The good news here - they're at least trying to get input from customers, rather than assuming. But the issue is, WHO is in the sales clinics, and this concerns me. As they'll feel vindicated with their decision even if they have the wrong people in the sales clinic.
If you put your attention towards real perspective buyers, you should have a high number of actual buyers, people have and WILL buy the product. If you took, for instance people who have already bought minivans, particularly Chrysler minivans, you have a VERY high likely hood that these people WILL buy the product they are expressing interest in, and in turn that they represent REAL buyers, not just people who say they like the car. If you go target, primarily a bunch of random potential CUV buyers, they may tell you which design they like, but odds of them actually wanting to buy that product aren't very good. You'd end up skewing the results. The hope remains that what ever base they have there will represent real likely buyers, as that would almost ensure they maintain both minivans. They want to add a Crossover after, be my guest. But I have long felt that Marchionnes obsession with 1 minivan is a manifestation of his ego, and nothing to do with pragmatism. Which I don't like to see, as I like him. The sales numbers speak for themselves, there is no NEED to kill a minivan. It's one of the very few things Chrysler has had continuously going for them over the last decade (The other may be the wrangler)