The all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid looks to give owners more trips to the store, school and family events, with fewer trips to the gas station.
The new minivan, introduced today at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit, is a hybrid version of the gas-powered Pacifica and can travel an estimated 30 miles of all-electric range.
This pure electric range fits into the “family lifestyle where you are running back and forth,” said lead engineer Jessica LaFond. “Many times you will never even fill up.”
Chrysler’s hybrid version of the Pacifica will be available in the second half of 2016 and has about a 30-mile all-electric range. When the battery is depleted, the Pacifica will use the new version of the Pentastar 3.6-liter V-6 engine, which is expected to give the minivan an efficiency rating of 80 miles per gallon equivalent in city driving.
This makes the Pacifica the first minivan, to be available with an electrified hybrid model. It will be available in the second half of 2016.
Chrysler engineers utilized the unique design of the Pacifica to create the hybrid model by placing the 16-kWh lithium-ion battery pack under the floor in the second row Stow `n Go bins – meaning that the minivan’s nearly 200 cubic feet of cargo space is not compromised.
This battery powers the patented dual-motor electrically variable transmission to drive the vehicle’s wheels.
When the minivan’s batteries need to be recharged, it will charge in less than two hours through an exterior charge port on the driver’s side fender.
Deceleration also turns the motor into a generator, which creates electricity to send back to the battery pack.
The Pacifica Hybrid is available in an exclusive Silver Teal Pearl Coat exterior color, and features a unique grille that has a high-tech look. The Pacifica Hybrid is also differentiated by unique badging and unique wheels, with a two-tone appearance featuring a dark center and bright face.
With new interior options, safety features, and the availability of a hybrid, the all-new Pacifica changes the image of the minivan for consumers and the market.
“(The Pacifica) is a completely different vehicle from its predecessor,” said Bruce Velisek, Director, Chrysler Brand Product Marketing, FCA US.
Click here to see more photos of the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica.