Chrysler has begun deploying small plug-in hybrid fleets of the Town & Country minivan to select markets across the country for testing. The platform has been in development for some time, and it promises to offer families who need some serious cargo room to save some money at the pump. In other words, it's one model that Barnett Auto Group thinks would make a fine addition to the new Chrysler lineup at 3430 North Highway 61, White Bear Lake, MN.

"This Town & Country minivan is the only minivan to boast a plug-in hybrid powertrain in combination with flex fuel capability," boasts Abdullah A. Bazzi, Senior Manager of Electrified Powertrain Programs for Chrysler. "We're pleased to have four of these 25 vehicles being tested right here in Chrysler's backyard where they can get real-world use and be evaluated promptly."¹

Thus far, Auburn Hills, MI; Charlotte, NC; and the City of Yuma, AZ have all received small fleets of test models, and there are sure to be more cities receiving them in the near future. The American automaker plans to gauge how well the cutting-edge minivan charges and performs in a wide range of climates over the next two years, with the hopes of bringing it into limited production soon after.

As for why Chrysler is taking two years to collect data? All it takes is one glance at the Chrysler Town &Country Plug-In Hybrid to see that this is not only a groundbreaking vehicle for Chrysler, but for the entire minivan segment as well.

Chrysler Town & Country Plug-In Hybrid Minivan At a Glance

-          Powertrain: E85-compatible 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6, with a liquid-cooled 12.1 KWhr lithium-ion battery
-          Performance: 290 horsepower
-          Total Driving Range: 700 miles
-          Charging Time: Two-four hours at 220 volts with a Level two charge cord unit, and eight-fifteen hours at 110 volts with a Level one charge unit
-          Worth noting: Only plug-in hybrid system with a gas-electric mode that does not require charging

Source: ¹http://www.plugincars.com/chrysler-wheels-out-plug-hybrid-town-country-minivan-120566.html