The Man Van: A Gender Neutral Minivan for Men?
Feb. 9, 2011— -- Can a "man van" make the minivan -- a vehicle long associated with carpools, soccer practice and unpleasant road trips -- cool again?
Chrysler is trying to do just that with its new Dodge Grand Caravan RT, unveiled today at the Chicago Auto Show.
Dodge says the minivan drives like a sports car thanks to its suspension, 283 horsepower engine and wider tires that ride a half-inch lower to the ground.
But can it shed the minivan's mommy label?
"We consider ourselves to be the inventors of minivans and feel we can change the conversation on minivans," says Ralph Gilles, chief designer and president and CEO of Dodge Brands.
Over the years, the minivan has been seen as a mommy-mobile able to provide easy access and shuttle children to ballet and swim lessons while surviving numerous types of spills.
But with the new Grand Caravan RT, Dodge has given the vehicle a makeover on everything from functionality to interior and earned itself the hip nickname "man van" because of the all-black leather interior that resembles a man cave.
Between the expected high performance and the more man-friendly design, Dodge is rebranding the Grand Caravan RT as a vehicle that can be used for tailgate parties and weekend warrior projects.
Gilles said a good friend of his who has a go-cart store and runs a dog rescue operation on the side helped inspire the design.
The "man van" takes aim at mommy mobiles and the "Swagger Wagon," the Toyota Sienna, marketed in ads featuring a hipster family rapping about the streets of the cul-de-sac in minivan.
But, the man van isn't just a marketing campaign to get daddies driving minivans.
Many elements of the Grand Caravan have changed, including the stylish look that some may find dark and claustrophobic but could serve as a vehicular sanctuary for some men.
"For so many guys the thought of a minivan is it's just not cool," says Sarah Barrand, who blogs at A Thrifty Mom. "Guys going through the dating process want that souped up sports car and then life changes, then it's not so fun lugging those car seats in a sports car."
