If you’re a fan of the Chrysler brand these days, the current state of this iconic nameplate isn’t pretty. Once a beacon of Chrysler’s pre-DaimlerChrysler prosperity with a diverse lineup of offerings, the lone soldier remaining is the Pacifica minivan. The Airflow concept was a glimpse into Stellantis’s EV plans, but it has still not entered production. In the meantime, Chrysler has decided to give the world a consolation prize with the unveiling of the Halcyon Concept.
Halcyon Raises The Bar On Design
While the Airflow focused on simplicity and elegance, the Halcyon focuses on going all out to get attention. The concept adopts a low stance that allows the car to hug the road with the front fascia only being four inches off the ground. Smooth lines also form the prominent theme of the exterior styling with the front and rear fascia getting slender lightbars that flow along with the bodywork. The large wheels also have an aggressive design and they work well with the wheel arches. The Halcyon also gets yet another updated iteration of the Chrysler wing logo (it’s not known if this is exclusive to the concept or something moving forward) with the logo on both ends being incorporated into the lighting setup.
After opening the front and rear doors (which move a full 90 degrees) you’ll find a cabin that’s designed to foster a connection between occupants and the vehicle. The core styling cues here are attractive with the cabin featuring plenty of glass and a wide look that eliminates the B-pillar in the process. Chrysler engineers even made the roof panels open up to help ease entry and exit from the vehicle. After you get yourself formally seated, you’ll notice the large transparent screen that wraps from end to end with a large slanted infotainment system also taking up noticeable real estate. A full-size heads-up display is standard too and the Halcyon even comes with a “stargazing mode” that reclines the seats and even alters the transparency of the glass panels to improve interstellar visibility.Â
The Halcyon also makes extensive use of AI and Chrysler says that the systems here play a prominent role in the aforementioned connectivity the concept is trying to make with owners. For example, when an occupant enters the Halcyon, the car prepares itself for the drive with the concept incorporating the driver’s preferences, the weather, and even the daily calendar into its calculations. Biometric scanners then kick in and the Halcyon will play soothing sounds and visuals with the brand calling the process “Harmony in Motion.” We saw some of the initial steps of this principle in the Airflow and it appears that the Halcyon will help move this philosophy to a higher stage of development.
Large Car Platform Could Signal Revival of 300
The Chrysler Halcyon concept is built on Stellantis’s STLA large car platform which is also the same underpinnings that were used in the Dodge SRT Daytona Banshee EV concept. While we doubt that the Halcyon has the fancy electronic exhaust system that the Daytona debuted (sorry Star Trek fans) it does have other essential Daytona bits including the 800-volt architecture (though Chrysler stopped short of releasing horsepower numbers.)Â
However, unlike the rambunctious Dodge, the Halcyon is putting technology on full display with the concept featuring Level 4 self-driving capability with the steering wheel and the pedals having the ability to fully retract to make this happen. This capability along with its impressive array of systems would allow the Halcyon to appeal to a different group of customers especially if Chrysler chooses to use some of the Halcyon’s tricks on a next-gen all-electric EV 300. This would make sense since the 300 nameplate often symbolized the pinnacle of Chrysler performance and comfort so bringing the nameplate onto an EV would be a historic event.
When Can I Buy One?
Chrysler’s press release didn’t drop any hint of whether the Halcyon in its current form would see production. But while some of its more whimsical systems will most likely remain in the realm of sci-fi. Look for the infotainment system, the dashboard layout, and some of the more crucial systems to be used in future Chrysler models. That will be important as Stellantis attempts to bring the brand back from its moribund purgatory and transform it into a key component of its broader EV plans. Â
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.