Minivan

From Freepedia

The word Minivan was also used in Britain, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, to refer to the van version of the Mini — a very small two seater van.
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A minivan, or people carrier (British English), is a type of vehicle (considered an Multi Purpose Vehicle in Europe) developed independently by Matra/Renault and the Chrysler Corporation. It is higher than normal sedans, compacts and station wagons, and is designed to increase interior room, featuring often three seat rows.

Contents

History

It was launched simultaneously by Renault (Renault Espace) and Chrysler (Dodge Caravan) in 1984, consisting of a smaller van unibody structure without an automobile frame. The target market for this vehicle was families living in suburban areas. This vehicle was a cross between the station wagon and the large work vans that people would customize for passenger travel. It came at a time when families wanted a different vehicle that didn't have the stigma of the station wagon era of their parents. They also wanted better fuel economy than that of the big V8 powered station wagons/vans of the previous generation.

The minivan also offered another change from the large van or the station wagon: front wheel drive, usually found only on smaller automobiles. This made for easier assembly of the vehicle, and allowed for more cargo/passenger area along the floor with the absence of the drive shaft hump. Minivans typically have removable seats and with the seats removed, the cargo area in the larger minivans can hold a 4'x8' sheet of drywall or plywood flat.

In the USA, in order for the style of minivan to circumvent the 1980s emission standards, the minivan had to be classified as a truck and could not have four doors like a car. The first minivans were three door configurations with a sliding curbside door.

These early minivans came with four-cylinder motors, which although they were more efficient, were not able to meet the life span of bigger engines. It was common to require major engine repairs on the four cylinder motors. The vehicles were also extremely sluggish when these small engines were paired with hydraulic automatic transmissions. Later six cylinder motors were offered and have become a standard choice by purchasers who plan to operate the vehicle for many years. Minivans are also notorious for having problems with their transaxles.

Current models

Modern minivans are now very similar to station wagons except they have a higher profile. Also, their hood is shorter, as they have more vertical room. Current models have two sliding doors, or normal doors if they are compact minivans. All minivans sold in America have sliding doors, with the exception of the first-generation Mazda MPV, Honda Odyssey and Isuzu Oasis.

Today, many minivan manufacturers, including Ford, GM, and DaimlerChrysler offer their minivans as cargo vans rather than passenger vans. These cargo vans are usually available only through fleet sales.

Public image

Minivans have a reputation for poor maneuverability and performance in comparison with other types of vehicles. They are also the vehicle of choice for large suburban families. Minivans have been mocked for those attributes by the media.

Minivan examples

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