need for a minivan. However, ever since I have seen a minivan, I’ve always felt that they lacked statement. They seemed conservatively designed and not very appealing. Perfect for soccer moms does not mean that the rest of the car buying public would agree. In fact, I’ve had a soft spot for minivans for a while; imagine having wild parties on wheels. However, their bland driving style and conservative exterior and interior designs really prevented me from even giving them a second thought. However, all of that is about to change.

The picture above is a snapshot of the 2008 Chrysler Town & Country. Set to be debuted at the North American International Auto Show, this van is much more prominent with a boxier styling and with bigger rims and more chrome. In fact, Chrysler is aiming this van squarely to appeal to the masses and give the van a much more manly feel. I’m just glad they got rid of the egg shape style and moved towards a style that was popular with the Chevy Astro or GMC Safari. The Chrysler Town & Country will be powered by a 3.3 liter V6 coupled with a 4 speed automatic or a 3.8/4.0 liter V6 with a 5 speed automatic capable of producing 240 H.P.

Although Chrysler is hoping that hip-hop artists and celebrities will adopt this new minivan and “pimp” it out. Unfortunately, I do not really see that happening. The minivan won’t die out, but I think it is starting to fade. However, I do think that minivans will be able to compete fairly well with sedans and SUV’s. If you are in the market for a new van, be sure to check out the more edgier and more appealing 2008 Chrysler Town & Country.

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