2011MY Chrysler Town & Country Pricing Released, Starts at $30,995

Chrysler states that its refreshed 2011 Town & Country "delivers great American design, innovative technology and unparalleled functionality, all at surprising value". Well, we'll you be the judge of that, but for now we can tell you that the facelifted minivan will soon hit U.S. dealerships in three trim levels (Touring, Touring L and Limited) and prices starting from $30,995, including the $835 destination fee.

We'll remind you that Chrysler has thoroughly updated the minivan with some fresh styling cues, a redesigned suspension, a new 3.6-liter V6 Pentastar engine rated at 283 hp (211 kW), and an improved Stow 'n Go seating system.

The 2011 Town & Country features new equipment as well, such as the heated steering wheel, super center console (for first- and second-row passengers), a fuel economizer that promises to better efficiency and a Stow 'n Place roof rack, which allows roof bows to be stored in the rails when not in use.

By Csaba Daradics

The starting U.S. Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) for each trim model is:

Chrysler Town & Country Touring: $30,995 (including $835 destination)

Chrysler Town & Country Touring L: $32,995 (including $835 destination)

Chrysler Town & Country Limited: $39,495 (including $835 destination)

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Pentastar V6 to Find its Way Into 13 Models Across the Chrysler Group Range, Including 2011 Challenger

The Chrysler Group's new Pentastar V6 gasoline engine will either replace current six-cylinder units or be introduced for the first time on a total of 13 vehicles across the Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep range by 2013, the company announced this week.

The 3.6-liter V6 unit will be offered with different levels of output, the most powerful [for now] iteration being the one fitted on the upcoming 2011 Dodge Challenger, which will be rated at 305 bhp at 6,350 rpm and 268 lb.ft. at 4,800 rpm, representing a 55 horsepower increase over the previous 3.5-liter V6.

On the new Jeep Grand Cherokee, the Pentastar V6 produces 290HP, while on the forthcoming 2011 Dodge Avenger, and Chrysler 200 sedan and Town & Country minivan, it will deliver 283HP. The soon-to-be-launched 2011 Dodge Charger will feature a 292-horsepower variant of the 3.6-liter V6. Other models to get the Pentastar V6 include the new Dodge Durango and Journey.

According to Chrysler, the new Pentastar V6 is not only more and fuel efficient than the six-cylinder engines it replaces, but is also significantly lighter. For example, the new 3.6L V6 is 94 lbs. lighter than the 3.7-liter engine it replaced in Jeep Grand Cherokee and 42 lbs. less than the 3.5-liter it replaces on the Chrysler 300.

"The Pentastar engine is suited to meet the requirements for a full range of vehicle applications in terms of power and fuel efficiency (average savings up to 7 percent across the model range) including passenger cars, mini-vans and sport utilities," said Bob Lee, vice president of engine engineering for Chrysler Group LLC.

"It has been designed for today and many years to come. Already, we are looking forward to adapting future technologies as they become available to the Pentastar V-6 for even more fuel efficiency and performance."

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2011 Chrysler Town & Country Minivan Refreshed and Powered by New 283HP Pentastar V6

These are the first official photos of the 2011MY Chrysler Town & Country minivan that has been facelifted to entice more buyers away from the likes of the Honda Odyssey and Toyota Sienna people carriers. Key changes include some subtle cosmetic tweaks on the outside, a refreshed interior boasting higher quality materials, improved driving dynamics and a new Pentastar V6 engine.

The updated Town & Country gets Chrysler's newly styled and smaller in size corporate grille along with redesigned front and rear bumpers, a resculptured hood, new tail lamps and a reworked tail gate featuring the firm's new badge and a chrome strip that runs the full width of the car.

Interior revisions include the newly designed instrument panel and steering wheel with integrated controls that allow the driver to operate the radio, cruise control, hands-free phone and other vehicle function, plus a new heating and cooling control system. Chrysler says it has also upgraded the cloth and leather seating materials and added new "soft touch" plastics on the door panels.

Under the hood, the biggest change for the 2011 model is the addition of the Chrysler Group's new Pentastar V6 engine mated to a six-speed automatic transmission. The 3.6-liter unit produces 283HP and 260 lb.-ft. of torque achieving an estimated EPA fuel economy rating of 17mpg in the city and 25 mpg on the highway.

That's compared with the previous 197HP 3.3-liter and 230HP 3.8-liter and V6 units on the 2010MY Town & Country, which returned 17/24mpg and 16/23mpg respectively.

The automaker said that the 2011MY people carrier also benefits from improvements to the driving dynamics, a new fuel economizer mode that helps maximize fuel economy and reductions in noise, vibration and harshness plus equipment upgrades.

Built at the Windsor Assembly Plant, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, Chrysler's revamped minivan will arrive in U.S. showrooms in the fourth quarter 2010.

Volkswagen USA Recalling Almost 16,000 Routan Minivans for Fire Hazard

Yep, it's another recall for a possible fire danger - the fourth this month after General Motors, BMW and Chrysler issued recalls on certain models for (unrelated in the first two cases) problems that could lead to a fire.

In Volkswagen's case, the German automaker is recalling a total of 15,902 Routan minivans manufactured from June 2008 through July 2009 because the door hinge on some models could tear through wire insulation, causing a short circuit and possible fire.

The same issue led Chrysler to announce a recall for 284,831 Dodge Grand Caravans and Chrysler Town & Country minivans (upon which the Routan is based) in the beginning of the month.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said that the German automaker will inspect the wire assembly and the sliding door power drive unit, and if necessary, repair and/or replace any damaged parts. In addition, the two harnesses will be tied together and rerouted under the under the sliding door weather strip.

New Chrysler Town & Country Walter P. Chrysler Signature Series Special

Joining the new 300 S6 and S8 in Chrysler's 2010MY lineup is the special edition Town and Country Walter P. Chrysler Signature Series. Equipped with a 3.8-liter V6 engine features several upgrades included a more luxurious interior with seating and trim combinations in Dark Slate Gray and Light Shale finished with French-seamed stitching, unique Macassar Range wood trim and satin finishes on the instrument panel and doors.

On the outside, the special edition model gains an available Deep Cherry Red Pearl Coat exterior paint, unique seven-spoke 17-inch alloy wheels, chromed belt, fascia accents and body-side moldings, roof rack with cross bars and "Walter P. Chrysler Signature Series" front door badging.

Pricing for the 2010 Chrysler Town & Country Walter P. Chrysler Signature Series is set at $33,365 (including $820 destination) with sales to begin in the first-quarter of 2010.