Production Begins In Windsor For 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid Minivan

Photo Credit: Chris Nagy

Purposed to be the choice family shuttle heading into 2017, the Chrysler Pacifica premiered less than a year ago at North American International Auto Show in Detroit centered on rising the bar for comfort, practicality and advanced technology, Advertised as a vehicle with 40 firsts in the minivan category, the 2017 Pacifica's momentous roll-out is bolstered by remarkable available equipment such as Forward Collision Warning-Plus, hands-free sliding door and liftgate opening, a Stow 'n Vac integrated vacuum supplied RIDGID and a rear seat Uconnect Theater entertainment suite consisting of internet-enabled 10-inch touchscreens that can be used to play built-in games. In addition to innovations made in the name of safety and comfort for the new Chrysler minivan, the Pacifica would be the first Fiat Chrysler Automobiles product sold in North America with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.

Featuring a modified version of the 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 engine operating on an Atkinson cycle combustion configuration, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid will run short distances on electric battery power. A two-motor electric propulsion layout is fed by the energy stored in a 16-kWh lithium-ion battery providing the minivan with a 33-mile (53-kilometer) driving range. Through a 240-volt charging source, the 2017 Pacifica Hybrid's battery can fully charge in just two hours. In justifying the electric range of the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, Head of Passenger Car Brands, Dodge, SRT, Chrysler and Fiat, FCA - North America Tim Kuniskis says, “Minivan drivers travel an average of around 48 kilometres each day, meaning that most Pacifica Hybrid owners will be able to complete their daily activities solely on electric power,”

This past week, the first of its kind plug-in hybrid minivan made a historic final journey in Windsor, Ontario. On December 1st, the first Chrysler Pacifica fitted with the plug-in hybrid powertrain was assembled by the workers at FCA's Windsor Assembly Plant. Under the guidance of 5,900 skilled hands of automotive workers, production commencement of the electrified family mover comes after 33 years of Canadian manufacturing of minivans within the complex. To accommodate the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica and Pacfica Hybrid, FCA invested more than 1 billion Canadian dollars in upgrading the Windsor facility. The construction of the first Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid model in the last month of 2016 appears slightly off the automaker's initial timetable. In the press release for the minivan, the plug-in hybrid version of the Pacifica was slated to arrive in showrooms within the second half of 2016.

In Canada, the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid's pricing will start at $56,495. However, the electric/gasoline plug-in hybrid powertrain provides additional savings through the government through provincial credits. A price reduction up to $14,000 is offered through the Ontario Electric Vehicle Incentive Program. Electrified vehicle incentives in the province of Quebec and British Columbia also allow the final price to drop below the $50,000-range.

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