Magna and Chrysler Group Partner to Deliver Innovative Seating Configuration for New Minivans
AURORA, Ontario, Feb. 13 /-- Intier Automotive Seating, an operating unit of Magna International Inc., in conjunction with Chrysler Group, has co-engineered and manufactured new seating features for Chrysler Group's 2008 Dodge Grand Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country.
Chrysler Group's new 2008 minivans, unveiled at this year's North American International Auto Show, offer three distinct seating and storage options. The newest seating option is a cutting-edge seating technology called Swivel 'n Go(TM). It includes second-row quad seats that swivel 180 degrees rearward to face the third-row seats. Swivel 'n Go also includes a removable table (1) that installs between the second- and third-row seats. The seats swivel outward, which eases entry and exit or the placement of a child in a car seat. Both swiveling seats can also be removed. Heated cloth or leather first- and second-row seats are available in the Swivel 'n Go and industry-exclusive Stow 'n Go(R) seating and storage system configurations in the 2008 Chrysler Group minivans.
"Consumers today are spending more and more time in their vehicles, ultimately placing a greater emphasis on comfort and convenience," says Jeff Lambert, Intier Automotive Seating Chief Engineer for the Chrysler Group minivan seats. "The Swivel 'n Go seating system, an industry-first in the North American market, raises the bar by offering a family room on wheels."
To further enhance the new minivans, Chrysler Group worked with Intier Automotive Seating to develop a powered version of its fold-in-the-floor third-row seat. The one-touch operation, which stows the seat in less than 15 seconds, is a minivan first. The one-touch, power-folding, third-row seat will stow in four different modes. Depending on the passenger/cargo needs, the entire seat can stow, be in tailgate mode or each section of the seat can stow or tailgate individually. The third-row, power-folding seat also includes an obstacle-detection system that will stop the seat from folding in the event a person or object is in the way.
"Our drive at Intier Seating is to accommodate our customer's unique functional requests and to provide innovative applications like these that translate into market advantages for the vehicle," said Joe Pittel, president of Intier Automotive Seating.
Intier Automotive Seating is an innovative leader in the development and manufacturing of complete seating systems and seating mechanisms for the automotive industry.
Magna International, the most diversified automotive supplier in the world, designs, develops and manufactures automotive systems, assemblies, modules and components, and engineers and assembles complete vehicles, primarily for sale to original equipment manufacturers of cars and light trucks in North America, Europe, Asia and South America. Its capabilities include the design, engineering, testing and manufacture of automotive interior and closure systems; metal body and structural systems; exterior and interior mirror and engineered glass systems; exterior systems, including front and rear end modules, plastic body panels, exterior trim and other systems; various powertrain and drivetrain systems; as well as, complete vehicle engineering and assembly.
Magna International has approximately 84,000 employees in 228 manufacturing operations and 62 product development and engineering centers in 23 countries.
Swivel 'n Go and Stow 'n Go are registered trademarks of DaimlerChrysler Corporation.
(1) Intier Automotive Seating did not develop and does not manufacture the removable table.
CONTACT: Tracy Fuerst, Director of Media Relations of Magna International Inc., +1-248-729-2731, cell +1-248-761-7004, or Tracy_fuerst@magna.on.ca
