Up to now two years, Chrysler has launched extra idea autos than fashions it really sells. In 2024, the 99-year-old model discontinued the 300 sedan, leaving it with one mannequin, the venerable Pacifica minivan. Concurrently with the paring down, Chrysler on Tuesday launched its third idea in as a few years with the beautiful Chrysler Halcyon.

It’s an odd time for Chrysler. Like its predecessors, the Halcyon was deliberate to premiere at CES in Las Vegas in January, as Chrysler did with the Airflow Idea in 2022 and Synthesis cabin idea in 2023. This yr, Chrysler needed to pull out as a result of guardian firm Stellantis pulled the plug on all auto and commerce exhibits for 2024. Appears to be like like they picked the mistaken week to cease parading round idea automobiles.

Chrysler Halcyon Idea

What’s the Chrysler Halcyon Idea?

That’s a disgrace as a result of the Halcyon is a shocking four-door electrical coupe with barn doorways and a entrance windshield that extends additional than George Jetson’s commute to Spacely Sprockets. Fairly actually, the glass dome includes 45% of the inside encompass, and the entrance a part of the glass roof’s hourglass form dips thus far down that it ends past the entrance axle. What stays of the hood is an air blade, or an open aero chamber that lets air move over the windshield. It’s an analogous tackle the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT Banshee Idea, however Dodge calls their air blade an R-Wing. As an alternative of a hood scoop, it’s like a hood tunnel.  

That is no muscle automotive, nonetheless. The flowing sedan with butterfly roof wings is an opulent technological showpiece and a far cry from the 2022 Airflow Idea. That production-ready electrical crossover will possible look so much just like the battery electrical crossover set for 2025. 

“The Airflow Idea was developed earlier than we reframed the model positioning,” Chrysler model CEO Chris Feuell defined to a media briefing on the finish of January. “It was begin, however we knew we might push issues somewhat edgier, somewhat extra tech ahead, and I believe what you see right here with the Halcyon Idea represents the longer term design course of the model and also you’ll see plenty of related cues in future product.”

The obvious cue would be the new Chrysler model brand that appears like a staple with a smile. It’s going to debut on the refreshed Chrysler Pacifica, Feuell instructed me, however on the Halcyon it’s illuminated for the electrical age.

Chrysler Halcyon Idea

Mild rings the idea, from the low entrance finish that may sweep the leg higher than Cobra Kai to the muscular rear spoiler that may get the eye of Sir Combine-a-Lot. A Botoxed higher lip pouts over a pronounced underbite sitting 4.0 inches above the bottom, and between it flows the air blade. Air additionally flows out by means of extractors past the 22-inch wheels wrapped in 255/35R Pirelli tires, and the five-spoke wheel design appears like a working man on fireplace, his spokes tipped with aptitude. The physique form tucks in between the wheels, mirroring the hourglass form {that a} hen might discover from above. 

The Halcyon is low, lengthy, and as gorgeous as it’s inconceivable. 

The only-hinge barn doorways open vast sufficient, however then a 3rd half, a window with a butterfly hinge, flips as much as the sky so you possibly can really get in. Step over a large sill and contort your head to get within the entrance seat, however even at 5-foot-8, I’d have needed to slouch like a teen throughout a lecture to shut the butterfly window and go. 

The Halcyon’s not going anyplace, however the close to 360-degree dome of imaginative and prescient provides strategy to a novel openness prized by car designers.

Chrysler Halcyon Idea

“[Concept vehicles] actually take {the handcuffs} off, opens this up, says what if, what if not only some years down the street however what if a few years sooner or later,” stated Ryan Nagode, vice chairman, head of inside design at Stellantis.

The glass cover can change into a projection display for conferences on the go when the automotive is driving itself, or it may be used to attach the dots of constellations and different interactivities on a  household street journey, Chrysler instructed. The headliner protecting the cross braces and across the sides of the cover is product of 73% recycled water bottles. Reclining again could be extra welcome than sitting up and driving. 

How does the Halcyon Idea assist Chrysler?

Extra virtually, it brings into the fold how Stow ‘n Go seats could possibly be reimagined for an electrical car ground occupied by a full battery pack. The rear seat bottoms within the 2+2 skeleton format could possibly be pushed again into the hatch, so the seat bottoms then change into flush with the seat again and open up the ground for storage, related in idea to the peerless Stow ‘n Go seats that fold into the ground of the Chrysler Pacifica. 

The Halcyon might start an electrical minivan.

Chrysler Halcyon Idea

“I did say that we’re reworking our portfolio to be full battery electrical,” Feuell defined, citing Chrysler’s goal of 2028 for full BEV. “So it definitely suggests we’re popping out with a BEV minivan.”

The Halcyon additionally synthesizes the 2023 cockpit idea, together with the STLA Mind. The mind is the {hardware} and software program elements that make up the infotainment displayed on the retractable 15.6-inch portrait touchscreen within the Halcyon, in addition to the model’s semi-autonomous driving system and AI interface that learns driver preferences over time. All of that is anticipated to launch with the 2025 Chrysler BEV, then develop to different Stellantis autos. 

One other production-ready part of the Halcyon is its STLA Giant platform. STLA is the ticker image for the 14 international manufacturers that comprise Stellantis, and is affectionately often known as Stella Giant. 

Considered one of 4 multidimensional powertrain platforms, Stella Giant will underpin eight fashions being launched within the subsequent two years. They are going to be midsize crossover SUVs and presumably sedans measuring not more than 201.8 inches in size. That’s about two inches shy of the present Chrysler Pacifica and Jeep Grand Cherokee L three-row autos.

STLA Giant platform

There will probably be 400- and 800-volt variations, however the Halcyon doesn’t give us a lot perception into such performance.

Chrysler stated it envisions breakthrough fast-charging know-how with Lyten 800-volt lithium-sulfur batteries that don’t use nickel, manganese, or cobalt. The unproven (on a mass scale) battery chemistry supplies as much as 200 miles in 5 minutes of fast-charging, Chrysler alleges, and it reduces its carbon footprint by 60% over lithium-ion battery packs. 

Chrysler additionally envisions wi-fi charging street techniques in sure cities throughout the nation. Particulars on how this works are scant.

“It is a idea car and it’s incorporating applied sciences which are on the horizon in our lengthy vary plans,” Feuell stated.

Christine Feuell

The extra quick plans don’t embrace an internal-combustion engine, although plans change. 

“In future product, there’s not an ICE deliberate,” Feuell stated. “It’s vital for Chrysler to have that time of distinction if conditions change and demand adjustments. Then STLA Giant is multidimensional and has ICE, PHEV and BEV choices.”