The Chrysler Airflow Concept: Chrysler's EV Future

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NWbyNW

Discussion Starter · Jan 5, 2022 (Edited)

The Chrysler Airflow Concept

Chrysler has fully revealed the Chrysler Airflow Concept in a way they hadn't prior. Now complete with a full press release. The Chrysler Airflow concept portends the destiny of Stellantis’ premium American brand, which will introduce its first battery-electric vehicle in 2025 before going all-EV by 2028. You read that right, "America's Premium Brand." Chrysler is aiming up again. The Airflow previews Chrysler’s future of EV propulsion and Level 3 driver assistance.

Chrysler says the Airflow concept’s silent propulsion has a low environmental impact that supposedly inspired designers to take a similar approach to styling. The result is a graceful, aerodynamic vehicle that’s a big departure from the blocky 300 that rocked the world in 2005, and more reminiscent of the soft, smooth lines of the beautiful Chrysler 200 redesign of 2015. The long wheelbase and wide track emphasizes passenger space, with 22-inch wheels giving the Airflow a firm, planted stance. Thanks to a low center of gravity and that wheels-at-the-corners layout, Chrysler says the Airflow will offer excellent handling and performance.

The new Airflow has an exhaustive suite of connectivity features, which will allow the car’s occupants to control other aspects of their lives like home security, shopping, and even video conference calls, etc, right from the car’s cabin. Granted, most of that stuff people will never do. But you based on recent products from Jeep, watching Youtube and Fire TV should be a given for passengers.

Chrysler’s move towards electrification is based on a new company EV platform. The Airflow concept comes with Stellantis’ new battery-specific architecture called STLA. This model is likely based on the STLA Medium platform for midsized cars and crossovers. But what about range you ask? Chrysler expects a theoretical range of between 350 and 400 miles which is easy to make up since it hasn't been tested yet. Maybe we can pretend it gets 800 miles? Joking aside, the Airflow gets all-wheel drive thanks to two 150-kilowatt (201-horsepower) electric drive modules (EDMs) that combine the engine, geartrain, and inverter into a single package. An all-in-one if you will. The Airflow likely has about 400hp between the two EDMs, but you really can't combine the HP for each EDM to get a final output. That isn't how it works.

Another good thing is that Chrysler also says the platform is capable of accepting larger, more powerful power units, making the prospect of higher-performance vehicles a spark of glimmer in the eye of speed fans. Stellantis also announced in July 2021 that all of its future power modules would at least be 400-volt compatible, and that the flagship EDM features 800-volt architecture. As the standard-bearer for Chysler’s electrification plans, it’s likely the Airflow features that technology. Most likely, the Chrysler Airflow can receive over-the-air updates to keep its user interface and technology current for longer than other vehicles on the road today. With the average age of cars people drive older than ever today, this will be much appreciated.

The Chrysler Airflow concept has STLA AutoDrive technology (a shared technology with BMW), a Level 3 driver-assistance suite that can remove the driver from the equation in specific circumstances like freeway or limited-access highway driving. More advanced than other systems currently on sale in the US, Level 3 autonomy allows the driver to take their eyes off the road and their hands off the wheel, freeing them up to do things they probably shouldn't... heck they can eat a sandwich as the car drivers, or shave, brush their teeth.

Inside, the front and rear seats feature pedestal-style mounts that improve toe room and, as well as a full glass roof. A floating center console separates the front seats, with plenty of storage underneath the bridge for purses and backpacks. You thought floating roofs were bad in design? Now we got floating center stacks, though in this application it is much appreciated. In the back, a low-profile armrest appears between the individual bucket seats. A rear bench will likely appear on the production car. A sliding cargo floor eases loading as well.

Chrysler will become the headliner for parent company Stellantis’ EV aspirations in the United States, ending any rumors of the company being on the chopping block. The Airflow concept, which appears practically production-ready thanks to feasible lighting, mirror, and bumper designs, will likely be the first new product from Chrysler in about a decade when it goes on sale by 2025. Just three years later, the entire Chrysler portfolio will be all-electric, well before Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Audi and Volvo... which is easy when your lineup is currently 3 cars and soon to be different. It will be exciting to see what other news we will get about Chrysler's future as well as other products from Dodge, Ram, and Jeep.