2011 Chrysler Town & Country Minivan Refreshed and Powered by New 283HP Pentastar V6

These are the first official photos of the 2011MY Chrysler Town & Country minivan that has been facelifted to entice more buyers away from the likes of the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna people carriers. Key changes include some subtle cosmetic tweaks on the outside, a refreshed interior boasting higher quality materials, improved driving dynamics and a new Pentastar V6 engine.

The updated Town & Country gets Chrysler's newly styled and smaller in size corporate grille along with redesigned front and rear bumpers, a resculptured hood, new tail lamps and a reworked tail gate featuring the firm's new badge and a chrome strip that runs the full width of the car.

Interior revisions include the newly designed instrument panel and steering wheel with integrated controls that allow the driver to operate the radio, cruise control, hands-free phone and other vehicle function, plus a new heating and cooling control system. Chrysler says it has also upgraded the cloth and leather seating materials and added new "soft touch" plastics on the door panels.

Under the hood, the biggest change for the 2011 model is the addition of the Chrysler Group's new Pentastar V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The 3.6-liter unit produces 283HP and 260 lb.-ft. of torque achieving an estimated EPA fuel economy rating of 17mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

That's compared with the previous 197HP 3.3-liter and 230HP 3.8-liter and V6 units on the 2010MY Town & Country, which returned 17/24mpg and 16/23mpg respectively.

The automaker said that the 2011MY people carrier also benefits from improvements to the driving dynamics, a new fuel economizer mode that helps maximize fuel economy and reductions in noise, vibration and harshness plus equipment upgrades.

Built at the Windsor Assembly Plant, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Chrysler's revamped minivan will arrive in U.S. showrooms in the fourth quarter 2010.

Chrysler and EPA Working on Hydraulic Hybrid System for Passenger Cars [with Video]

Chrysler and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a new partnership to explore the possibility of adapting the EPA's hydraulic hybrid system for passenger cars and light-duty vehicles. Developed by the EPA, the hydraulic hybrid system is currently used in industrial applications, including large delivery trucks and refuse trucks, but Chrysler, keen on developing a new portfolio of hybrid vehicles, wants to adopt it for use on passenger vehicles.

“The EPA and Chrysler are working together to explore the possibilities for making this technology affordable and accessible to drivers everywhere," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "This partnership is further proof that we can preserve our climate, protect our health and strengthen our economy all at the same time”.

The focus will be on adapting the technology to a Chrysler Town & Country minivan powered by a 2.4-liter 4-cylinder gasoline engine. The hydraulic system includes a 117 cc engine pump, a 45 cc drive electric motor and 2-speed automatic transmission, with an additional 14.4-gallon high-pressure accumulator storing the fluid for the system.

Power is produced as the engine torque drives the hydraulic pump, which, in term, charges the accumulator up to 5,000 psi. The pressure energy is then directed through the axle hydraulic motor to the driven wheels. As long as there’s enough pressure, the thermal engine remains off, thus reducing fuel consumption.

“In this hydraulic hybrid project, the Chrysler Group and EPA will evaluate and, hopefully, validate fuel-efficiency gains and greenhouse gas reductions”, Marchionne said. “One of the aims of Chrysler Group’s integration efforts will be to meet driver expectations for smooth and quiet operation, so that Americans will want to buy and will enjoy driving vehicles with this technology”.

Chrysler and the EPA plan to have a running demonstration vehicle by 2012. The automaker also announced that it would introduce 150 Ram 1500 trucks with a plug-in hybrid system in the near future, as part of a project with the U. S. Department of Transportation.

The video below shows an industrial application of the hydraulic hybrid system.

Lancia to Unveil Chrysler 200-based Model at Geneva Show, may name it Flavia

*The above image is a Carscoop illustration

It appears that all those the rumors regarding future Lancia models are true as the Italian automaker is gearing up for this year’s Geneva Auto Show with several new additions to its line-up.At the Detroit Motor Show, Fiat Group execs revealed that along with the Chrysler 300-based Thema flagship, Lancia will also unveil its own version of the Chrysler 200. The mid-size model will be offered in both sedan and convertible body styles, and is destined to replace the Sebring in the European market.

“The new Chrysler 200 will come – cabriolet included – to Europe as a Lancia, and Flavia is a very good hint as its possible name,” Fiat Group CEO Sergio Marchionne said on the sidelines of the 2011 Detroit Auto Show.

It is believed that Lancia's version of the Chrysler 200 will feature only a few minor styling tweaks over its American counterpart including a unique grille and Euro-spec bumpers. However, Lancia-Chrysler CEO Olivier Francois told reporters that the Lancia model will gain a manual transmission and a diesel option.

The Chrysler...ization of Lancia will continue with a Town and Country/Voyager-based minivan that will go on sale in 2011 together with the Thema, followed by the 200-based sedan in early 2012.

The Italian company said it hopes the three Chrysler-based models will give Lancia an image boost and generate higher profit margins, as they’re going to be positioned above the Delta, currently the company’s largest offering.

Last but not least, the Geneva Show will mark the debut of the Ypsilon replacement that will hit showrooms in June. Offered for the first time in a 5-door version, Lancia plans to sell 130,000 units a year of the new Ypsilon and boost overall sales to 300,000 vehicles in 2014 from 112,000 in 2009.

Chrysler and Volkswagen Issue Massive Recalls on Separate Issues

Chrysler and Volkswagen have issued massive recalls, affecting a combined total of almost 600,000 vehicles. The American automaker is recalling 367,350-2008MY Chrysler Town and Country/Dodge Caravan MPVs, while Wolfsburg’s finest will notify 228,236 owners of Golf, Jetta sedan, Jetta Sportwagen, New Beetle and Rabbit models, manufactured between 2006 and 2010 that their vehicles are being called in.

According to the NHTSA report, certain variants of the Chrysler-built people carriers may experience a water leak at the heating and air conditioner drain grommet, which, eventually, can lead to inadvertently deployed airbags.

Chrysler dealers will replace the faulty part free of charge, starting from February 2011. Owners may contact the automaker at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled Jetta, Jetta Sportwagen, Golf and Rabbit models may have a small plastic tab on the windshield washer fluid reservoir that may chafe against a fuel supply line. New Beetles equipped with the 2.5-liter engine may have a fastening clamp on a hydraulic hose that may also chafe against a fuel supply line. The worst-case scenario is that the affected vehicles can catch on fire, due to a potential fuel leak.

Depending on the model, Volkswagen service personnel will either remove the plastic tab from the washer fluid reservoir or adjust the fastening clamp’s position.

The safety recall is expected to begin on or before January 31, 2011. The German manufacturer can be contacted at 1-800-822-8987.