Chrysler minivans to get 9-speed automatics, all-wheel-drive

Chrysler’s minivan operations have been in the headlines recently, with several reports focusing on the company’s demands for large subsidies from the Canadian government, however additional details of the next-generation minivans themselves have also surfaced.

The company’s CEO, Sergio Marchionne, has reportedly confirmed that the upcoming Town & Country will switch to a new nine-speed automatic gearbox. An all-wheel-drive variant is also expected, along with improved collapsable seating and a new infotainment system, according to an Automotive News report.

The information contradicts rumors that suggested the nameplate was on the chopping block, to be replaced by a smaller crossover for the 2015 model year. Rather than dropping the offering, the company appears to be doubling down with a variety of new features and promises of improved fuel economy.

Chrysler’s head of design, Ralph Giles, acknowledged that the company has felt pressure to avoid “screwing up something we started,” after the original Town & Country helped establish the segment more than 30 years ago.

New minivans will be a central element of Chrysler’s controversial expansion proposal in Windsor, Ontario. Reports suggest the company has called for subsidies worth more than $700 million from the federal and provincial governments, with plant upgrades expected to cost more than $2 billion CAD.