Chrysler is one in all America’s oldest automotive manufacturers however has lacked a transparent id for a while. Once residence to a full lineup of fashions, as we speak it sells solely the Pacifica minivan. That may very well be an issue… or a clear canvas for designers to make use of in creating a brand new imaginative and prescient.
Chrysler is treating its fading id as an opportunity to remake itself. The firm unveiled a design research it calls the Halcyon Concept, meant to point out off “Chrysler’s fully electrified future vision that embraces sustainable design and full autonomy paired with personalized driving experiences.”
An idea automobile isn’t meant for manufacturing. Automakers use them to point out off their concepts that will make it into extra sensible vehicles sooner or later.
The Halcyon Concept is each spectacular and disappointing in methods we’ll discover.
The spectacular
Outside
The Chrysler Halcyon Concept
Stellantis
The Halycon Concept is a… low-slung sport sedan? It’s exhausting to determine as a result of the automobile has 4 doorways, however they’re in contrast to any you’ve opened earlier than. They open barn-style with no pillar between, whereas T-top glass panels above rise like butterfly wings to reveal the whole cabin.
It’s as modern and angular as any supercar — you may in all probability persuade somebody this was an Aston Martin sketch. Wheels so massive they practically match the highest of the doorline and low floor clearance solely add to the impression an unique model designed this.
Inside
The inside of the Chrysler Halcyon Concept claims a “digital detox” cockpit with stress-free autonomous options.
Stellantis
Four extraordinarily skinny seats constructed of sculptural exhausting items like Twenty second-century Eames chairs outline the inside. The rear seats, Chrysler says, retract into the trunk to create one flat load flooring. The firm calls this a “future vision of Stow ‘n Go seating,” drawing one unconvincing line from the Halcyon to the Pacifica.
The dashboard hosts a wide-stretch octagon that Chrysler calls a “reverse yoke” and a touchscreen in portrait orientation.
Plus: BMW desires to make driving an electrical automobile much less boring
Performance
The Chrysler Halcyon Concept
Stellantis
Chrysler has launched few efficiency particulars in regards to the all-electric Halcyon. It notes that the automobile makes use of an 800-volt lithium-sulfur battery and may cost at a fee of as much as 40 miles per minutes. Perhaps most notable is a capability to cost wirelessly whereas touring on correctly outfitted roads with Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer Capability.
Technology
Automakers generally use idea vehicles to drift extraordinary expertise concepts, realizing nobody will ever check them.
Chrysler has three of them for the Halcyon Concept.
STLA Brain (STLA is the inventory image for Chrysler dad or mum firm Stellantis
STLA,
) makes use of over-the-air updates to maintain the automobile always evolving and synthetic intelligence to diagnose issues and search updates to repair them with no dealership go to.
STLA SmartCockpit integrates navigation, e-commerce, and different options by means of an AI-powered voice assistant.
And STLA AutoDrive is a Level 4 automation system – one that may fold away the pedals and steering wheel and drive for you on a identified route. Chrysler says you received’t even want to observe the place it’s going. It makes use of “a dimmable glass canopy and windshield that can turn opaque with seats laid back for a unique augmented-reality Stargazing Mode.”
Also see: The 2024 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan is a snug, spacious and secure family-hauler that saves on fuel, too
The disappointing
The Halcyon idea
Stellantis
It’s a exceptional bundle… however virtually definitely a purely imaginary one.
Two years in the past, Chrysler introduced out an all-electric idea automobile meant to level the best way towards future designs. The Chrysler Airflow Concept was a lot nearer to a manufacturing automobile. It regarded like one thing the corporate may realistically construct and promote at an inexpensive worth.
Last yr, they pulled the plug on it. Under new management, Chrysler introduced plans to scuttle the Airflow and introduce an alternate idea.
You would possibly like: 18 new EVs to observe for in 2024
If the Halcyon is the reply, it’s stunning…however far much less mature, virtually definitely by no means headed for manufacturing, and full of far-out concepts a few years away from the market.
Chrysler sellers as we speak have only one car to promote. The model not too long ago ended manufacturing of its Chrysler 300 sedan (although sellers nonetheless have a wholesome provide of them in inventory). That leaves solely the Pacifica to hold the Chrysler identify.
Plus: Honda exhibits off these EV ideas for 2026: A low-slung wedge sedan and a futuristic van
Chrysler has promised to go all-electric by 2028. The Airflow made many within the trade imagine that the corporate had a transparent, executable plan for getting there and would have a brand new product in shops quickly.
The Halcyon just isn’t practically as far alongside in its improvement and never prone to lead to an actual automobile you should purchase anytime quickly.
This story initially ran on KBB.com.
Source web site: www.marketwatch.com
