On July 29 the Chrysler Group dedicated a new 500,000 square-foot expansion of its Kenosha Engine Plant with the launch of the 3.5-liter V6 engine that will power the all-new Chrysler Pacifica, which begins production in early 2003. The 3.5-liter SOHC 24-valve V6 engine will offer performance and improved fuel economy, according to the company. The 3.5-liter production launch marks the completion of the plant's $624 million modernization and expansion program that began in 1999, and coincides with the city of Kenosha's Automotive Centennial celebration. Chrysler Group plants traditionally use outside vendors for installation of new machinery to create production areas. At Kenosha Engine, a pilot team was created in an effort to eliminate problems up-front and increase efficiencies. Approximately 30 people from Kenosha's hourly workforce collaborated with corporate engineers, advanced manufacturing teams and suppliers to provide recommendations on the equipment and implementation procedures. Some 100 employees were involved in the equipment floor installation, testing of machinery and training initiatives associated with the new engine. The design and functionality of the new 3.5-liter engine was derived from the Chrysler 300M, Chrysler Concorde and Dodge Intrepid engine. An all-new dual-intake manifold provides an up-grade to the Kenosha-built engine. The plant currently produces the 4.0-liter I-6 rear-wheel drive and 2.7-liter V6 front-wheel drive engines for use in the Chrysler Concorde and Sebring, Dodge Stratus and Intrepid and Jeep Grand Cherokee and Wrangler. With Pacifica, Chrysler is taking yet another concept vehicle to reality. The production version of the all-new 2004 Chrysler Pacifica sports-tourer was introduced earlier this year at the New York International Auto Show. Production of the 2004 Chrysler Pacifica will begin in early 2003 at Chrysler Group's Windsor Assembly Plant, (Windsor, Ontario, Canada). Pacifica will be built on its own, unique platform, but will use existing corporate components, including the 3.5-liter V6 engine. At full production, Kenosha Engine will employ more than 1,700 team members and has the ca-pacity to produce 780,000 engines annually on a two-shift operation. The 1.8 million square-foot facility currently employs 1,675 workers, who produce more than 2,000 units per day. Since 1997, Chrysler Group has invested $1.2 billion in the Kenosha facility.