- Chrysler has unveiled a low-riding electric sedan called the Halcyon that is said to be a preview of the brand's future.
- Although it's just a concept at the moment, Halcyon is packed with cool technology, some of which may eventually make it to production.
- Brand spokespeople touted the 800-volt architecture and battery pack that uses emerging lithium sulfur technology, which is said to reduce the carbon footprint by up to 60 percent compared to today's electric vehicles.
Chrysler is offering a sneak peek into its future, and to our delight, it's not an SUV or a pickup truck. Instead, the company is offering a sleek and sporty four-door concept called the Halcyon. With its sweeping lines and low stance, the Halcyon is an electric sedan in the same vein as the Audi e-tron GT or Porsche Taycan, but packed with features and futuristic design elements.
While other Stellantis brands are on the verge of launching the company's first round of electric vehicles, the Halcyon is far from being a reality. But it will reportedly ride on the same platform – the STLA Large – that will underpin the electric Jeep Wagoneer S, which will enter production this fall. We think this means that a production version of Halcyon, in one form or another, is definitely possible.
Smooth and slippery design
Chrysler's designers describe the Halcyon as having clean styling, but we can't help but notice its “cab-forward” design, popularized by the brand's midsize and large sedans in the late 1990s and early 2000s. The concept is more contemporary than cars like the 300M sedan (shown below), but it's easy to see the evolution of the profile.
Chrysler Halcyon concept
2002 Chrysler 300M
Aerodynamics are a big part of the Halcyon's exterior, and clever engineering has been implemented to make the car as wind-resistant as possible. A narrow slit in the front fascia penetrates deeply into the hood and windshield base to help direct air up and over the roof. Rear cameras mounted on thin arms act as side mirrors, projecting images onto screens inside the car. Around the back, the taillight unit and rear diffuser can extend outward to actually lengthen the Halcyon while cruising, which is said to improve aerodynamics.
The extensive use of glass in the canopy gives a whole new meaning to outdoor visibility. Chrysler says 45% of the car's exterior panels are made of glass, creating sweeping views of the road ahead or the sky above. The Lucid Air, another futuristic luxury electric sedan, offers similar styling to good effect.
The Halcyon features rear-hinged rear doors that open alongside the front doors to provide ample access to the interior. The side doors open in conjunction with the folding roof panels, which are said to make entry and exit easier due to the car's low roofline.
Sculptural and modular cabin
Sustainable materials, including micro-suede made from 73 percent recycled plastic bottles, cover much of the Halcyon's cabin. The seat upholstery and headliner are also recycled, and in what looks like another nod to the 2000s, the company used crushed CDs to design the reflective Chrysler logos on the Halcyon's door sills.
The seats themselves are quite sculptural in design, with a spoiler design and floating headrests. The firm cushions used in this concept make us wonder about the long-term comfort of the chairs, but if produced, we expect a less aggressive design with thicker layers of padding. The rear seats feature an evolution of the brand's Stow 'n' Go seating system. Instead of folding down into a cubby in the floor like the back seats in the small Pacifica, the Halcyon's rear seat bottoms retract into the trunk area, leaving the seatbacks in place but opening up floor space for cargo.
The Halcyon's rear doors are rear-hung and the roof panel flips up for easier entry and exit.
The new Chrysler logo is displayed on the door sills but is made from recycled CDs for a reflective mosaic effect.
But the most dramatic element is the car's dashboard, which is pushed down and away from the driver. When you sit in the driver's seat, the physical distance from the dashboard, combined with the expanse of continuous glass, gives you the impression that you're sitting in something far more exotic than a Chrysler.
Advanced technology that dreams big
Perhaps the biggest change to the Halcyon's design is the technology on board. The curved screen runs the length of the dashboard, which isn't a new concept considering the 2024 Lincoln Nautilus entered the market this year with a similar infotainment setup. Chrysler takes the idea one step further, by presenting the fascia on a transparent glass panel.
Speaking of glass displays, the Halcyon roof panel can be used as an augmented reality display. The default self-driving mode is activated and the car cabin is transformed into a rolling lounge. The steering wheel lowers and the front seats can recline so passengers can enjoy the content displayed on the roof.
The 15.6-inch rotatable infotainment screen deploys from the Halcyon's center console when the driver or front-seat passenger needs it. The infotainment interface itself is said to be highly personalized to the driver and can store individual user profiles to make it easier to share the car without losing your preferences. The software can store memories from individual users' previous road trips, for example, and display photo memories based on the current destination or location.
A 15.6-inch screen pops up from the center console when needed.
The constellations were displayed in real time on the Halcyon's glass canopy.
Extra effort has gone into the car's AI virtual assistant to go beyond what users currently expect from similar features like Apple Siri or Google Voice Assistant. The goal is to make the system robust enough so that it can predict user needs. Connectivity with other smart devices, including phones, home thermostats, voice shopping tools, etc., aims to make the driver's life easier.
The platform, powertrain, and battery
While the concept is being rolled out on Stellantis' large STLA platform, Chrysler said the Halcyon Vision includes a lithium-sulfur battery pack that is not yet production-ready. The emerging technology is said to have a 60 percent lower carbon footprint than today's electric car batteries, which contain nickel and manganese.
The company also envisions a future in which wireless charging is possible, even while the car is moving on the road. The Halcyon's driving range is unknown, but Chrysler says that if cell phone charging infrastructure becomes a reality, it could eventually provide unlimited range. Consider us skeptical.
Most likely, the fast-charging nature of the concept's battery — 200 miles of driving range in just five minutes, according to Chrysler — will be the practical change that customers will appreciate most.
The Halcyon strikes us as something of a wish list item for a future Chrysler, and if just a few of the concept's new features make it into production it will still serve to move the brand forward. If Halcyon gets the green light, we believe several more years of development will be needed to get it ready for the assembly line, so an estimated launch date of sometime in 2027 or 2028 is possible.
Drew Dorian is a lifelong car enthusiast who has also held a wide range of consumer-focused positions throughout his career, ranging from financial advisor to car sales representative. He dreamed of becoming a Car and driver Editor since he was 11 years old — a dream that came true when he joined the staff in April 2016. He's a native Michigander who grew up and learned to drive on a 1988 Pontiac Grand Am. His automotive interests run the gamut from convertibles and pickup trucks to cars Sports and luxury SUVs.
