minivan

Ford will debut at the 2011 North American International Auto show a more mini minivan. The C-MAX is a compact family vehicle that was developed for the European market but will be making its way into the U.S. next year. Despite its Americanization, it retains European proportions. At 178 inches the C-MAX is almost 15 inches shorter than the Honda Odyssey and Chrysler Town and Country, yet it still manages to seat up to seven.

Ford describes the vehicle as a 5+2, meaning it seats five in the first two rows with two smaller seats in the third … Read more

Not so long after hearing of Toyota's plans to expand its hybrid offerings, we find a Toyota billboard teasing a new member of what will be its expanded line of hybrid vehicles. Displayed at a 10th-anniversary gathering of the Toyota Prius, this ad shows a new larger member of what will become a Prius subbrand.

Dubbed the Prius MPV by the denizens of the Internet, this new model will be both slightly longer and slightly taller than the standard Prius--expect a sort of tiny minivan à la Mazda Mazda5. Its roofline drops off much less aggressively, presumably to create … Read more

Toyota fired the first shot with its updated and redesigned Sienna minivan, revealed at the 2009 Los Angeles Auto Show. When Honda unveiled its updated Odyssey last month, we couldn't help but note a few similarities between it and the Toyota. Now, Nissan enters the fray with teaser photos of its upcoming Quest refresh and we can't help but notice that it sort of looks like someone just Photoshopped a Nissan badge onto a dark photo of a Sienna. Come on automakers, we understand that a van should look like a van, but is it too much to … Read more

We got our first peek Honda's concept for its future minivan at the 2010 Chicago Auto Show. Today, Honda is showing off its first official photos of the 2011 Honda Odyssey. With the new Odyssey model, you can clearly see that Honda gave it lessons at the Crosstour School of Beauty. However, if you can look beyond the awkward styling, you will find a few truly innovative features, including what may be the world's first HDMI input port for in-vehicle video.

Starting with its exterior, the new Odyssey inherits Honda's corporate grill and angular headlamps, which punctuate … Read more

Toyota has an image problem. Rather like families.

Both, once revered, now seem to stand for dysfunction. So both try to use various communication techniques in order to redress the balance. In the case of families, well, I'm not sure it's working. Every time I want to believe in the public face of family unity, up pops a Tiger Woods or a Jesse James to suggest that, somewhere along the production line, the brakes must have failed.

Toyota, having undergone difficulties with respect to gas pedals, brakes, and computer glitches, might, however, have created something that works for … Read more

In the last few Web videos I've posted here I've shown the many different ways that the "Truck of the Year" award-winning Ford Transit Connect van can be utilized to suit your family and/or business needs. But you may be wondering, "How does the Transit Connect drive?" Well, this short clip here should give you a brief analysis on how this somewhat revolutionary cargo/minivan hybrid handles at the wheel and on the road. It doesn't go into a lot of detail, but it does reveal at least a modicum of what … Read more

This week the 2011 Toyota Sienna debuted at the LA Auto Show and while the minivan's new Venza-esque aesthetic, 3.5- and 2.7-liter power trains, and available all-wheel drive are, well, kind of interesting, we're most intrigued by the new Dual View rear seat entertainment system.

Folding down from its hiding place in the Sienna's ceiling, the Dual View display appears to be a superwide 16.4-inch display. However, it is actually two smaller displays seamlessly butted against each other in one frame.

When watching a single source, the Dual View displays a single image. Choose … Read more

So you think minivans are only for mommies? Try this one...

It's the Renault Espace F1, a concept vehicle cum hot lap publicity machine created in 1994 by Renault, Matra, and the Williams Formula One team, which put the 3.5-liter Renault F1 engine featured in the Espace F1 to good use by winning the F1 World Championship in 1993, with Alain Prost driving. Prost drives the Espace F1 in the video, too.

Where the standard Espace had a small engine positioned transversely in front, driving the front wheels, the F1 was a little different. Out that went, replaced … Read more

Everyone who saw VW's Microbus concept vehicle and immediately wanted one, raise your hand.

Lots of hands.

Now, everyone who would pay $40,000 or $50,000 or more for one, raise your hands.

Not too many hands out there...

Volkswagen was one of the first automakers to bring a concept vehicle to production virtually unchanged with the New Beetle a decade ago, but not all concept vehicles are destined for production. Europe was not interested in the Microbus, and a unique platform and high-cost assembly plant, plus limited sales potential meant that it stayed a concept. And although … Read more