Chrysler's New Concept Car Is A Very Real, Very Lifted Minivan

At this year's Overland Expo in Loveland, Colorado, Chrysler is debuting a new take on the Pacifica minivan built around overlanding and camping. The Chrysler Pacifica Grizzly Peak Concept is an off-road-ready take on the van, complete with huge 31-inch all-terrain tires, a lift, and other off-road details.

An Overland Van With All-Wheel Drive

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Unsurprisingly, Chrysler says the inspiration for the concept stems from demand. Everyone's got an off-road take on their people-hauler, from small CUVs to large seven-seat SUVs like the Explorer Tremor. Chrysler wants in, saying the Grizzly Peak is "inspired by the growing number of recreational overlanding and van-life customers who value
flexibility and a space to sleep."

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Other significant changes include a roof rack with auxiliary lights, a retractable awning, traction boards, a spare tire, and LED light pods. The Grizzly Peak should be more capable thanks to a lift (2.75 inches F, 2.5 inches R) and 31-inch BFGoodrich KO2 all-terrain tires with 18-inch wheels. There's also paint protection film and splash guards to help protect the special Arktos matte paint and unique badging.

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Built For Comfort In The Backcountry

In light of the van's new mission, Chrysler replaced the third row seats with a flat cargo panel to extend the amount of available living space inside the van. The Grizzly Peak is based on the Limited trim, which means it's got all the bells and whistles you'll find in the van's most luxurious trim, like the largest available screen, 115V outlet, leather seats, and more.

Here, concept-specific changes are more aesthetic than functional, with a unique steering wheel, orange stitching, and orange seat belts. There's also a unique Cement Gray interior and some stackable totes for storage, in addition to a space saver spare tire (in case the one on the roof won't cut it).

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Final Thoughts

Chrysler is certainly buying into the off-road craze with this concept, which will no doubt arrive down the line as a pricey optional trim for the Pacifica. Ideally, some more substantive mechanical changes will be made to the van's all-wheel drive system by then. It's hard to imagine that Pacifica's AWD is built for the heat and abuse incurred by serious off-road use, but those big tires should help. At a minimum, it's not something other brands offer in their minivans.