Report: Chrysler Town & Country to Add Open 'n Go Doors, 9-Speed Auto
New minivan should launch early next year.
One of the many updates for the new 2017 Chrysler Town & Country is the addition of an "Open 'n Go" feature for the liftgate and sliding doors. According toAutomotive News, the new feature will allow minivan owners to open a door by waving their foot under it -- a feature employed by several other automakers to open trunks and liftgates.
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The 2017 Chrysler Town & Country will also use a 9-speed automatic transmission with an updated version of its 3.6-liter V-6 engine,ANreports, which should significantly boost fuel economy compared to today's 6-speed automatic transmission. The new Town & Country is likely to debut at the 2016 Detroit auto show in January; Chrysler previously showed the minivan launching in early 2016 on its five-year plan slides.
ANreports that two electrified versions of the 2017 Chrysler Town & Country will be offered. An all-wheel-drive model will use an electric motor to power the rear wheels, while a full plug-in hybrid model will debut toward the end of 2016, as had also been confirmed earlier in Chrysler's product-planning slideshow.
Chrysler is also expected to launch a seven-passenger crossover in 2017 that will be based on the next Town & Country. Dodge, meanwhile, will kill off its version of the minivan, ending the Grand Caravan nameplate after several decades of production.
The current Chrysler Town & Country is shown.
