| Chrysler minivans (NS) | |
|---|---|
&sq=&lang=&file=File:2000_Plymouth_Voyager_base_3-doorD.png) 2000 Plymouth Voyager (no driver-side sliding door) | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Chrysler Corporation (1996–1998) DaimlerChrysler (1998–2000) |
| Also called | Dodge Caravan Dodge Ram Van (Netherlands)[1] Plymouth Voyager Chrysler Voyager Chrysler Town & Country Dodge Grand Caravan (LWB) Plymouth Grand Voyager (LWB) Chrysler Grand Voyager (LWB) Chrysler Caravan Chrysler Grand Caravan 3-Star Grand Caravan (China) |
| Production | January 30, 1995–2000 1995–2002 (China) |
| Model years | 1996–2000 1996–2002 (China) |
| Assembly | St. Louis, Missouri, United States Windsor, Ontario, Canada Graz, Austria (Eurostar) Zhanjiang, Guangdong, China (3-Star CKD)[2] |
| Designer | Don Renkert (1991) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style | 3-door and 4-door minivan |
| Layout | Transverse front-engine, front-wheel drive / all-wheel drive |
| Platform | Chrysler NS platform |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | |
| Transmission | 5-speed manual (outside North America) 3-speed 31TH automatic 3-speed A670 automatic 4-speed 41TE automatic |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | SWB: 113.3 in (2,878 mm) LWB: 119.3 in (3,030 mm) |
| Length | SWB: 186.3 in (4,732 mm) LWB FWD: 199.6 in (5,070 mm) LWB AWD: 199.7 in (5,072 mm) |
| Width | 76.8 in (1,951 mm) |
| Height | 68.5 in (1,740 mm) FWD: 68.7 in (1,745 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,528 lb (1,600 kg) 3,680 lb (1,669 kg) (Grand Caravan) |
| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Chrysler minivans (AS) |
| Successor | Chrysler minivans (RS) |
The third-generation Chrysler minivans are a series of passenger minivans that were marketed by the Chrysler Corporation (later DaimlerChrysler) from the 1996 to 2000 model years. The first ground-up redesign of the model lines since their introduction, designers added a further degree of divisional identity between the Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan, and Chrysler Town & Country. In a notable change, the cargo van was discontinued, with all examples sold as passenger vans. Coinciding with the retirement of the Plymouth brand during 2001, this is the final generation marketed as the Plymouth Voyager.
Designated the Chrysler NS platform, the third-generation minivans grew substantially in size, with standard-length vans becoming only 4 inches shorter in length than the previous "Grand" vans. Though following the introduction of the Ford Windstar by nearly exactly a year, the NS Chrysler minivans saw their form factor adopted nearly universally by the minivan segment in North America. In addition to its chief competitors Ford Windstar, Honda Odyssey, and Toyota Sienna, the model line configuration was adopted by the Chevrolet Venture, Oldsmobile Silhouette, and Pontiac (Trans Sport) Montana, and the Mercury Villager/Nissan Quest. Alongside its use of front-wheel drive and three-row seating, the NS vans introduced a driver-side sliding door (previously seen only in compact MPVs in North America).
In line with the first and second-generation minivans, the third-generation minivans were assembled at Windsor Assembly in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, with additional production sourced from Saint Louis (South) Assembly in Fenton, Missouri. To supplement exports from the United States, production of the Chrysler Voyager was sourced from Graz, Austria (in the Eurostar joint venture factory between Chrysler and Steyr-Daimler-Puch).
- ^ Jewell, Alden (December 30, 2016). "1996 Dodge Ram Van". Retrieved December 27, 2018.
- ^ de Feijter, Tycho (December 15, 2016). "The Story Of Sanxing Part 1: History & Background". CarNewsChina.com. Retrieved March 14, 2018.