Despite the fact that the Chrysler brand has existed for almost 100 years, it has been somewhat mothballed in recent years by parent company Stellantis. Once Chrysler offered the beautiful Windsor of the 1940s, the luxuriously long Imperial and New Yorker, as well as the more recent and more divisive Crossfire, now it only offers the aging 300 sedan and the Pacifica minivan.
It’s not exactly the brightest model range, but things appear to be about to change thanks to the latest and decidedly dramatic Halcyon concept car. It seems to point to a very exciting electric future for one of America’s most coveted hood badges.
Based on the Stellantis Group’s large STLA platform, which will form the basis of a number of new electric cars in the coming years, the Halcyon is a long but shapely four-seat electric roadster that could take on Porsche’s Taycan, the Lucid Air and Tesla’s Model S if it ever goes into production.
It features Active Aero technology, including an active rear diffuser, as well as an “aerodynamic front air blade passage area, front air curtains and an elongated windshield” to help the vehicle cut through the air more efficiently.
Tall, low and decidedly slim, Halcyon has an imposing figure. Even the doors have butterfly hinges to allow easy access to the cavernous interior.
Of course, none of this is likely to make it to production, as there isn’t even much concrete evidence of a powertrain, but Chrysler claims the Halcyon concept will have an 800V lithium-sulfur battery at its core, with the ability to charge charging at a speed of 40 miles per minute from the appropriate fast charger.
However, it goes one step further in that it is also compatible with inductive charging technology, meaning that all roads and highways with Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer Capability can theoretically power the vehicle to an unlimited range. That said, the technology isn’t commercially viable, so don’t hold your breath on that one.
AI inside
The striking, sweeping silhouette houses an equally impressive interior, which consists of four individual seats that use biometric recognition to set the mood accordingly.
This fits nicely with Chrysler’s vision of a SmartCockpit that recognizes occupants and enables seamless transfer of data from personal devices to the car’s infotainment system – itself powered by a powerful 15.6-inch center console.
An AI assistant can predict and enter the next stop in the navigation based on calendar items and schedules, while selectable levels of advanced driver assistance systems can intervene if the vehicle detects that its occupants should spend their time working instead of driving .
To help with this, the brand claims that Halcyon can perform Level 4 autonomous driving, meaning it can perform most driving tasks while the person behind the wheel interacts with other digital functions or even leans back (see below).
As long as they are available to take over at any time, Halcyon can effectively drive itself… if the law allows it.
Chill mode
Should Halcyon come to a time when advanced levels of autonomous driving are safe and legal, Chrysler plans to offer a so-called “Chill Mode.” Once activated, the steering wheel folds back into the dashboard and both the head and footrests appear, allowing occupants to achieve a more relaxed, zen-like state.
The dimmable glass roof canopy and windows are automatically tinted, while a full Augmented Reality Head-Up Display appears and the system can effectively direct any form of streamable media onto that panoramic glass roof.
According to its creator, the same HUD can convey information about stars and constellations in the night sky, should those traveling on board consider themselves wannabe Sir Patrick Moores as they fly to a destination. Monocles optional.