Proof That Dodge is out of Ideas: The Dodge Caravan R/T Concept

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Atuoblog
Tucked away among its more pedestrian brethren was Dodge's Caravan R/T concept. We have no details on the powertrain or what else may lie beneath its skin, but the appearance changes are rather obvious. Sporting 20" forged Alcoa wheels and 245/45-20 Goodyear Eagle RS-A rubber, the fast family hauler sits just a bit lower to the ground, as well (we suggest telling your significant other that this feature makes it easier for the kids to get in and out of the vehicle). A scooped hood feeds air to whatever powerplant resides underneath, and a dual exhaust out back facilitates the removal of spent combustion gases. Inside, white-faced gages communicate information to the driver, and each occupant gets two-tone leather buckets with bright-red stitching.

We have no idea when such a vehicle might hit the showrooms, so direct your requests, complaints, and begging towards your nearest Chrysler representative.
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While it does bring back memories of the old turbo vans, this one doesn't tickle may fancy at all.

MOAR here
 
Only if it sports some SERIOUS oomph would it be worth it...

THey're out of Ideas AND money.
 
It probably cost them next to nothing to develop, and I hardly think they'll try to market it any more than the current SRT lineup, so I can't see them losing much of what they have left on this.

That said, it does bring back memories of when I learned to drive stick on a 1989 Mazda MPV AWD.
 
While on earth, are they calling it a Caravan R/T Concept, when it does not really look like a Caravan?
 
TVR&Ferrari_Fan
While on earth, are they calling it a Caravan R/T Concept, when it does not really look like a Caravan?
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Looks exactly like a Dodge Caravan to me......Unless your speaking of the word "Caravan" to describe something else...
 
Apparently some people here forgot the 80s and Dodge's turbo Caravans... It's not the first time they're trying the "hot minivan" thing.
 
As far as we know, though, this is a bodykit and big wheels. We dont' know what the engine is.
 
I...I...this is sweet as hell. I love it. I'd never own it, and I'm sure I'd hate to drive it, but it's awesome. The world really does need a balls-to-the-wall hotrod minivan. If I was married, this is what my wife would drive. Perfect.

As for the engine, it needs something retarded powerful, and AWD. Yes, AWD and well over 300 horsepower.
 
Over the past summer we were digging across the street from the Chrysler Tech Centre in Auburn Hills (look on Google Earth, Oakland's campus is right next to it) and we saw as well as heard a big mini van looking camoed vehicle circling the track. Perhaps this was it.

I'm so glad a company losing it's ass is making a performance mini van though, I'm sure the investors are just happy as clams for that. Oh well, maybe it will sell.
 
I doubt it would have cost Chrysler much to develop it. I mean, a dress up body kit, new suspension and rims, and an existing engine from one of their other cars would have cost them virtually nothing over the standard Caravan.

(I still think of once of these
images
everytime I hear that name)

If they can sell it for $3000+ over a standard Caravan, I'm sure they'll make a profit on every one they sell. Plus it gives the range a halo vehicle to draw in other sales.

It worked for the RAM SRT-10 and who thought the world needed a V-10 pick-up?!?
 
Not THIS broke. That "K" platform saved their butts in those days, because of it's unique packaging and fuel effiecency.

and, you've gotta admit, they were doing damn good in the '60s and '50s, with their original Firepower Hemis, forward-thinking engineering, and the like. I mean, they put a bullet nose resembling a Shinkansen and a wing that'd put a rich 16-year-old's Civic to shame on their midsize (Today's fullsize) car, and it ended up having a slightly lower Cd than a PRIUS. Not to mention, it hit 200MPH when NASCAR cars were actually based on stock cars!

If this van makes over 300HP, it's a good idea. If it's a bodykit and SRT-8 wheels for the pedestrian 4.0L Grand Caravan, well, EPIC FAIL.
 
They had another similar concept like this back in the 90s, except the old Caravan looked much more flamboyant with its bigger parts, and garish yellow wheels 'complemented' the package.

If there is a point to a hot-rod SUV, then surely there has to be purpose, however scant it may appear to be, in such a creation. Italdesign saw it with their Columbus.

I am sad to relate this to the new Avenger, with a piddly 173hp in a dense chassis... it doesn't look at all that aerodynamic to start. Any performance may be hampered here.
 
Gashlycrumb
It worked for the RAM SRT-10 and who thought the world needed a V-10 pick-up?!?
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We (Americans) did. We had V10 pickups long before the SRT-10 Ram existed...

As a matter of fact, that V10 thats in the Viper was a (Ram) truck engine long before it found its way into America's "second sportscar."


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Give the van 300 BHP, AWD, and an auto-stick gearbox and they'd be an interesting buy. Thing is, Chrysler has to develop the powertrain first. I wonder if the 5.7L HEMI and the AWD system from the Charger/Magnum would fit in...
 
YSSMAN
I wonder if the 5.7L HEMI and the AWD system from the Charger/Magnum would fit in...
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Please please please don't even think about it. They could just turbo the exsisting engine and shove an AWD drivetrain in it and it would be enough to warrany an SRT or the R/T tag. Don't take the new HEMI engines and shove them in everything...I call that the GM syndrome.
 
Out of ideas, or just full of bad ones? :p j/k

And I wouldn't worry about Dodge not being able to sell it. They'll all eventually sellout with the gigantic rebates and dealer discounts.
 
JCE
Please please please don't even think about it. They could just turbo the exsisting engine and shove an AWD drivetrain in it and it would be enough to warrany an SRT or the R/T tag. Don't take the new HEMI engines and shove them in everything...I call that the GM syndrome.
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Lolzasaurus!

I'd estimate that the use of the 4.0L V6 with the addition of direct-injection could easily edge into the 300 BHP range, maybe even more. Do that, Chrysler. Of course, you are "operationally bankrupt," so there is only so much that can be done...
 
I don't even want to imagine a world with a mad sport Minivan. Yuck. That'd be like an SVT Ford E-series with the supercharger from the GT500 stuffed on the 5.4L V8. Pointless...unless you paint the A-Team red stripe ontop of the black exterior color and add that brush guard and spoiler with some red wheels. :D
 
Well, we did have the Mercedes R-Class...and I rather liked that, though it could've used bigger, sliding doors.
 
The R-class is actually quite nice. I actually like it quite a bit. Especially if there was a special AMG model with the 6.2L V8.
 
I actually laugh at people who drive R-Classes. There is no worse financial decision you can make than a one hundred thousand dollar minivan.
 
JCE
I don't even want to imagine a world with a mad sport Minivan. Yuck. That'd be like an SVT Ford E-series with the supercharger from the GT500 stuffed on the 5.4L V8. Pointless...unless you paint the A-Team red stripe ontop of the black exterior color and add that brush guard and spoiler with some red wheels. :D
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I'd actually buy that.:D
 

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