the Chrysler Town & Country luxury minivan was introduced in early 1989. Chassis The first-generation Chrysler minivans are based upon the Chrysler S platform, using unibody construction. Contrary to popular belief, the S platform is not directly related to the K platform; though sharing powertrains to lower development and production costs, the S platform has a distinct body structure, allowing for a higher hoodline and seat height. The S platform is produced in two wheelbases: 112.1 inches for standard-length minivans; 119.1 inches for "Grand"-length minivans. Adapting the layout of the K platform for a larger vehicle, the S-platform vans were fitted with MacPherson strut front suspension and a beam rear axle with leaf springs. All S-platform minvans are fitted with front disc and rear drum brakes. Engines For the first three years of production, two engines were offered – both inline-4 engines with two-barrel carburetors. The base 2.2 L was borrowed from the Chrysler K-cars, and produced horsepower. The higher performance fuel-injected version of the 2.2 L engine later offered in the K-cars was never offered in the Caravan, and the 2-bbl version would remain the base power plant until mid-1987. Alongside the 2.2 L, an optional Mitsubishi 2.6 L engine was available, producing . In mid-1987, the base 2.2 L inline-four engine was replaced with a fuel-injected 2.5 L inline-four, which produced , while the Mitsubishi G54B I4 was replaced with a new fuel-injected 3.0 L Mitsubishi V6 producing in March of that year. Shortly thereafter, in model year 1989, a more powerful engine became optional: a turbocharged version of the 2.5 L I4 producing . Revisions to the Mitsubishi V6 increased its output to , and a new 3.3 L V6 was added to the option list in model year 1990. The V6 engines became popular as sales of the 2.5 turbo dwindled, and it was dropped at the end of the year. Neither the 3.3 L V6 engine nor the turbocharged four were available on the European Chrysler Voyager. The Chrysler Town & Country was only available with one engine option, the Mitsubishi 3.0 L V6, which was later upgraded to the newly introduced 3.3 L V6 during its production run. Transmissions Both a three-speed TorqueFlite A413 automatic transmission and a five-speed manual were available with most inline-4 engines, including the turbocharged 2.5 L (this was a rare combination). Manual transmissions were not available on 2.6 L