The Chrysler Group has halted development of the next-generation Pacifica crossover, code-named “CT” for the 2009 model year, according to a report by the Detroit Free Press.
Three suppliers say they’ve stopped work on the new vehicle. “I haven’t heard it directly [from Chrysler], but they have stopped all work in the past few weeks,” said market analyst Joe Langley from CSM Worldwide. “Usually when that happens, the vehicle is eventually cancelled. [...] But I can’t imagine Chrysler not having a flagship [crossover].”
“We’ve been hearing that they’re taking a second look at everything,” said Rick LaPorte, second vice president at Canadian Auto Workers union local 444 in Windsor, where Chrysler builds the Pacifica. “I believe they’re looking at whether to even continue to make [the Pacifica replacement].”
11/08, 10:42 AM
posted by:
Stuart
Scrap the sebring with it and bring a new smaller looking 300c in its place
11/08, 11:25 AM
posted by:
dl_caldwell
Our family has been in the market for a vehicle like this for a while. I found the Pacifica to be the most comfortable and convenient of the current crop of crossovers. HOWEVER, its crummy engine/transmission together with a poor reliability record and dismal warranty make it uncompetitive.
In 2007 they are supposed to fix the engine and transmission. Make it reliable and give it a decent warranty and we’ll talk.
–Dave
11/08, 11:46 AM
posted by:
bepsf
Chrysler has always had issues w/ their minivan drivetrains – dont hold your breath, Dave…
I think these don’t sell ’cause a) DCX already has a huge crop of minivans that are cheaper and have stow & go, b) Pacifica isn’t that exciting to look at, and c) the gas mileage should be better than the larger minivans.
Maybe if they went a size-class down, say spin it off the Sebring platform a-la-Edge and give it a brawny 300-esque grille, they might have something worth looking at…
11/08, 11:53 AM
posted by:
johnnyangelb
Hmmm… I don’t really understand this. It seems as if Chrysler lately is going against the automotive trends. You would think they would build upon the good points of the Pacifica and improve that bad… the second version is bound to be better than the first. Well… maybe not. Chrysler’s interiors aren’t improving (the Pacifica’s current interior is pretty nice too), and their designs are getting busy and sometimes downright ugly IMO. Anyways, I like the Pacifica and I think with some tweaking it could be a hit for Chrysler.
11/08, 12:04 PM
posted by:
Brendino
What they’ll probably do is share a platform with the next-gen 300 instead to make a new crossover.
11/08, 12:17 PM
posted by:
A4
stretch the caliber and slap a chrysler badge on it
thats what ford would do
haaaha
11/08, 3:12 PM
posted by:
cknoff
This is a rather surprising development. Chrysler was the first on the scene with a large crossover like this, and has a pretty big advantage on the copycats starting to show up. Maybe someone is just confused about what’s going on.
11/08, 4:02 PM
posted by:
Scott Kempton
This news sounds rather ominous, considering the report a week or two ago that Daimler/Chrysler was considering selling off Chrysler. In my opinion, the last really exciting thing Chrysler introduced was the 300/Charger/Magnum, and it’s been two years since that happened. Chrysler seems to have lost its mojo.
11/08, 6:19 PM
posted by:
lanapat7
Chrysler has the Aspen that directly competes with the Pacifica and are in the same price range.
I know they are based in completely different architecture but maybe they are containing costs as a result of their financial losses.
11/08, 6:54 PM
posted by:
Bobzooki
Even the Hyundai Veracruz will be better than this piece of crap. Is Mercedes-Benz planning on dumping Chrysler?
11/08, 7:22 PM
posted by:
LamborghiniZ
The Pacifica has sold extremely well, I think they should make a second generation, it just needs to be significantly updated/new. That’s what’s key.
11/08, 7:23 PM
posted by:
A4
^ and less ugly…
11/08, 8:35 PM
posted by:
theonlycamarokid
Chrysler Pacifica? I thought they stopped making that years ago, not a very popular car….
11/08, 8:58 PM
posted by:
TomF
The Pacifica didn’t launch well — at the time some commentator called it the “Gigli” of new vehicles, after the dud movie — but sales volume has picked up some since.
I don’t really understand, though, why Chrysler/Jeep throws the Pacifica, the Nitro, the Jeep Commander, the Magnum wagon, the Aspen, the Durango, and to some extent all its various minivans at the same family-hauler niche. Yes, some are trucky and some are car-ish and some are van-ish, but still, it seems like an incredible case of product mission overlap to me.
If SUVs are over, don’t they need a Pacifica successor more than most of these other dopey nameplates?
11/08, 10:51 PM
posted by:
Joey D
Good the Pacifica is aweful, my family has one and it’s been in the shop more then it’s been on the road. Only 2 years old and it’s already had rust issues, and with only 27k miles it’s already had numerous mechanical things.
11/09, 6:44 PM
posted by:
LamborghiniZ
I dont know why people are saying it didn’t sell well, I seem to see them quite a lot.
11/09, 9:18 PM
posted by:
autonutt
Maybe the Gods have looked down upon DaimlerChrysler and made them realize that trying to create a premium crossover vehicle on an existing plebian minivan platform is ridiculous.. Buick is finally dropping its similar Rendezvous and replacing it with a crossover developed on a more appropriate platform, perhaps Chrysler plans to make the next Pacifica palatable to the global market they now seem to be courting by building it on the Mercedes R-class platform instead?