Chrysler unveils Halcyon EV concept car

DETROIT — Chrysler revealed its future product direction Tuesday with a new concept car called the Halcyon, as the once-famous car company attempts to attract attention amid a dearth of new products.

The concept car is a stylish, future-oriented sports car whose design incorporates emerging technologies such as autonomous driving, new battery materials and electric vehicle charging capabilities. It features an updated Chrysler badge and other design features that officials say will carry over to the production car.

However, consumers may have to wait a while before purchasing a new Chrysler vehicle with such technology or anything that might resemble the concept car.

Following the discontinuation of the Chrysler 300 sedan last year, the brand’s only product is the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, including a plug-in hybrid electric version.In addition to updating its minivans, Chrysler – owned by starThe company, formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and French automaker PSA Group, is not expected to launch new cars until next year.

The new vehicle (a crossover, not a sedan) is expected to be Chrysler’s first all-electric vehicle as the brand transitions in 2028 to exclusively offer “a full range of innovative, seamlessly connected” electric vehicles.

Chrysler Chief Executive Christine Feuell, who begins leading the brand in September 2021, said the company expects to launch such a lineup of vehicles in “rapid succession” after next year’s electric crossover.

She said Chrysler’s parent company had not invested in the brand “for a long time.”

“I’ve always wanted to have more products, faster, but I can tell you that over the last few years, we’ve not only increased sales, we’ve significantly increased the profitability of the brand,” Faure said.

She said the company is still on track to make the transition despite slower-than-expected adoption of electric vehicle sales in the United States.

Feuell said the brand sold about 144,000 vehicles in the United States and Canada last year and “earned very significant profits” in 2023. The revenue will help fund future cars inspired by the Halcyon concept, she said.

Automakers often use concept cars to gauge customer interest or show the future direction of a vehicle or brand. These vehicles are not intended for sale to consumers.

Several officials said the Halcyon concept car has “harmony in motion” and principles of sustainable development. The vehicle is built on one of Stellantis’ next-generation electric vehicle platforms. It includes synthetic materials instead of leather; 45 percent glass surfaces on the exterior; and features 95 percent sustainable interior materials, including crushed discs or CDs as a Chrysler logo on the vehicle’s entrance.

The car is Chrysler’s latest concept car, following the launch of the minivan-like “Portal” car in 2017, the Airflow crossover in 2022, and the “Synthesis Cockpit” demonstration car in 2023.

Halcyon was scheduled to debut at the CES technology trade show in January, but Stellantis canceled those plans and other events to save money.

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