Chrysler's new minivan was her dream project

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. -- Jessica LaFond, who works for Fiat Chrysler, turned down promotions so she could remain in her job as lead engineer for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica.

LaFond, 42, said she wanted to stick with the development of the new minivan because she loves the vehicle, her children love minivans and she wanted to complete the project.

"For me, it was much more important to finish something from beginning to end (rather than accept a promotion) and have something that nobody would be ever be able to take away," said LaFond, who has worked for Chrysler for 21 years.

Chrysler spent $2.6 billion to develop and launch the  Pacifica -- more than twice the amount automakers often spend on new vehicles.

"It’s been one of flagship products for 30 years, so it's extremely important," LaFond said. "I would also say that in terms of a factor in the decision making, It was also how much I love the car itself."

LaFond said the minivan is often an emotional vehicle for families because of the memories that can be created in them. Her own daughter cried when she turned in her old minivan a few years ago, "even though there was another minivan in the driveway at the time."

Fiat Chrysler has been working on its new minivan for at least five years and is taking some big strategic risks with the new Pacifica.

For starters, FCA is dropping the well-known "Town & Country" nameplate and is reintroducing the name Pacifica -- a name used for a Chrysler crossover from 2003 to 2007. FCA also is banking on the Pacifica to eventually account for the sales of the Town & Country and the Dodge Grand Caravan.

"It’s a risky strategy, but I think it can work out," said Stephanie Brinley, senior analyst for the Americas for IHS Automotive.

The Detroit-area automaker, credited with creating the minivan segment in the 1980s, hasn't developed an all-new architecture for its minivan since 2008 -- a long time for an automaker whose identity is so closely tied to the family hauler.

The automaker showed a concept version of its new minivan way back in 2012. Along the way, FCA wrestled with whether or not it would introduce the new minivan as a Dodge or a Chrysler and what to call the new vehicle.

"I did not want to give up," LaFond said. "So once I started it...I was going to ride it all of the way to the end."