Press Kit: 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan Reveal

The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan sports an all-new exterior and interior design that updates the classic minivan, giving it a contemporary profile with a thoughtful, tailored interior.

A more contemporary style with sheer, clean lines and an athletic stance is evident for 2008, along with distinctive design cues that make the Dodge Grand Caravan unmistakably a Dodge.

“The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan has grown up to reflect a contemporary, athletic style for today’s active families,” said Trevor Creed, Senior Vice President – Design, Chrysler Group. “Dodge offers upscale design cues without compromising the Dodge brand values of a bold, powerful, exciting and durable vehicle.”

The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan’s sportier exterior includes the distinctive crosshair grille on its chiseled front end. Design cues that are more contemporary in nature include clean, sheer lines; streamlined, leaner pillars; aerodynamic mirrors; wheel forms that that go all the way to the bottom of the bodyside; a new body-to-glass proportion similar to the Dodge Charger; and a more settled appearance on the road.

To achieve more interior roominess, the Dodge Grand Caravan designers widened the roof by six inches, lowered the Daylight Opening (DLO) drip line, gave the beltline more rake and lowered and pulled out the sill to create a better relationship with the tires. The tire size also was increased an inch, and the wheels were given a five-spoke design for an athletic feel. The wider roof adds interior head and shoulder room, and the lowered DLO helps achieve the new Charger-like glass-to-body proportion. These design cues result in a Dodge minivan that trades the familiar elliptical shape for one that is contemporary and sheer, with a protective look and athletic stance not previously seen in a Dodge Grand Caravan.

“But minivan design is truly about the interior,” said Creed. “And the 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan offers an updated contemporary style inside, as well as outside.”

A modern look is created with a clean interior execution that adds more functionality than before. Sleeker pillars, clean interior lines and satin silver accents add to the feeling of spaciousness that was created by increasing the vehicle’s head and shoulder room.

With 35 new or improved features, no detail was overlooked to create a vehicle that functions well for numerous lifestyles.

Available ambient lighting emits a soft, green glow that radiates from the overhead console, while movable, pinpoint LED reading lamps allow passengers to read, play games or work at night without interfering with the driver.

Full-length map pockets illuminated with ambient light are another example of functionality being maximized in the new minivans, while the rear compartment also was designed with flexibility in mind. A functional front console with removable, dishwasher-safe cup holders, dual glove boxes with the largest amount of glove box storage in the segment, three distinct seating and storage systems and 13 cup or bottle holders offer a place for everything.

The 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan is available in the following eight exterior colors: Marathon Blue, Sunburst Orange, Inferno Red, Light Sandstone Metallic, Bright Silver Metallic, Modern Blue, Brilliant Black Metallic and Stone White.

Interior colors are Medium Pebble Beige and Dark Slate Gray.