2016 Dodge Caravan Confirmed By Spy Shots

While minivans have long been replaced by SUVs as Americans' family haulers of choice, they remain a key part of the history of FCA, the corporation also known as Fiat Chrysler, which invented the segment 33 years ago. Chrysler has already said it plans to launch a new version of the Town & Country at next year's Detroit auto show, but has said the Dodge Grand Caravan would die in its current form.

So what's this minivan-shaped test car covered in camoflauge doing with Dodge badges all over it?

As caught by automotive photographers SpiedBilde, this is likely the 2016 Dodge Caravan; we say "likely" because things have a way of changing at Chrysler right up to a deadline. The photos match the shape of the other test minivans caught earlier — built off the same Fiat-derived platform that underpins the Dodge Dart and Chrysler 200 sedans. The new minvan is expected to use the 3.2-liter V-6 or some variant of Fiat-Chrysler's four-cylinder; Chrysler has also said the minvan will be its first plug-in hybrid, and could easily adopt an all-wheel-drive system to compete more effectively with the Toyota Sienna.