Drew Dowdell

This morning, Chrysler released information on the 2024 Chrysler Halcyon concept. The concept highlights a host of future technologies that Chrysler and Stellantis are working on. Halcyon combines three complementary technologies, STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit, and STLA AutoDrive to achieve "Harmony in Motion" and features a new lithium-sulfur battery technology that promise a 60% lower carbon footprint than the best-in-class batteries available on the market today. The highly streamlined sedan, built on the STLA-Large platform, is optimized for range and efficiency. A functional front air blade and side aero blades direct airflow around the vehicle to improve aerodynamic performance. Side mirrors have been replaced with slim, blade-like camera pods, while autonomous entry eliminates the need for door handles. The windscreen extends forwards, towards the edges of the front end, elongating the cockpit and giving the driver and passenger a sweeping view of the road. Active Aero technology includes a sliding rear aero diffuser made from lightweight composite materials, a rear spoiler, and an active air suspension. The Chrysler Halcyon Concept has several modes to connect with the driver and passengers. Prepare Mode uses an AI Virtual Assistant to help prepare the driver for the day. Using advanced STLA Brain and SmartCockpit technology, an Intelligent Cabin Comfort feature analyzes weather conditions and uses personalized preferences to set HVAC levels remotely. Predictive navigation, one of the concept’s many predictive interaction features, syncs with the driver’s calendar to prepare the vehicle for real-time traffic and navigation routing, staying one step ahead and eliminating unneeded driver inputs. Welcome Mode uses biometric identification to greet the driver as they approach. LED illumination animates with a personalized exterior sound to provide a sense of connection. The functional Chrysler wing logos indicate the vehicle's charge status. Entry Mode allows the driver to be the “key” to unlocking the concept, as facial biometrics allow safe and secure, hands-free vehicle entry and start-up, with doors unlocking and opening autonomously. Biometric functions can also detect if the driver is carrying a package or backpack and intuitively retract the next-gen Stow ‘n Go seats to create storage space. Air suspension assists with ingress by lifting the low-profile vehicle as the driver enters the cockpit, with the concept always at the right entry height. Pre-drive Mode brings to life a customized experience, with personalized vehicle cymatics – sound and vibrations mirrored through visuals – helping to create the mood of the vehicle. As the vehicle wakes up and welcomes the driver, it can share a calming or energetic sound based on driver presets. Different sound frequencies prompt corresponding product shapes on the console screen — calming frequencies align with a more dispersed particle pattern on the console screen, while more spirited sound frequencies generated during drive modes create energetic particle patterns that provide the driver with a real-world connection to the vehicle’s performance status. Ambient interior lighting and sounds also adjust to driver inputs and complement the cabin environment. Drive Mode delivers a dynamic, personalized driving experience. Drivers can sit back, relax and allow the Chrysler Halcyon Concept to take control while the STLA AutoDrive technology platform enables Level 4 autonomous driving features, such as Stargazing Mode or take the wheel, and controls for an exciting, connected-to-the road experience. STLA AutoDrive technology platform enables Level 4 autonomous driving features that eliminate the stress of traffic using predictive navigation. The steering wheel and pedals retract, and the dimmable glass canopy and windshield can turn opaque for privacy and to create an immersive space, such as a Stargazing Mode in which seats morph into a laid-back position while the augmented-reality windshield HUD projects information on stars and constellations. Occupants can also watch movies and play games, and the adaptive environment features a media system that chooses audio and content based on the driver’s personal preferences and history. The augmented-reality HUD includes a Memory Landmark feature that pins points of interest and previously visited locations during the drive, with landmark pins selectable and shareable. Drivers who want to own the controls can use voice recognition to deploy the steering wheel and experience pure dynamic driving excitement in a low-profile vehicle that is one with the road. Customized EV drive modes enhance the driving experience with selectable levels of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) support, and holographic elements in the HUD blend seamlessly into the real world for both navigation and gamification. The concept can gamify travel through mountainous ranges by identifying certain landmarks or marking best lap times. Exit Mode, with Automated Parking features and automatic transformation of seats and ride height to accommodate vehicle egress. Smart exterior lighting enables vehicle-to-pedestrian communication, with indicator lighting such as blinkers or stopping displayed on the ground through near-field projection to aid in pedestrian safety. A send-off is communicated on the console screen and complemented through animated lighting and sounds. Powering the concept is a breakthrough battery technology from Lyten. The 800-volt lithium-sulfur EV batteries do not use nickel, cobalt, or manganese and have an estimated 60% lower carbon footprint than batteries currently on the market. Drivers would be able to recharge the Halcyon while driving using Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer technology to take on energy while traveling over specially equipped, dedicated road lanes. The batteries also feature a lighter weight for the same energy density. The 2024 Chrysler Halcyon Concept is the latest in a series of concepts by Chrysler showcasing its move to an all-electric-vehicle future. The first Chrysler EV will launch in 2025. View full article

Less of a rebadge and more of a cousin. The Peugeot has some angles on it where the Halcyon has curves.

I think the Ram and the 500e will be the only electric vehicles in their portfolio for the next year. It gives them time to react

Tomorrow morning, Chrysler will unveil the Chrysler Halcyon Concept EV on their website. The Halcyon is an evolution from the Chrysler Airflow Concept shown in 2022. Chrysler has teased various vague images over the last few weeks, showing an updated logo and some various, undefined body lines with little else in the way of clues. Two things that stand out from the teaser images are the shape of the back glass and the full-width tail lamps. What we can expect is that the Halcyon will be a two-row crossover, and it will sit on the Stellantis STLA platform. We also already know that since the merger, Stellantis planned on moving most of the U.S. brands to PSA platforms. With that in hand, we can look around at the Stellantis portfolio. The first obvious platform mate is the upcoming Jeep Wagoneer S. This two-row crossover features a low-slung design that is sleek by Jeep standards. Sitting on the STLA-Large platform, it has a targeted 400-mile range and 600 horsepower. While the Wagoneer S is sleek for a Jeep, the teaser images appear to show a crossover with a coupe-like roofline. For that, we can look across the pond to France and see what Chrysler's new step-sibling Peugeot is doing. This is the Peugeot E 3008, an all-electric crossover that sits on a version of the STLA-Medium platform. The max range of the E3008 is 435 miles on the WLTP testing protocol, which is generally more ambitious than the EPA rating scale. All-wheel drive models can produce 320 horsepower and a 5.2 second 0-60 sprint. We think these specs and roof line would suit Chrysler just fine. However, we don't think the Peugeot E3008's interior will carry over as it is probably too avant-garde for American tastes. In Peugeot's home turf, the E3008 is priced at 37,730 € or about $39,900 for the base model and 42,140 € or $45,250 for the GT model. If you knew nothing else except that Chrysler was coming out with a two-row electric crossover, you could probably pick those prices and win The Price is Right. What it will come down to is size. We think that the most likely answer will be a Chrysler-styled version of the Peugeot E 3008. We will see how right we are tomorrow morning. View full article