The Pacifica is anything but a re-incarnation of a predecessor.Watch video
DETROIT, MI - Chrysler is credited with creating the original minivan 30 years ago, and has since racked up 78 innovations within the segment.
The all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, unveiled Monday, adds an additional 37 "minivan firsts," the company said.
You can see a video of the reveal below.
But the Pacifica is anything but a re-incarnation of a predecessor. Chrysler said the new minivan has been recreated from the ground up, with an all-new platform.
The new Pacifica comes with two optional powertrains, including a hybrid.
On the gasoline side, there is a next-generation, Pentastar V-6 gasoline engine mated to a nine-speed automatic transmission. The 3.6-liter V-6 produces 287 horsepower and 262 lb.-ft. of torque.
Chrysler said the engine delivers "unsurpassed fuel economy" for the segment, though the estimated fuel economy was not immediately released.
The Pacifica Hybrid, which Chrysler is calling the first hybrid minivan, has a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery that delivers an estimated 30 miles of zero-emissions electric power.
In city driving, that hybrid powertrain is expected to deliver a respectable 80 miles per gallon equivalent, or MPGe, based on EPA standards.
Here's a video of the reveal:
For styling, the Chrysler Pacifica is meant to look athletic and capable, sophisticated and sculpted. It has a long wheel base, wide stance and low ground clearance.
All of this is done with generous interior room leftover, Chrysler said, noting an an 8 x 4-foot piece of plywood could fit into its cabin.
And you can keep it all clean with a Stow 'n Vac integrated vacuum built into the minivan.
The minivan will be available in six styles and 10 colors. It will also have the option of a tri-panel, panoramic sunroof, with dual-pane pane panoramic sunroof and fixed glass pane over the third row.
The Pacifica will showcase much of the latest safety technology, such as forward-collision warning with braking, lane-departure warning, adaptive cruise control and blind-spot monitoring.
With the Pacifica, Chrysler is reentering a segment that has declined significantly over recent years.
However, the lines of the minivan and SUV segments have also been blurred by the advent of compact sport utility vehicles, or CUVs. These CUVs, which continue to be hot sellers in the U.S., are typically built on car platforms, get higher gas mileage and are often all-wheel drive.
It will be interesting to see how Chrysler's latest minivan fits into this modern sales landscape.
"Chrysler invented the minivan category and still holds substantial market share in this shrinking category," said Karl Brauer, senior analyst with Kelley Blue Book. "The company also needs to up its game in the alternative energy field. The new Pacifica leverages Chrysler's minivan history with a forward-looking plug-in hybrid, giving the brand a much-needed shot in the arm."
The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is being built at FCA's Windsor Assembly Plant in Windsor, Ontario. It's set to arrive at dealerships in spring 2016. Pricing has not yet been announced
More coverage of unveilings taking place this week at the auto show is available <a href="http://topics.mlive.com/tag/naias-16/">here</a>.
Now in its 28th year, more than 40 new cars and trucks are expected to be unveiled at the 2016 NAIAS. The show runs Jan. 11-24 in Detroit. Press preview days are Jan. 11-12, followed by industry preview Jan. 13-14 and a charity preview on Jan. 15.
The show will be open to the public Jan. 16-24. More than 750 vehicles will be on display, and some 800,000 attendees are expected to pass through the Cobo Center's doors for the event. Tickets to the 2016 public show days are $7 for senior citizens and children between 7-12 years old; $13 for adults; and free for children 6 and under. For more information on tickets, visit naias.com.
David Muller is the automotive and business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at dmuller@mlive.com, follow him on Twitter or find him on Facebook.