Stellantis, like most automakers, is lastly leaning into the concept of an electric-focused future. Even its Chrysler model—lengthy starved of recent vehicles past the Pacifica minivan—is gearing as much as promote solely EVs by 2028, and it has been pumping out some rad ideas just like the Portal and Airflow to point out that even a model on the point of flip 100 can nonetheless study some new tips.
Meet the Chrysler Halcyon. The bottom-hugging, tremendous glossy sedan is the newest idea from the designers at Stellantis that’s packed stuffed with forward-looking tech. If all goes proper, a few of these options might trickle down into EVs offered below the Stellantis umbrella.
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Chrysler wants vehicles, Stellantis wants EVs
Chrysler father or mother firm Stellantis, which additionally owns Jeep, Dodge, Ram and several other European manufacturers like Fiat and Peugeot, is lastly getting severe about EV energy. However the storied Chrysler model has been starved for brand spanking new vehicles for years; it solely has the minivan and ageing 300C in its lineup. Does this idea characterize an actual comeback?
Chrysler stated that it has been engaged on this idea for somewhat over a 12 months. The Halcyon, named to characterize “concord in movement,” was initially deliberate to be revealed on the Client Electronics Present in Las Vegas earlier this month, however Stellantis pulled from the present (citing prices from the United Auto Employees strike) earlier than it might debut this idea.
It particularly selected to design the Halcyon idea across the STLA Massive modular platform. Which means it carries the identical underpinnings because the Jeep Wagoneer S, which might place the glossy four-door extra alongside the traces of a grand-touring heavyweight than a nimble sports activities sedan. The burden is obvious when you deal with its glass-heavy exterior. Almost 45% of the automobile is glass, which in flip makes it really feel very open when seated within the cabin.
As soon as seated inside, it is clear that Chrysler’s designers have a thoughts centered broadly on the way forward for motoring. Glossy, flowing traces are in every single place within the cockpit with a somewhat refreshing minimalist inside stretching throughout from doorsill to doorsill. Its rear doorways are rear-hinged, and its roof has a second set of gull-wing-like appendages (referred to as a “butterfly-hinged cover”) which opens as much as permit for spacious ingress and egress of the automobile.
Even the model’s Stow ‘n Go system, a godsend to folks in every single place that permits for simple seat storage, undergoes a contemporary redux. The minivan-focused characteristic is dropped at the Halycon to maximise inside usability and can permit the rear seats to retract into the trunk and open house for groceries, pet kennels, or no matter life throws to the proprietor’s manner.
The model is also giving homeowners a “digital detox” cabin the place drivers are freed up a bit from the concept of screens being at each viewing angle. As an alternative, drivers are offered with a myriad of autonomous and voice-controlled features that intelligently perceive what the drivers want to remain related with the automobile and nonetheless have a direct reference to the highway.
However by no means fret, there nonetheless might be one giant 15.6-inch central infotainment display screen that may be rotated in both portrait or panorama orientation.
The Chrysler model has all the time been about consolation and the convenience of driving. As such, it carried over that popularity to the Halcyon. The automobile will float on four-corner air suspension to reinforce each driving consolation and effectivity, which doubtless means it would make the most of the system as a part of its lively aerodynamics. The automobile may also make use of a sliding rear diffuser and rear spoiler to ramp up simply how glossy (and environment friendly) it may be whereas driving to maximise vary.
Talking of straightforward, Chrysler clearly desires to make it straightforward for EV homeowners to simply drive. The Halcyon idea is designed to simply accept wi-fi charging, so whether or not it’s a public highway that helps it or a pad within the storage, homeowners needn’t fear about plugging in—an concept that many firms have been working to make a actuality sooner or later.
And if the automobile does should cease and plug in for DC quick charging, an ultra-fast expertise would be the pinnacle of the journey. The model has designed its powertrain round an 800-volt battery structure, enabling 200 miles of vary to be recharged in as little as 5 minutes.
Now, all of those concepts sound nice on paper. But it surely does not imply that any of the styling or engineering decisions will really make it right into a manufacturing automobile. Your entire auto trade is infamous for pumping out very cool ideas, however whether or not or not these come to fruition is a bit dicey. And in any case these years of ideas, Chrysler, sooner or later, has to ship.
However Chrysler’s design workforce did an impeccable job constructing one thing refreshingly new whereas nonetheless sticking to timeless design philosophies. If the Halcyon is a glimpse into what Chrysler’s all-electric future might be, that future lastly appears to be like shiny.
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