CES 2022: Chrysler Airflow takes brand into EV era

Just six weeks after pulling out of the Australian market, Chrysler in the US has announced its transition to an all-electric brand within six years.

Its first EV will be based on the Chrysler Airflow concept released at the CES tech show in Las Vegas today – a car that hits the road by 2025 – while the entire Chrysler range will be full-electric by 2028.

There’s no word yet on whether these EVs will be built in right-hand drive and whether there will be another comeback for Chrysler in Australia.

And if the Chrysler Airflow sounds familiar, it’s a concept we’ve actually seen a few times before, albeit in slightly different forms.

“The Chrysler Airflow concept represents the future direction of the Chrysler brand, providing a peek at the dynamic design, advanced technologies and seamless connectivity that will characterise the full-electric portfolio we plan to reach by 2028,” Chrysler CEO Chris Feuell said at the reveal.

“Our brand will serve at the forefront as Stellantis transforms to deliver clean mobility and connected customer experiences.”

A sneak peek into this new eco-friendly future, the latest Airflow concept features Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities and an effective driving range of 563-645km.

No details surrounding the battery, including its state or capacity, have been released, but Chrysler has confirmed an all-wheel drive, dual-motor powertrain with each motor producing 150kW.

Blurring the lines between a traditional passenger car and an SUV in its design, the Chrysler Airflow concept rides on 22-inch alloy wheels and is devoid of any hard edges or harsh contour lines in its pursuit of a low drag coefficient.

In keeping with the latest crossover trends, the Airflow sports a coupe-esque roofline with a definitively Porsche-inspired rear-end featuring a full-width tail-light signature designed to complement the slimline characteristics of the front fascia.

The centrepiece of the front-end is the blue-illuminated grille trim and winged Chrysler badge which not only links the matching-colour headlights but also underlines its battery-electric identity, similar to how BMW uses blue trim on its ‘i’ models.

Inside the cabin are four individual seats and plenty of room in every direction courtesy of the long wheelbase and generous overall height.

The dashboard is dominated by what Chrysler calls its STLA SmartCockpit – three screens – which completely digitises every conceivable vehicle function save for the pedals, steering and drive selector.

This high-tech theme is continued in the rear with screens integrated into the back of the driver’s and front passenger’s seats, gifting each occupant a “personalised space to access the digital world” and even interact with each other via a conference call function.

Dubbed the ‘Airflow Concept User Experience’, the entire system is run by the ‘STLA Brain’ electrical/electronic (E/E) and software architecture.

Over-the-air (OTA) updates ensure the system stays relevant and up to date.

“This architecture is highly flexible, breaking today’s bond between hardware and software generations,” Chrysler said in a statement.

“It enables software developers to create and update features and services quickly, taking advantage of capabilities built into the cockpit without waiting for a new hardware launch.”

Other creature comforts include a panoramic glass roof, ambient lighting, vegetable-tanned leather upholstery, floor mats made of recycled and eco-friendly materials as well as AI-based applications including navigation, voice assistance, e-commerce marketplace and payment services.

Stellantis chief design officer Ralph Gilles said the Chrysler Airflow concept “represents the start of the brand’s journey toward a fully electrified future”.

“It is the result of a thoughtful synthesis of the full arsenal of Stellantis’ connected vehicle technology – inside and out,” he said.

“The design features a decisively elegant aerodynamic exterior and a modern, sophisticated interior that takes the customer on a new level of digital delight.”