Months after the reveal of the first images, Chrysler has officially unveiled the Airflow Concept during CES 2022, held in Las Vegas. The launch of this prototype, which is a preview of the first electric model that the US firm will launch in 2025, has been used to confirm that Chrysler will become a 100% electric brand in 2028.
This concept car owes its name to the legendary 1934 Chrysler Airflow, an advanced automobile that was a complete revolution at the time of its launch due to its avant-garde aerodynamically designed bodywork. However, its peculiar aesthetics doomed it to failure: American consumers considered it unappealing, which is why its production was halted in 1937 after a notorious commercial failure.
Interestingly, the prototype called to represent “the future direction of the Chrysler brand” takes up the name of a vehicle that failed in its attempt to win over the public; however, it is no less true that the original Airflow marked a before and after in the history of the company, something that its heir will probably also do.
Currently, the Chrysler range consists of only two models: the very veteran 300C sedan (2011) and the Voyager / Pacifica minivan (2016), the current mainstay of the brand. As can be seen, Chrysler is, along with Lancia, one of the firms with the worst health of the Stellantis group, which is why the new Airflow will be a key model for its survival.
The Chrysler Airflow Concept offers up to 644 kilometers of autonomy
Aesthetically, the Airflow Concept appears surprisingly close to a production vehicle; in fact, it could hit the streets with minimal modifications, since even elements such as the rear-view mirrors or the tires are rational and move away from the quirky aesthetics typical of concept cars. For this reason, it is strange to us that it will not be launched on the market until 2025.
The Chrysler Airflow Concept is a crossover that is somewhat reminiscent of models like the Ford Mustang Mach-E, although Stellantis’ proposal renounces any hint of aggressiveness and sportiness, opting for smooth and flowing lines. The Chrysler Wing logo runs across a chrome trim that blends with the headlights, while two-tone paint and 22-inch wheels add a modern, refined touch.
The cabin is without a doubt the most conceptual part of the vehicle, although it is not too far from what we might expect from the production model. The dashboard has a total of four displays (instrumentation, central screen, climate control module, and control center for the passenger), to which we would have to add another two screens for the rear seats (the vehicle has four individual seats in format 2 +2). The panoramic roof, ambient lighting, and white upholstery help create a bright environment.
The vehicle integrates the new STLA Brain electrical/electronic and software architecture as well as the STLA SmartCockpit. Among other things, it has OTA updates and applications based on artificial intelligence. In addition, it also equips the autonomous driving system STLA AutoDrive Level 3, which, as its name suggests, offers a level 3 of autonomy.
Although Chrysler has not specified the platform used in the prototype, it has confirmed that it equips two 204 hp (150 kW) powertrains in a “dual engine” configuration (all-wheel drive), while its range is between 563 and 150 kW. 644 EPA kilometers. This leads us to think that the architecture used is the STLA Medium.
