All-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Named to Wards 10 Best Interiors List for 2016

After spending two months evaluating 47 vehicle nominees and scoring each based on materials, ergonomics, driver information, safety, comfort, fit-and-finish and aesthetics, the editors at WardsAuto named the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica to the Wards 10 Best Interiors List for 2016.

"The folks who put the minivan on the map in the 1980s have stunned the segment yet again with the lavishly appointed Chrysler Pacifica," said Tom Murphy, senior editor of WardsAuto. "Shoppers buy minivans out of necessity, but there are many aspects of the Pacifica they will want, such as the rich Deep Mocha leather, the groundbreaking Stow 'n Go seats, the panoramic roof and the integrated Stow 'n Vac vacuum. And the kids will clamor for the third-row seats, which recline at the touch of a button. A trip to school, hockey practice or the doctor's office will never be the same."

As the original creator of the minivan more than 30 years ago, FCA US LLC has transformed the segment with firsts - notching 78 innovations through the first five minivan generations. With the introduction of the all-new Chrysler Pacifica, FCA US adds 37 minivan firsts to its portfolio for an unprecedented total of 115 innovations in the segment.

"Loaded with comfort, convenience, technology and functionality, the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is truly a living room on wheels, delivering everything families need or want in a minivan," said Timothy Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands, FCA - North America. "Being named to the Wards 10 Best List is an honor, as well as a testament to the thoughtful design and engineering that make this no-compromises minivan the perfect combination for modern families."

When creating the interior of the all-new 2017 Chrysler Pacifica, designers sought to "make every piece like a canvas that has been painted on." The interior is horizontally drawn, emphasizing the spaciousness of the vehicle, while continuous linear elements keep the eye moving.

"Our interior and exterior designers collaborated with the extended teams to truly push the design aspects of the vehicle. As a result, we created a vehicle that offers function and beautifully integrates technology in a non-imposing way. While the exterior makes a statement, the interior seduces passengers with delightful details that are thoughtfully organized in a spacious and purposeful manner," said Ralph Gilles, Head of Design, FCA Global. "The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica was truly a labor of love and being placed on Wards 10 Best List is validation of our determination to offer customers the best."

The beautifully crafted interior of the Chrysler Pacifica mixes high-tech elements with a sculpted, muscular feel. Control elements are high-tech and modern looking, with their hard surface contrasting with the soft, sculpted look elsewhere. Outlets appear more formal, highlighted by a simple chrome ring that was designed to be thinner for an exquisite, precise feel. Bezels feature a similarly weighted accent.

Sophisticated, modern color and material trim combinations are highlighted by unique interior accents in the doors and instrument panel. These interior environments were inspired by various locations in the United States:

• Santa Monica, California: Cognac/Alloy with Liquid Titanium accents and Toffee stitching
• Soho, New York: Black/Alloy with Mineral Shiitake accents and Sepia stitching
• Sonoma County, California: Black/Alloy with Cranberry Wine accents and Cranberry Wine stitching and piping
• Santa Fe, New Mexico: Black/Deep Mocha with Liquid Titanium accents and Diesel Grey stitching and piping
• Juneau, Alaska: Black/Alloy with Anodized Ice Cave accents, Ice Blue stitching and black piping

Stitching throughout the interior adds to the handcrafted feel, while Piano Black accents with a premium-looking finish provide a touch of luxury and high tech. The tone-on-tone control knobs in the center stack feature a spun finish, reminiscent of high-end audio equipment.

The Uconnect touch screen - available as either a 5-inch or 8.4-inch - is set flush with the instrument panel for a clean, technical look. With a glossy screen surface that allows for higher contrast, the touch screen feels futuristic and in line with other modern devices, like a tablet.

In daylight, the interior is all about beauty and sculpture, with the instrument panel's defined, fluid surface at the center of it all. On upper trim levels, a stitched instrument panel adds an even higher touch of adornment. At night, the interior evokes a different emotion with a more high-tech look, with white lighting on buttons and the cluster display glowing with "Chrysler blue." Other control elements also use blue lighting, versus the traditionally used amber, for a more cohesive and technical look.

The spacious interior delivers best-in-class front-row and third-row legroom, and an available tri-pane panoramic sunroof adds to the feeling of spaciousness. With a dual-pane panoramic sunroof over the front- and second-row seats and fixed glass pane over the third row, all Chrysler Pacifica passengers can enjoy the openness and a view to the sky above.

The HVAC controls are consolidated in the headliner, running cleanly along the rails. In the rear, the HVAC controls are on the passenger side headline - a thoughtful consideration after research showed that it was the optimal position if there is only one child in the second row or during school pickup and drop-off.

Clever storage and functionality
The thoughtfully crafted interior is as functional as it is beautiful. An unsurpassed amount of storage includes a large center console, featuring spaces specifically designed to fit devices like an iPad. The bottom of the console bin is deeper than the vehicle floor for added storage space.

Other storage spaces were designed with customer needs in mind, including storage for an umbrella and sunglasses, and two bins in the rear cargo area that can each hold a gallon of milk. Even the back of the front seats adds functionality, with integrated grocery bag hooks.

The Stow 'n Go floor bins offer storage when the second-row seats are not stowed, and the enhanced Stow 'n Go system features redesigned seats for added comfort and side support. The Stow 'n Go process has been improved so that the seats fold smoothly forward into the tubs, while the addition of the all-new Stow 'n Go Assist feature helps to further simplify the process. With the press of a button on the B-pillar, the front seat moves forward to allow the second-row seat to be stowed. Pressing the button again moves the front seat back to its starting position. In addition, the Easy Tilt second-row seats allow for easy access to the third row, even with an empty child seat installed in the second row.

The Pacifica's seating delivers even more functionality with the addition of the available eight-passenger seating. The lightweight, removable eighth-passenger seat fits in between the existing second-row seats and functions as a large second-row armrest with cupholders when not in use.

For quick cleanup, the Stow 'n Vac integrated vacuum, powered by RIDGID, is the highest powered in-vehicle vacuum in the market, and is located in the C-pillar trim area for easy access to all corners of the vehicle.

About Chrysler Brand
The Chrysler brand has delighted customers with distinctive designs, craftsmanship, intuitive innovation and technology all at an extraordinary value since the company was founded in 1925.

Whether it is the family-room-on-wheels functionality of the all-new Chrysler Pacifica minivan, the groundbreaking, bold design of the Chrysler 300, or the simple elegance and extraordinary driving experience of the Chrysler 200, Chrysler brand vehicles reward the passion, creativity and sense of accomplishment of its owners. Beyond just exceptionally designed vehicles, the Chrysler brand has incorporated thoughtful features into all of its products, such as the innovative center console with pass through storage and sliding cup holders in the Chrysler 200, the industry-exclusive Stow 'n Go® seating and storage system on the Chrysler Pacifica and the fuel-saving Fuel Saver Technology in the Chrysler 300.

The Chrysler brand's succession of innovative product introductions continues to solidify the brand's standing as the leader in design, engineering and value. The premium for the Chrysler brand is in the product, not the price.

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Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160414/355390

SOURCE FCA US LLC

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