Detroit Trucks Make Room for the ‘Man Van’
Detroit trucks are about as tough and rugged as vehicles can get, but could those who favor the robust power of a truck be overcome with the desire to buy a minivan? Chrysler apparently thinks so.
According to a recent article from the Wall Street Journal, Chrysler plans to unveil, or in this case, unleash the beast that is to be known as “Man Van.
The Wall Street Journal reports information from several dealers who said they were told by Chrysler about the planned testosterone-infused minivan, a package option intended to erase any soccer-mom stigma from its male buyers’ minds.
The dealers told the Wall Street Journal the man van will probably take inspiration from the Grand Caravan R/T, which was first seen by the public at the Detroit North American International Auto Show. The eyeball-searing bright orangey-red minivan featured black leather interior, a hood scoop, custom rear spoiler and performance seats. Performance seats? Really? Does Chrysler have a wicked sense of irony?
When it comes down to it, fold flat seats do make for a convenient cargo loading experience, but would the man van get “props” at Home Depot? Marketing behind minivans is definitely leaning more toward self-acceptance – take the Toyota “Swagger Wagon” as an example – so if Dodge can successfully market the minivan as well as handbag designers have marketed the ‘man bag,’ maybe the man van would stand a chance in some areas of the US.
But will those driving Detroit trucks be compelled enough to switch to the man van? Somehow, we highly doubt it.
Chrysler, however, thinks it can convince enough people driving Detroit trucks and other non-minivan vehicles to man up, and minivan out. We’ll wait and see if people start buying them from Michigan Chrysler dealers and elsewhere in the nation.
[Source: Wall Street Journal]
[...] Detroit trucks are about as tough and rugged as vehicles can get, but could those who favor the robust power of a truck be overcome with the desire to buy a minivan? Chrysler apparently thinks so. [...]