Canada will get two models of minivans for 2001-the Dodge Caravan and the Chrysler Town & Country. The Voyager name survived the execution of the Plymouth brand last year, but only in the U.S. where it will turn up wearing a Chrysler badge.
Dodge Caravan SE, which is a short-wheelbase model, will be the lowest-priced model in Canada, arriving this fall from the St. Louis, Missouri, plant with a sticker of $26,395.
That model is powered by the 2.4-litre inline-4 that sends 150 horsepower at 5200 rpm and 167 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm through its 3-speed automatic transmission to the front wheels. There's an optional 3.3-litre V6 with a 4-speed automatic, which develops 180 horsepower at 5000 rpm and 210 pound-feet of torque at 4000 rpm.
Standard features on the Caravan SE include air conditioning, dual folding mirrors, intermittent wipers front and rear, tinted glass, a cargo net, an AM/FM cassette stereo with four speakers, and 15-inch wheels.
Upscale from the SE is the Sport, which is also a short-wheelbase model and which will carry an MSRP of $28,700. For that, the car comes with the 3.3-litre engine and such as extra amenities as a 6-speaker sound system, power door locks, a power convenience group, four-wheel ABS, and a deluxe cloth interior.
In the long-wheelbase Grand Caravan models, pricing begins at $29,505 for the Sport model. This price includes the 3.3-litre V6 and 4-speed automatic, manual air conditioning, and 15-inch wheels.
The Grand Caravan Sport ES at $37,600 gets the power sliding door, bodyside moldings, better seats, a 10-speaker CD/cassette sound system, and the optional 3.8-liter V6, at 215 horsepower and 245 pound-feet of torque.