Download Print Enhancing the Formula with Even More Minivan Firsts September 3, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - There’s something to be said for being first. Chrysler Group was the first to introduce the minivan 30 years ago. Over the past three decades, the company has introduced 78 minivan-first features: First minivan to offer front-wheel drive (1984) First minivan to offer selection of engines, V-6 or four-cylinder (1987) First to offer long-wheelbase minivans (1987) First to offer luxury minivan with introduction of Town & Country (1990) First minivan to offer standard driver-side air bag (1991) First minivan with center high-mounted brake light (1991) First minivan with child safety locks on sliding door (1991) First minivan to offer four wheel anti-lock brakes (1991) First minivan to offer Quad command seating (1991) First minivan to offer all-wheel-drive on front-wheel drive platform (1991) First minivan to offer integrated child seat (1992) First minivan to offer standard passenger-side air bag (1994) First minivan with dynamic side-impact protection (1994) First minivan to meet California 1997 Ultra Low Emission Vehicle (ULEV) certification (1994) First minivan to meet Inherently Low Emission Vehicle (ILEV) certification (1995) First to introduce electric minivan, EPIC – Electric Powered Interurban Commuter (1995) First minivan with seamless passenger-side air bag door (1996) First minivan to offer Dual Zone Temperature Control (1996) First minivan in U.S. market to offer driver-side sliding door (fourth door) (1996) First minivan to offer windshield wiper de-icer (1996) First minivan to offer 16-inch wheels and tires for enhanced performance (1996) First minivan to offer power memory seat and mirrors (1996) First minivan to offer Easy-Out Roller Seats (1996) First minivan to offer adjustable cup holders (1996) First minivan with cab-forward design (1996) First minivan to offer adjustable reclining rear child seat with molded seat cushion (1996) First minivan with removable windshield wiper module (1996) First minivan with mid-cabin upper level comfort control (1996) First minivan with dual-action rear drum brakes (1996) First minivan capable of transporting 4 x 8-inch material on top of folded seatbacks or with seat removed and liftgate closed (long wheelbase, 1996) First minivan with rear seatback-mounted grocery bag hooks (1998) First minivan to offer Flexible Fuel Vehicle availability, ethanol/gasoline (1998) First minivan to offer 17-inch wheels and tires for enhanced performance (1999) First minivan to offer Auto Stick transaxle (1999) First minivan to offer wireless headphones for in-vehicle entertainment system (2000) First minivan to offer 6.4-inch LCD screen for in-vehicle entertainment system (2000) First minivan to offer power-up and power-down liftgate (2001) First minivan to offer removable, powered center console (2001) First minivan with power dual sliding doors, allowing for minivan-first manual override, powered by an industry-first inside-the-door motor (2001) First minivan to offer power sliding door obstacle detection system when opening and closing (2001) First minivan to offer engines with power over 210 horsepower (2001) First minivan to offer pop-up rear cargo organizer (2001) First minivan with three-zone temperature control system (2001) First minivan with rear split 50/50 Easy-Out Roller Seats (2001) First minivan with Stow ‘n Go seating and storage system (2004) First minivan with Super High Density (SHD) Foam Cushion Seating (2004) First minivan with split-bench third-row reclining tailgate seating (2004) First minivan with third-row easy entry system – with the pull of a single strap, the second-row seat tumbles out of the way (2004) First minivan with a driver-side inflatable knee blocker (2004) First minivan with Door Alert (2004) First minivan with Overhead rail system with movable/removable storage bins (2004) First minivan with Swivel ‘n Go seating system (2nd row seats swivel 180 degrees rearward) (2007) First to offer removable, two-part sliding front console (2007) First minivan with an umbrella holder (2007) First to offer a dual DVD system that can play different media at the same time (2007) First minivan with a six-speed transmission (2007) First minivan with dual A/V jacks, 115 volt inverter and 12 volt power outlet in C-pillar (2007) First to offer an ambient halo light package with moveable LED pinpoint lighting (2007) First minivan to offer ParkView rear back-up camera (2007) First minivan with a removable, rechargeable LED flashlight (2007) First minivan with first- and second-row heated seats in cloth or leather (2007) First minivan to offer YES Essentials stain-resistant, odor-resistant, anti-static cloth seats (2007) First minivan to offer SIRIUS Backseat TV with network programing (2008) First minivan to offer Blind Spot Monitoring System (2009) First minivan to offer Rear Cross Path Detection System (2009) First to offer SmartBeam headlamps (2009) First minivan with a 180-degree rotating third-row DVD monitor (2009) First minivan to offer iPod control through the radio head unit (2009) First minivan with Brake system with Hydraulic-boost Compensation (HBC) (2009) First minivan to have available FloTV with 20 channels of network programing (2010) First minivan with a heated steering wheel (2011) First minivan to offer the Stow ‘n Place roof rack system (2011) First minivan with SIRIUS with Travel Link (2011) First minivan with an integrated “super” console for first and second row passengers (2011) First minivan to include a selectable fuel economizer mode (2011) First minivan Blu-ray rear entertainment system (2013) First minivan with two USB ports (2013) First minivan with standard trailer sway control (2013)