Chrysler shows off electric sports coupé concept
The special battery cells come from Lyten, a battery developer supported by Stellantis. Critical raw materials such as nickel, cobalt and manganese are dispensed with and the Lyten battery should also enable an estimated 60 per cent lower CO2 footprint compared to today’s “best-in-class” batteries. The concept car’s battery should also be able to be charged inductively while driving.
However, Chrysler is still holding back with specific technical data on the battery or the electric drive of the Halcyon Concept – not even an expected range is mentioned. It is therefore doubtful that lithium-sulphur batteries will soon be available in production vehicles based on the STLA Large. Otherwise, many more advantages of the technology compared to NMC or LFP cells would have been cited.
There is also no precise information on inductive charging while driving. Stellantis merely refers to the partnership on DWPT (Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer) technology that began in 2022, when the company participated in the “Arena del Futuro” test track together with ElectReon and Iveco. In the press release on the Halcyon Concpet, Chrysler at least paints a picture of the future in which it would be possible to drive from New York to Seattle without recharging. However, there are no concrete plans to introduce the technology in cars or to install such charging coils in the USA.
Nevertheless, the Halcyon Concept provides some interesting glimpses of Chrysler’s electric future: instead of the bulky front of a Chrysler 300, the study is characterised by emphatically aerodynamic lines. The flat front and the curved roof arch are classic approaches to improving the airflow around the body. With the Halcyon Concept, however, Chrysler goes a few steps further.
The front section is basically hollow and allows air to flow through it in a targeted manner, which reduces drag – but there is no room for a frunk. Incidentally, in order to make optimum use of the space in the interior under the flat rear window, the designers have taken inspiration from the Chrysler vans: as in the family vans, the rear seats in the Halcyon Concept can not only be folded down, but can also be integrated flat into the boot floor if required. This gives customers the choice between storage space or additional seats.
In addition to the body design, the study focuses on connectivity and driving assistants. The Halcyon Concept will utilise the ‘STLA AutoDrive’ technology platform for Level 4 autonomous driving. At Level 4, both the steering wheel and the pedals can be retracted as the vehicle takes over control. Chrysler promises that the windscreen can then also be darkened to create a lounge-like atmosphere.
Chrysler does not yet have a single electric model on the market and the new concept looks anything but close to series production. However, the brand has confirmed its plan to launch its first BEV model in 2025 and to only offer electric cars from 2028.
At CES 2022, Chrysler presented its Airflow Concept, which probably has a good chance of being realised as the brand’s first BEV production model. Chrysler is also rumoured to be planning an electric sedan for 2026 as the successor to the Chrysler 300.
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