SPY PHOTOS: New Chrysler Caravan

Chrysler sells huge numbers of its minivans, the Chrysler Town & Country and Dodge Caravan. So with this big profit maker being due for redesign, you can bet Chrysler is going all out to pack the new vans with upscale quality and new features to compete favorably with not only other US made minivans, but with such tough competitors as the Toyota Sienna and Honda Odyssey.

These prototype photos, taken just recently in the US southwest, show the next generation Chrysler Town & Country minivan under test. Even a quick glance shows that the body is all new, not just a restyling. Overall shape is much more boxy and flat sided than the rounded styling of the current model.

The front grille and headlights, somewhat visible despite the front end disguise, show styling very much like the Chrysler Pacifica, with a bold, broad grille and projector beam headlights.

A full frame around the windows on the sliding side doors indicates that these windows can be opened, a feature recently introduced on several competing minivans. The windshield appears more slanted back for reduced aerodynamic drag. The front end appears to be somewhat higher than before, possibly to comply with new pedestrian impact standards which are now being applied in Europe.

It is expected that Chrysler will debut its newly styled minivans at the Detroit Auto Show in early 2007, but it won’t go on sale until late 2007 for the 2008 model year.