The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is all new from the ground up, and lighter from bumper to bumper.
2017 Chrysler Pacifica Touring-L Plus
Designers of the minivan cut nearly 250 pounds from the new model, making it lighter than its predecessor while offering improved comfort, space and features to customers.
This innovative reduction in weight helped the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica win the full-vehicle category in the fifth annual Altair Enlighten Awards for innovation in automotive lightweighting.
“The 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is a testament to our team’s engineering capability,” said Phil Jansen, Head of Product Development – FCA North America. “It’s not only lighter than the vehicle it replaced; it’s longer, wider and more efficient. The Pacifica has also earned superior safety ratings and widespread media acclaim. We are proud to add the Altair Enlighten Award to our list of team achievements.”
The effort to reduce weight in the 2017 Pacifica began in the concept development phase where designers used a new Rapid Concept Development process that allowed them to analyze multiple concepts to meet objectives at the lightest weight.
One method used to reduce weight in the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica is the use of high-strength steel in the Pacifica’s body structure. Chrysler states the body structure is 72% high-strength steel, which is the highest percentage of any minivan in the industry.
Higher-strength steels in the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica’s body structure account for most of its weight reduction.
Additionally, the Pacifica’s liftgate is comprised of an aluminum outer panel bonded to a cast magnesium inner panel. The combination of the two materials contributes to a weight savings of 18.5 pounds per vehicle.
These efforts have not only produced a lighter minivan, but also a vehicle that has earned more than 50 industry awards.
For more information about the Chrysler Pacifica, visit the minivan’s webpage.
