Chrysler's Latest Concept Looks Like A Production Ready Soft-Roader

The automaker has been playing with new special editions and potential trims for the model, including a 100th Anniversary of Chrysler edition earlier this year based on the Select trim. Now, there's the Chrysler Pacifica Grizzly Peak concept car, which pushes the van to be more adventurous.

Starts With A Limited Trim

The Grizzly Peak is based on the existing Pacifica Limited all-wheel-drive, which currently starts just north of $53,000 for the gas-only option. To be clear, it's just a concept at this point. And since there's no Limited trim for the plug-in hybrid Pacifica, this concept is pure combustion. The standard Pacifica Limited features a 3.6-liter Pentastar V6 good for 287 horsepower and 262 pound-feet of torque, linked to a nine-speed automatic transmission.

The Limited comes with nice bits like 20-inch wheels, a black upper grille and grille surround, panoramic sunroof, insulated glass, a heated steering wheel, wireless phone charging pad, tri-zone auto climate control, an all-black interior treatment with bucket seats up front, and the "integrated Ultra console" that connects to the front dashboard with a pass-through underneath. From what we see in Chrysler's photos, the concept appears to be similarly equipped.

Getting Grizzly With It

The new Pacifica Grizzly Peak concept builds on that with a 2.75-inch front and 2.5-inch rear suspension lift, paired with 31-inch BFGoodrich KO2 off-road all-terrain tires wrapped around new 18-inch wheels that are more off-road friendly. The face is now adorned with Baja Designs LP4 LED fog lamp pods, while on the roof, you'll find auxiliary TYRI LED lights.

Speaking of the roof, the typical Limited roof rack is swapped out for a new Rhino-Rack Pioneer Platform storage setup, and there's also a fancy ARB retractable awning attached to the side of the roof. The exterior of the concept is finished in Arktos matte-finish paint color with dark aluminum "Foreshadow" accents. New Mopar splash guards and a protective paint wrap are applied to the lower body panels.

Living In A Van Down By The River

Inside the new Grizzly Peak concept, the Pacifica gains a new Cement Gray interior color scheme with Liquid Titanium accents on the bezels, matched with light Katzkin leather seats and plenty of orange for both seat belts and contrast stitching. A new steering wheel features a dimpled texture and also gets paddle shifters. The Pacifica's third-row seating – arguably the defining feature of a minivan – is removed in favor of a new cargo floor panel unique to the concept vehicle, with added tie-down points behind the second row of seats. As it sits, this concept van is strictly a four-seater.

“We’ve been following van life for years, and we know adventurers really value the versatility the Pacifica delivers. Our Chrysler design studio nailed the brief and really dove in."
-Chris Feuell, Chrysler CEO

This space is meant to more easily accommodate sleepers when the car is parked for camping, and the promo images show a pair of sleeping bags fitting back there with the second row of seats folded. Chrysler also added an additional 115-volt / 450-watt power access in the rear cargo area. More Mopar incidentals round out the concept: a first-aid kit, stackable totes, Mopar all-weather floor mats, and apparently some sort of unique space-saver spare tire setup.

Judging by the images provided, this seems like a fairly well-laid-out concept that could easily pivot to a full production model, if Chrysler sees demand for such a thing. Considering how automakers are jumping head-first into the soft-roader segment with vehicles like the Nissan Rogue Rock Creek, Subaru Forester Wilderness, and Chevrolet Equinox Activ, this almost seems like a no-brainer for the Pacifica.

The company will no doubt be paying close attention to attendees at this year's Overland Expo Mount West, taking place this weekend in Loveland, Colorado. The annual show is aimed at the adventure lifestyle crowd, and that's where Chrysler will debut this new Pacifica Grizzly Peak concept. If something like this does go into production, we'd expect a price somewhere in the $50,000 to $60,000 range considering it's based on the $50,000 Pacifica Limited.