Dodge So Close to Producing This Offroad Version of The Caravan

Dodge So Close to Producing This Offroad Version of The CaravanBut Jeep dealers said no.

The Dodge Grand Caravan was scrapped after the 2019 model year. It was resurrected just a few short months later as an entry level model. This is one of the most enduring nameplates in automotive history. The minivan was first introduced in 1984 as the Caravan. It has been around for nearly four decades and under six different generations.

Michael Santoro was part the design team for the Chrysler Corporation’s second-generation Caravan in 1991. The Caravan was a popular model and executives were open to new ideas and extensions. Santoro’s personal website explains how his minivan taxi idea earned him minivan expert status.

Santoro recalls that he was given the task of creating an off-road-inspired Caravan design. The designer explains that the challenge was to find a way to transform the minivan’s appearance, without spending any money. He had only tape, paint, wheels and some new accessories.
Dodge So Close to Producing This Offroad Version of The CaravanSantoro designed a lifestyle Caravan that included off-road accessories as well as rugged design elements. These included a blackout treatment for the B-pillar, new front and back grill bars, side steps, and a light bar that was integrated into the roof rack. The management was so impressed with the project that they built a full-size prototype for testing and promotional purposes.

It never made it to the production lines. Despite strong internal support from the automaker, it was canceled by some Jeep dealers who saw it as a threat.

“Everybody loved it… except for the Jeep dealers, who thought it would hurt sales. Santoro recalls that the prototype was just a step away of being presented at Chicago Auto, but the plug was pulled in the final moments.