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77-525: The Stout Scarab is credited by some as the world's first production minivan , and a 1946 experimental prototype of the Scarab became the world's first car with a fiberglass bodyshell and air suspension . William B. Stout was a motorcar and aviation engineer and journalist. While president of the Society of Automotive Engineers , Stout met Buckminster Fuller at a major New York auto show and wrote an article on

154-810: A transverse engine , a flat floor, and multi-configurable seating, all of which would later become characteristics of minivans. In 1950, the Volkswagen Type 2 adapted a bus-shaped body to the chassis of a small passenger car (the Volkswagen Beetle). When Volkswagen introduced a sliding side door to the Type 2 in 1968, it then had the prominent features that would later come to define a minivan: compact length, three rows of forward-facing seats, station wagon-style top-hinged tailgate/liftgate, sliding side door, passenger car base. The 1956–1969 Fiat Multipla also had many features in common with modern minivans. The Multipla

231-592: A two-box or a one-box body design with A, B, C, and D pillars . The cabin may be fitted with two, three, or four rows of seats, with the most common configurations being 2+3+2 or 2+3+3. Compared to other types of passenger vehicles, the body shape of minivans is designed to maximize interior space for both passengers and cargo. It is achieved by lengthening the wheelbase , creating a flatter floor, taller roof, and more upright side profile, but not as prominent as commercial-oriented vans that are boxier in profile. Practicality and comfort for passengers are also enhanced with

308-422: A car." The result of this program was the first American minivans based on the S platform , the 1984 Plymouth Voyager and Dodge Caravan . The S minivans debuted the minivan design features of front-wheel drive, a flat floor and a sliding door for rear passengers. The term minivan came into use largely compared to size to full-size vans ; at six feet tall or lower, 1980s minivans were intended to fit inside

385-575: A crossover due to its small size and the use of hinged rear doors. Another compact MPV released to the market was the Mazda5 in 2004, a three-row vehicle with rear sliding doors. Mazda claimed the model "does not fit into any traditional (North American) segmentation." The Ford C-Max was released for 2013 as a hybrid electric and battery electric compact MPV with sliding doors. However, it did not offer third-row seating in North America. In Europe,

462-650: A front-wheel drive layout and offered with a hybrid powertrain since 2001. In 2002, Toyota introduced the Toyota Alphard which was developed as a luxury-oriented model. In 2020, Lexus introduced their first luxury minivan, the Lexus LM , produced with varying degrees of relation with the Toyota Alphard/Vellfire. The LM designation stands for "Luxury Mover". Nissan introduced the Nissan Serena in 1991 and

539-506: A high top mounting point, which would be difficult to arrange for a ladder chassis , but is also advantageous for unitary construction as it distributes suspension loads over a greater volume of the bodyshell. New car designs were also lighter and faster than pre-war cars, a cheap mass-production car now having performance that would previously have been the preserve of an expensive sports car. Drivers demanded roadholding and comfort that required independent front suspension . MacPherson's strut

616-469: A higher roof, a flat floor, sliding doors for rear passengers, and high H-point seating. The largest size of minivans is also referred to as 'Large MPV' and became popular following the introduction of the 1984 Dodge Caravan and Renault Espace . Typically, these have platforms derived from D-segment passenger cars or compact pickups. Since the 1990s, the smaller compact MPV and mini MPV sizes of minivans have also become popular. Though predecessors to

693-472: A larger rear cargo space opening and larger windows. Some minivans/MPVs may use sliding doors, while others offer conventional forward-hinged doors. Initially, a feature of the 1982 Nissan Prairie , the 1996 Chrysler minivans introduced a driver-side sliding door; by 2002, all minivans were sold with doors on both sides of the body. Most minivans are configured with a rear liftgate ; few minivans have used panel-style rear doors, for example, cargo versions of

770-441: A larger vehicle with sliding doors. The highest selling year for minivans was in 2000, when 1.4 million units were sold. However, in the following years, sales of minivans began to decrease. In 2013, the segment's sales reached approximately 500,000, one-third of its 2000 peak. Market share of minivans in 2019 reached around 2% after a steady decline from 2004, when the segment recorded above 6% of share. It has been suggested that

847-610: A lifting rear hatch. The Mitsubishi Chariot adopted nearly the same form factor, instead using wagon-style front-hinged doors. In 1990, Toyota introduced the Toyota Estima in Japan, which carried over the mid-engine configuration of the TownAce. Along with its highly rounded exterior, the Estima was distinguished by its nearly panoramic window glass. The Estima was redesigned in 2000, adopting

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924-674: A new "compact MPV" standard with the Renault Scénic in 1996, which became popular. Based on the C-segment Mégane platform, it offered the same multi-use and flexibility aspects as the larger MPVs but with a much smaller footprint. After the success of the Renault Scénic, other makers have developed similar European-focused products, such as the Opel Zafira that offered three-row seating, Citroën Xsara Picasso and others. In Japan,

1001-673: A rear seat that folded flat into the floor (replacing a removable rear seat). The Odyssey evolved into a low-roof, estate-like minivan until 2013, when it adopted a high-roof body with rear sliding doors. Honda also produced the Honda Stepwgn mid-size MPV since 1996, which is designed with a higher cabin and narrow width, and the Honda Stream since 2000 to slot below the Odyssey. In 2020, minivans made up 20.8% of total automobile sales in Japan, behind SUVs and compact hatchbacks, making it one of

1078-569: A return to a sliding joint in the drive shaft. The Chapman strut is often confused with the MacPherson strut , as both use a near-vertical upper strut, The distinction is that the MacPherson strut always requires a lower track control arm where the Chapman uses the drive shaft and a light radius rod. As it requires a drive shaft, the Chapman strut can only be used at the driven end of the vehicle. For

1155-426: A single purpose and was difficult to make stiff enough. It has been suggested that the spring forces from these struts would have been better supported as torsion bars , which could then have been anchored to the main suspension spine. The mid-engined Europa used a modified version of the Chapman strut. Owing to the need to isolate the engine and transaxle from the chassis in order to reduce noise and vibration,

1232-421: A small card table could be fitted with the passenger seats as needed. Interiors were appointed in leather, chrome , and wood. Design elements also worked in a stylized ancient Egyptian scarab motif, including the car's emblem. Visibility to the front and sides was similar to that of an observation car , although rearward vision was negligible and there were no rear-view mirrors. The innovations did not end with

1309-475: A typical garage door opening. In 1984, The New York Times described minivans "the hot cars coming out of Detroit," noting that "analysts say the mini-van has created an entirely new market, one that may well overshadow the... station wagon ." In response to the popularity of the Voyager/Caravan, General Motors released the 1985 Chevrolet Astro and GMC Safari badge-engineered twins, and Ford released

1386-484: A vehicle weighing under 3,000 lb (1,400 kg). The short, streamlined nose and tapering upper body at the rear foreshadowed contemporary monospace (or one-box ) MPV or minivan design, featuring a removable table and second row seats that turn 180 degrees to face the rear — a feature that Chrysler marketed over 50 years later as "Swivel ’n Go". Although reminiscent of the Chrysler Airflow , streamliner , and

1463-581: A year were to be made in a small factory at the corner of Scott Street and Telegraph Road ( US 24 ), Dearborn, Michigan . Although the Scarab garnered much press coverage, at $ 5,000 (equivalent to $ 109,784 in 2023), when a luxurious and ultra-modern Chrysler Imperial Airflow cost just $ 1,345, very few could pay the hefty premium for innovation. Nine Scarabs are believed to have been built. The vehicles were never produced in volume and were hand-made, with no two Scarabs identical. Immediately following World War II , Stout built one more prototype Scarab, called

1540-470: Is MPV ( multi-purpose vehicle ) or M-segment - and are taller than a sedan car , hatchback , SUV or station wagon . Compared with a full-size van , most minivans are based on a passenger car platform and have a lower body. Early models such as the Ford Aerostar and Chevrolet Astro utilized a compact pickup truck platform. Minivans often have a 'one-box' or 'two-box' body configuration ,

1617-452: Is a long history of one-box passenger vehicles roughly approximating the body style, with the 1936 Stout Scarab often cited as the first minivan. The passenger seats in the Scarab were moveable and could be configured for the passengers to sit around a table in the rear of the cabin. Passengers entered and exited the Scarab via a centrally-mounted door. The DKW Schnellaster —manufactured from 1949 until 1962—featured front-wheel drive ,

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1694-480: Is best known for its use by, Colin Chapman of Lotus . The characteristic feature of the Chapman strut is a long upright strut combining a coil spring and shock absorber , with a universal-jointed drive shaft itself forming the lower link of the suspension. The design's origin lies with William Stout 's 1932 Stout Scarab . This rear-engined car used swing axle independent rear suspension, with long near-vertical coilover struts from high mounting points on

1771-521: Is rigidly attached to the hub carrier. Chapman did use MacPherson struts for the front suspension of the Lotus 17 . These were unsuccessful, owing to the stiction problems that Chapman had worked to avoid with the sliding drive shaft joint. A wishbone conversion kit was later developed by ex-Lotus engineer Len Terry . Lotus road cars after the Twelve also used the Chapman strut for rear suspension. These included

1848-591: The Chevrolet Astro , Ford Aerostar , and the Mercedes-Benz V-Class . Most minivans have a reconfigurable interior to carry passengers and their effects. The first examples were designed with removable rear seats unlatched from the floor for removal and storage (in line with larger vans); however, users gave poor reception to the design as many seats were heavy and hard to remove. In 1995, the Honda Odyssey

1925-486: The Dymaxion Car for the society's newsletter. Contemporary production cars commonly had a separate chassis and body with a long hood. The engine compartment and engine were behind the front axle and ahead of the passenger compartment. The front-mounted engine typically drove the rear axle through a drive shaft underneath the floor of the vehicle. This layout worked well, but limited the passenger space. In contrast,

2002-613: The Ford Windstar for 1995. The models also increased in size due to the extended-wheelbase ("Grand") versions of the Voyager and Caravan, launched in 1987. An increase in luxury features and interior equipment was seen in the Eddie Bauer version of the 1988 Ford Aerostar, the 1990 Chrysler Town & Country , and the 1990 Oldsmobile Silhouette . The third-generation Plymouth Voyager, Dodge Caravan, and Chrysler Town & Country – released for

2079-469: The MacPherson strut for use on the Chevrolet Cadet . This was the first true strut suspension for cars: the stub axle was rigidly fixed to the strut, thus always keeping the same angle with it, rather than being attached through a swivelling joint as for Stout's Scarab. MacPherson's strut took advantage of the unitary car bodies appearing in new factories after World War II : the strut requires

2156-534: The Mazda MPV was released as the first Japanese-brand minivan developed from the ground up specifically for the North American market. Its larger chassis allowed an optional V6 engine and four-wheel drive to fit. In contrast to the sliding doors of American minivans, a hinged passenger-side door was used. A driver-side entry was added for 1996, as Mazda gradually remarketed the model line as an early crossover SUV. By

2233-482: The Mercedes-Benz V-Class as a standard panel van for cargo (called Vito) or with passenger accommodations substituted for part or all of the load area (called V-Class or Viano). In 1998, the Fiat Multipla was released. A two-row, six-seater MPV with a 3+3 seat configuration borrowing its name from an older minivan , it is notable for its highly controversial design. Market reaction to these new full-size MPV models

2310-516: The Nissan Elgrand in 1997. In 1995, Honda entered the minivan segment by introducing the Honda Odyssey . The Odyssey was designed with front-hinged doors and as derived from the Honda Accord. It came with advantages such as sedan-like driving dynamics and a lower floor to allow for easy access. In a design feature that would become widely adopted by other manufacturers, the Odyssey introduced

2387-684: The Toyota Previa in 1990 to replace the Van/Wagon in North America. It was designed solely as a passenger vehicle sized to compete with American-market minivans. For 1998, the Toyota Sienna became the first Japanese-brand minivan assembled in North America, replacing the Toyota Previa in that market. For 1999, Honda introduced a separate version of the Odyssey for North America , with North America receiving

Stout Scarab - Misplaced Pages Continue

2464-555: The Toyota TownAce , Toyota HiAce , Nissan Vanette , Mitsubishi Delica and Mazda Bongo . These vehicles were based on commercial vehicles, which created a gap compared to sedans regarding ride quality and luxury. The Nissan Prairie , released in 1982, is considered the first Japanese compact minivan. Derived closely from a compact sedan, the Prairie was marketed as a "boxy sedan", configured with sliding doors, folding rear seats, and

2541-539: The rubber mounts led to an excessive sideways movement of the driveshafts. In this case, sideways location of the hubs was controlled by an enlarged diagonal radius rod to the front. Rubber sandwich mounts were developed that allowed vertical movement whilst controlling lateral movement. Similar vibration problems were encountered with the Elite, but as these only had the vibration of the differential to control rather than engine vibration, it could be managed by suitable design of

2618-399: The space frame chassis . Stout had also been an aircraft designer and considered that the long-travel oleo struts made, 'the airplane landing gear [is] the easiest type of running gear for comfort yet devised.' The lower ends of the struts were attached to the swing axle casings by swivel bushes. Forward radius rods handled the longitudinal forces. In 1947 Earle MacPherson patented

2695-508: The 1986 Ford Aerostar . These vehicles used a traditional rear-wheel drive layout, unlike the Voyager/Caravan. To match the launch of minivans by American manufacturers, Japanese manufacturers introduced the Toyota Van , Nissan Vanette , and Mitsubishi Delica to North America in 1984, 1986, and 1987, respectively. These vehicles were marketed with the generic "Van" and "Wagon" names (for cargo and passenger vans, respectively). In 1989,

2772-626: The 1990s. Since the 2000s, their reception has varied in different parts of the world: in North America, for example, they have been largely eclipsed by crossovers and SUVs , while in Asia they are commonly marketed as luxury vehicles . The term minivan originated in North America and the United Kingdom in 1959. In the UK, the Minivan was a small van manufactured by Austin based on the newly introduced Mini car. In

2849-585: The 1996 model year – had an additional sliding door on the driver's side. Following the 1990 discontinuation of the Nissan Vanette in the United States, Nissan also ended the sale of the second-generation Nissan Axxess . Nissan reentered the segment by forming a joint venture with Ford to develop and assemble a minivan that became the Nissan Quest and its Mercury Villager counterpart. Toyota also introduced

2926-470: The Chapman strut. As the Lotus Twelve had inboard disk brakes , there was no need to pass the braking torque through the radius rods. Chapman also avoided the swing axle and its camber changes with suspension travel, in favour of a drive shaft with two universal joints. The connection between the hub carrier and the shock absorber base was made rigid, making the spring unit into a strut and also controlling

3003-561: The European subsidiaries of Chrysler, the Espace was intended as a successor for the Matra Rancho , leading to its use of front-hinged doors. While slow-selling at the time of its release, the Espace would become the most successful European-brand minivan. Initially intending to market the Espace in North America through American Motors Corporation (AMC), the 1987 sale of AMC to Chrysler canceled

3080-775: The Goggomobil system and was impressed by its Lotus-like simplicity and light weight. The use of the drive shafts for both drive and as a suspension component appealed to Chapman, who always favoured solutions that could make one component do double duty. Chapman struts were introduced in Lotus' first single-seater car, the Lotus Twelve . This was developed as a 1.5-litre Formula 2 in 1957, but re-engined in 1958 it also competed in Formula 1 . This same car also introduced Lotus' wobbly-web wheel . There were two differences from these precursors to

3157-404: The Lotus designs to which it was applied, this was their rear. MacPherson struts are most commonly used for front suspension and the strut axis forms the kingpin bearing, for steering movement. There is little reason why a Chapman strut could not be used similarly, although there is no record of this being tried on a front-wheel or four-wheel drive car. Both designs are struts, where the strut base

Stout Scarab - Misplaced Pages Continue

3234-460: The Scarab design eliminated the chassis and drive shaft to create a low, flat floor for the interior, using a unitized body structure and placing a Ford -built V8 engine in the rear of the vehicle. Stout envisioned his traveling machine as an office on wheels. To that end, the Scarab's body, styled by John Tjaarda , a Dutch automobile engineer, closely emulated the design of an aluminum aircraft fuselage . The use of lighter materials resulted in

3311-513: The Stout Scarab Experimental. It was exhibited in 1946 and was more conventional in appearance, although still equipped with a rear engine. It was a 2-door, featured a wraparound windshield and the world's first fiberglass body. Like its metal counterparts, it too was a monocoque , built up out of only eight separate pieces and featured the world's first fully functioning air suspension , previously developed in 1933 by Firestone . It

3388-623: The US, the term was used to differentiate the smaller passenger vehicles from full-size vans (such as the Ford E-Series, Dodge Ram Van, and Chevrolet Van), which were then called 'vans'. The first known use of the term was in 1959, but not until the 1980s was it commonly used. In contrast to larger vans, most modern minivans/MPVs use a front-engine, front-wheel drive layout, while some model lines offer all-wheel drive as an option (ie. Toyota Sienna, Toyota Previa, Chrysler Pacifica ). Alongside adopting

3465-454: The cabin floor; DVD/VCR entertainment systems; in-dash navigation and rear-view camera (both only offered on higher-end trims); and parking sensors. However, the Quest and Sedona only echo these design changes in their third and second respective generations. At the same time, Chrysler introduced fold-flat seating in 2005 (under the trademark “Stow-n’-go”) . Mazda's MPV did not feature power doors and

3542-463: The camber angle. Using the drive shaft itself to control the rear track meant that the shaft could be of fixed length, avoiding the need for a sliding spline joint and its stiction problems. Chapman applied for a patent on his strut design on 13 June 1957. The Chapman strut also appeared on the Lotus Sixteen of 1958. In 1959 this design was revised to use a lower wishbone. This in turn required

3619-465: The car's layout and body design. In an era where almost everything on the road had rigid axles with leaf springs , the Scarab featured independent suspension using coil springs on all four corners, providing a smoother, quieter ride. The rear-engine -induced weight bias coupled to the coil spring suspension and "Oil Shock Absorbers" endowed the Scarab with "Smooth Riding and Easy Steering on Rough Roads", if not very good handling and traction (even by

3696-489: The car. A long wheelbase and the engine directly over the rear axle moved the driver forward, enabling a steering wheel almost directly above the front wheels. Passengers entered through a single, large, common door. A flexible seating system could be easily reconfigured (except for the driver's seat, which was fixed). The design anticipated the seating in modern minivans, such as the Chrysler Voyager and Renault Espace ;

3773-414: The classification is commonly known as "MPV", "people carrier", or officially M-segment, and includes van -based vehicles and smaller vehicles with two-row seating. The 1984 Renault Espace was the first European-developed minivan developed primarily for passenger use (as the earlier DKW and Volkswagen used their commercial van platforms in a minibus variant). Beginning development in the 1970s under

3850-408: The classification is known as "minivan" ( Japanese : ミニバン , Hepburn : Miniban ) and defined by its three-row seating capacity. Before the birth of minivans with modern form factors, tall wagon-type vehicles with large seating capacity in Japan were known as light vans. They commonly adopted mid-engine , cab over design, and rear-wheel drive layout with one-box form factor. Examples included

3927-479: The commercial-oriented Ford Transit Connect Wagon from Turkey. A similar vehicle, the Mercedes-Benz Metris , entered the North American market in 2016. The Kia Sedona , which was introduced for the 2002 model year, is notable for being the first minivan from a South Korean manufacturer in the region. For 2007, Kia also introduced the three-row Kia Rondo compact MPV, where it was prominently marketed as

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4004-435: The de Dion's disadvantages as including its high unsprung weight , the need for sliding splines in the rear driveshafts, and also (a typical Chapman fixation) its insensitivity to changes in weight as fuel is consumed. The first Lotus Twelve Formula 2 cars used the same system, although the de Dion's mass was a drawback for a lightweight single-seater racing car. At a 750 Motor Club meeting in 1957, Chapman saw

4081-451: The end of the 1980s, demand for minivans as family vehicles had largely superseded full-size station wagons in the United States. During the 1990s, the minivan segment underwent several significant changes. Many models switched to the front-wheel drive layout used by the Voyager/Caravan minivans. For example, Ford replaced the Aerostar with the front-wheel drive Mercury Villager for 1993 and

4158-406: The falling popularity of minivans is due to the increasing popularity of SUVs and crossovers, and its increasingly undesirable image as a vehicle for older drivers or the soccer mom demographics. From 2000 onward, several minivan manufacturers adopted boxier square-based exterior designs and began offering more advanced equipment, including power doors and liftgate; seating that folded flat into

4235-420: The fibreglass platform-chassis Elite and the backbone chassis Elan . Chapman struts, and their wide separation of load paths into the chassis, were a good fit to a stressed-skin structure such as the Elite and may have been an influence on its choice. They were less appropriate for a backbone chassis, requiring broad outriggers to carry the strut top loads, an un-Chapman-like feature that added weight for only

4312-796: The form factor introduced by Chrysler minivans , the configuration allows for less engine intrusion and a lower floor in the passenger compartment. In line with larger full-size vans, unibody construction has been commonly used (the spaceframe design of the Renault Espace and the General Motors APV minivans being exceptions). Minivans/MPVs are produced on distinct chassis architecture or share platforms with other vehicles such as sedans and crossover SUVs . Minivans do not have as much ground clearance, towing capacity, or off-road capability compared to SUVs. Minivans provide more space for passengers and cargo than sedans and SUVs. Minivans/MPVs use either

4389-401: The front suspension of his Lotus 17 ). Double wishbone suspension was already well-established for the front of high-performance cars. A front strut would also have required much greater height than was available in a racing car. In 1957, the lightweight Goggomobil used a similar suspension design to the Scarab. Much simpler though, the Goggomobil had bare drive shafts that also acted as

4466-630: The largest minivan markets in the world. In South Korea, both the terms "minivan" and "MPV" are used. The Kia Carnival (also sold the Kia Sedona) was introduced in 1998 with dual sliding doors. Sharing its configuration with the Honda Odyssey, the Hyundai Trajet was sold from 1999 to 2008. Introduced in 2004, the SsangYong Rodius is the highest-capacity minivan, seating up to 11 passengers. It

4543-478: The minivan date back to the 1930s, the contemporary minivan body style was developed concurrently by several companies in the early 1980s, most notably by Chrysler (producer of the Chrysler minivans ) and Renault (the Renault Espace ), both first sold for model year 1984. Minivans cut into and eventually overshadowed the traditional market of the station wagon and grew in global popularity and diversity throughout

4620-748: The plans for Renault to do so. In the late 1980s, Chrysler and Ford commenced sales of American-designed minivans in Europe (categorized as full-size in the region), selling the Chrysler Voyager and Ford Aerostar. General Motors imported the Oldsmobile Silhouette (branded as the Pontiac Trans Sport), later marketing the American-produced Opel/Vauxhall Sintra . In the 1990s, several joint ventures produced long-running minivan designs. In 1994, badge engineered series of Eurovans

4697-415: The rubber mounts. The successful mid-engined Lotus 18 of 1960 no longer had the high bodywork behind the driver's seat on which to mount the tops of the struts. Instead it used a wishbone rear suspension with wide-based tube lower wishbones carrying coilover shocks. The upper wishbones though were, once again in the style of the Chapman strut, using the driveshafts themselves and a front radius rod. This

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4774-476: The segment totalled 310,630 units in the U.S. (2.1% of the overall car market), and 33,544 in Canada (2.0% of the overall car market). As of 2022 , the passenger-oriented minivan segment consists of the Toyota Sienna , Chrysler Pacifica , Chrysler Voyager , Honda Odyssey , and Kia Carnival . In the late 1970s, Chrysler began a development program to design "a small affordable van that looked and handled more like

4851-467: The slightly later (1938) Volkswagen Beetle — other aerodynamically efficient shapes, the Stout Scarab was generally considered ugly at the time. Decades later, its futuristic design and curvaceous, finely detailed nose earn it respect as an Art Deco icon. The Scarab's interior space was maximized by its ponton styling, which dispensed with running boards and expanded the cabin to the full width of

4928-440: The standards of the early 1930s, the reputation of the Scarab was one of very poor "blackjack-like" handling). The rear swing axle suspension with long coil spring struts was inspired by aircraft landing gear. The Scarab suspension inspired the later Chapman strut used by Lotus from their Lotus Twelve model of 1957. The Ford flat-head V8 drove the rear wheels via a custom Stout-built three-speed manual transaxle . The engine

5005-545: The suspension links, with suspension forces passing through the inboard Hooke joints . The swing axle shafts were only carried by the trailing radius rods, rather than an axle casing, and the long struts were shortened to a simple coilover shock absorber. In 1956 Chapman was using de Dion rear axles for his Lotus racing cars and also the Vanwall . These had initially used transverse leaf springs , but later changed to coilover shock absorbers. Chapman had identified some of

5082-715: Was based on the chassis of the Fiat 600 and had a rear engine and cab forward layout. The early 1960s saw Ford and Chevrolet introduce "compact" vans for the North American market, the Econoline Club Wagon and Greenbrier respectively. The Ford version was marketed in the Falcon series, the Chevrolet in the Corvair 95 series. The Econoline grew larger in the 1970s, while the Greenbrier

5159-541: Was cheap to manufacture and reliable in service, having few moving joints and using the new telescopic shock absorbers , rather than the previous lever arms . MacPherson's strut also integrated an anti-roll bar , not only for control of body roll but also re-using it as an integral part of the suspension and so avoiding the need for a wishbone or radius rod in favour of a simple track control arm. The MacPherson strut appears to have had little influence on Chapman at this time (although he would later use it unsuccessfully for

5236-730: Was discontinued in 2017. Due to the market decline, North American sales of the Volkswagen Eurovan ceased in 2003. Ford exited the segment in 2006 when the Ford Freestar was canceled, Chrysler discontinued its short-wheelbase minivans in 2007, and General Motors left the market segment in 2009 with the cancellation of the Chevrolet Uplander . However, Volkswagen marketed the Volkswagen Routan (a rebadged Chrysler RT minivans ) between 2009 and 2013. In 2010, Ford started importing

5313-583: Was discontinued in 2019. Current minivans marketed in South Korea are the Kia Carnival and Hyundai Staria, along with imported options such as the Toyota Sienna (originally for North America) and later generations of Honda Odyssey. Chapman strut The Chapman strut is a design of independent rear suspension used for light cars, particularly sports and racing cars . It takes its name from, and

5390-399: Was introduced with a third-row seat that folded flat into the floor, which was then adopted by many competitors, including Chrysler that introduced third-row and fold-flat second-row seats in 2005. High-end minivans may include distinguished features such as captain seats or Ottoman seats , as opposed to bench seats for the second row. Before the adoption of the minivan term, there

5467-466: Was introduced, produced by Sevel Nord and marketed by Citroën, Fiat, Lancia, and Peugeot. The Eurovans were built with two sliding doors; the gearshift was located on the dashboard to increase interior space, and a petal-type handbrake was adopted. In 1995, Ford of Europe and Volkswagen entered a joint venture, producing the Ford Galaxy , SEAT Alhambra , and Volkswagen Sharan minivans, featuring front-hinged rear side doors. In 1996, Mercedes introduced

5544-595: Was joined by (and later replaced by) the Chevy Van . Due to their larger footprint and engines, minivans developed for the North American market are distinct from most minivans/MPVs marketed in other regions, such as Europe and Asia. As of 2020 , average exterior length for minivans in North America ranged around 200 inches (5.08 m), while many models use V6 engines with more than 270 horsepower (201 kW; 274 PS) mainly to fulfill towing capacity requirements which North American customers demand. In 2021, sales of

5621-485: Was mixed. Consumers perceived MPVs as large and truck-like despite boasting similar footprints as large sedans. Arguably, cultural reasons regarding vehicle size and high fuel prices were a factor. During 1996 and 1997, the Western European MPV market expanded from around 210,000 units to 350,000 units annually. However, the growth did not continue as expected, resulting in serious plant overcapacity . Renault set

5698-603: Was never produced. Stout owned and drove his own Scarab, accumulating over 250,000 miles in travel around the United States. Up to five Scarabs are reported to survive today. A 1935 Scarab in running condition was on display for many years at the Owls Head Transportation Museum in Owls Head, Maine , but was returned to its lender, the Detroit Historical Museum . The Detroit Historical Museum's vehicle

5775-407: Was ready in 1935, with some styling and mechanical changes. The headlamps were set behind a fine, vertical-bar grille , and at the rear, narrow chrome bars curved from the back window down to the bumper, giving the car its Art Deco appearance. The body was changed to steel to reduce cost. Stout stated that the car would be manufactured in limited quantities and sold by invitation. Up to a hundred

5852-554: Was reversed from its normal position, mounted directly over the rear axle and with the flywheel and clutch facing forward. The transmission was mounted ahead of this, reversing and lowering the drive-line back to the axle. This unusual layout would later be repeated by the Lamborghini Countach . A drivable prototype of the Scarab was completed in 1932, probably the first car to have an aluminum spaceframe unit-construction body . Some frame parts were steel. The second prototype

5929-437: Was scheduled to be returned to the museum's storage on August 21, 2016, when another car would be rotated into the exhibition. Other early teardrop-shaped cars, chronologically Minivan Minivan (sometimes called simply a van ) is a car classification for vehicles designed to transport passengers in the rear seating row(s), with reconfigurable seats in two or three rows . The equivalent classification in Europe

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