If Built, This Concept Could Be Chrysler’s Fresh Start
Chrysler is a brand in search of identity. Gone are the “Imported from Detroit” days of the twenty-teens when the brand sold a tough-looking luxury sedan powered by an equally tough V-8. (The Chrysler 300 ended production late last year). The only vehicle currently in available in Chrysler’s fleet is the Pacifica minivan. Even though it is the best-selling minivan in the U.S., the Pacifica is showing its age, having been around since 2017. Maybe it’s time for a fresh start.
The fully electric Halcyon Concept, revealed at the Stellantis design dome in Auburn, Michigan, could be the fresh start that the brand needs—if it makes production. (UPDATE 3/3/24: The Chrysler Halcyon Concept made its public debut at The Amelia. Be sure to check out the gallery at the bottom of this story for the full photo set of the car under Florida’s palms.)
The Halcyon is Chrysler’s latest step toward a new brand direction dubbed “Harmony in Motion.” CEO Chris Feuell describes the new tagline as “a fully electric tomorrow through new technology suites from Stellantis that integrate with simple and pure aerodynamic design and a seamless, connected and immersive cockpit experience.”
Let’s break that statement down.
Chrysler’s goal is to feature an all-electric portfolio by 2028, with its first pure EV set to debut in 2025. This timeframe falls in line with the Stellantis Dare Forward 2030 initiative, in which Chrysler’s corporate parent aims to reduce its carbon emissions by 50 percent and to increase its U.S. sales of battery-electric vehicles by the same percentage. Better yet, Stellantis already has a newly engineered platform to fit the Halcyon if a version of the concept makes production—the STLA Large platform that underpins the upcoming Dodge Charger Daytona SRT. However, some of the other EV technology Chrysler is showcasing in this concept, like inductive wireless charging built into roads and 800V lithium-sulfur batteries, simply isn’t scalable yet.
Next are the technology suites and cockpit experience, which are about as ready for prime time as the wireless on-road charging. The Halcyon boasts “a dimmable glass canopy and windshield that can turn opaque with seats laid back for a unique augmented-reality Stargazing Mode.” A computer-generated video showed how directions, text messages, and the aforementioned Stargazing Mode could be projected onto the windshield.
If any of those sound like dangerous distractions while driving, well, you may be relieved to know the car will be driving itself. The Halcyon includes the STLA AutoDrive technology platform, which will allow for Level 4 autonomous driving (full hands off the wheel, but only in specified locations). Today, there are no commercially available Level 4 autonomous systems on cars, but in the future, who knows. The STLA AutoDrive system allows for the Halcyon’s party trick, a fold-away steering wheel.
The interior is reminiscent of an ergonomic chair from Herman Miller rather than a Corinthian leather couch. It features sustainable materials like recycled fabrics and PET plastic, and more interestingly, crushed-up CDs that make up the redesigned Chrysler wing logo. Despite the coach doors and gullwing canopy, ingress into the rear seats is tricky and headroom is at a premium. But, hey, it is a concept car.
The Halcyon really has nothing in common with any of Chrysler’s outgoing designs, and that’s on purpose. “We tried to start over, so we didn’t pull too much from the past,” said Irina Zavatski, vice president of Chrysler Design. The aggressive stance and low roofline stun in person. The windshield glass seems to almost reach into the Charger Daytona SRT–like front air-blade. The surfacing is simple but well-refined. My only criticism of the design is that the front and rear light bars aren’t very expressive.
Chrysler may have been at a loss for direction recently, but this new design shows that the brand is looking to the future. However, as our EV and autonomous future seems to stall, we’ll see if this new, electrified vision of Chrysler’s future pans out.
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On what planet does this generate enough volume to save a “car” company? In the end, Chrysler quality will kill the company, regardless of what makes it out of the factory.
Very late to the all EV train so can’t trade on the ‘shiny new thing’ attractiveness like earlier suppliers have. And as that New Thing fades (as it does as the pre-owned market stutters because nobody knows how to value a pre-owned Tesla, Bolt, MB or whatever) then the Chrysler/Stellantis investment here will be unrewarded. And then there’s the wait for a better power density battery which doesn’t get so hot as it charges and discharges. And better recharge performance (time to recharge and available stations) and enough power sources that can deliver enough electrical power when and where it’s needed (fission, LPG, whatever, plus copper for cabling from wherever that generation happens to point-of-use). And waiting for all this leaves us with the range anxiety problem unanswered.
Now, if Chrysler could get to a truly hybrid Power Supply Unit, that might help reduce their late-to-the-party problems.
Chrysler showing up late to the party (and delusional) as is typical. Maybe instead of aiming at pie-in-the-sky design exercises, they should focus on at least trying to move the tech forward. I can’t imagine market share for this kind of vehicle would be sustainable to them as a brand when you already have Porsche, Audi, Tesla, Lucid, BMW, and Mercedes in the field and moving product. Lot of competition in a thin market segment.
“… we didn’t pull too much from the past,”
They’d better find another name for it, since that’s more or less what “Halcyon” means.
👍👍
😹
Zero. Interest.
They are kidding themselves, and trying to fool everyone else, that this electric vehicle is going to be their savior. Are they not paying attention to the floundering that the EV market is experiencing? Automakers are doing a reset on the failed-mandate driven EV future. But at least they’ll have a few people uttering the name “Chrysler” for a while before it fades away again.
This is nothing more than a design exercise. Toyota has it right when they tell us that going 100% EV isn’t the right path to take. The US auto industry has been overtaken by the regulators, the bean counters and the environmentalist. I have yet to own a Ford but now that the Mustang is the only remaining Pony car left I just might buy one. That is unless I buy a C5 FRC first.
The only problem I can foresee here is if the car ended up containing any electrical connectors, wiring, or microelectronics from Chrysler. As long as they are wise enough to acknowledge their incompetence at those bits, then it should be nice.
Yet another electric dead end concept car. A beautiful one yes, but why electric ?
Didn’t Chrysler get the memo that all the other manufactures have dumped their electric vehicle lines sense they can hardly give them away and no one wants them?
What’s next, an all electric Jeep / Fiat mongrel,, OMG NO don’t even think about it Chrysler !!
Two history lessons Chrysler needs to keep in mind: 1) The Airflow. 2) The Rambler American. What Chrysler needs now is to pull a George Romney and reintroduce a new car using the platform of the Dart/200 as the new Dodge Journey and Chrysler Aspen. They should have built a SUV variant on that platform 10 years ago. A lot of people would be happy with a 6 speed auto and an affordable price backed by a 10 year warranty. The Chrysler Aspen could have the 3.2 and 9 speed, and both versions would have AWD as an option. I live in Seattle and see lots of Subarus, Tacomas, and 4Runners, so why is Chrysler not offering competitive vehicles? Clearly consumers don’t care about handling the way auto journalists do. Yes there was the Jeep Gladiator, but why not a Dodge version that looks like a normal truck? How about a new Durango to compete against the 4Runner?
I would like to see them try opening those doors in a regular parking lot. Looks to me you might be trapped inside, especially in back. Does have some nice lines to it though.
Meet George Jettson…His dog Halcyon.
I think it’s a great design; with the exception of the horizontal character lines that define the scallop running rearward from behind the front wheel: everything about that element is all abrupt right-angles, while the rest of the car is smooth, flowing, and organic. 🤷🏻♂️
As far as being late to the EV party, that may turn out to be to Stellantis’ advantage. As Mr Peterson and Les already mentioned, the EV Revolution isn’t going so well for Tesla, Rivian, Ford, and GM at the moment…GM even recently announcing a return to hybrids(!)
Hopefully Stellantis can bring their own Titanic about in time…..or not, and then we’ll be down to the Big Two.
Why are all ‘new’ cars now only 3″ off the road. You would be hard pressed getting that off the street and into your home garage trying to get across the gutter section of your drive way. You see all the kids these days with lowered car suspension and they all have to take all of the road to navigate over a speed bump with an approach angle of 45º. This low concept is great for a perfectly flat freeway, but put it into the normal town road and you will tear the s**t out of the front air dam and underbody.
wether it its produced or not, it will another unaffordable electric car for the masses and then a short time after that a failure