Once upon a time there was a car company that was a maker of mainstream sedans, coupes, convertibles, trucks, SUVs, minivans and some in-between things that were hard to categorize. Some were hits; many were misses, but the one thing this company almost unfailingly succeeded at was building achingly beautiful concept cars. Concepts that exuded sensuality. Concepts that made you covet. The Atlantic, LHX, and stunning Chronos all come to mind.
And then they stopped.
It’s been a while since Chrysler had any new products in the pipeline. While the Pacifica is a home run, it exists in a segment decimated by the endless onslaught of SUVs for the last 15 years or so. The stately but aging 300 has been in production on the same LX platform since 2005 and full size sedans are practically extinct these days anyway. The only other recent product in the lineup was the 200, a stylish but woefully uncompetitive midsize sedan that ceased production in 2017 after just three short model years.
Half a decade is a long time for a brand to survive on just a minivan and a full size sedan alone, kicking up rumors of the Chrysler brand’s demise.
However, there may be hope.
This year at CES 2022, Chrysler unveiled its Airflow Concept, a handsome, muscular EV that borrows its name from a Depression-era Chrysler that featured a futuristic, aerodynamic design. While the original Airflow flopped, this iteration of the name is playing to win.
The Airflow Concept is spec’d right in the heart of the electric car market with dual 150kW motors and a forecasted 300-400 mile range with fast charging capability. The interior already looks production ready.
No, it’s not an art-deco showstopper that would have entranced auto show audiences in the late 1990s, but in some ways its even better… We suspect the Airflow Concept is the other type of concept car that Chrysler-of-the-past was known for showing.
Occasionally amidst the wild concepts Chrysler Corporation was known for, they would display a concept car that would eventually (or immediately, in some cases) be revealed in production form almost unchanged aside from items like more reasonable wheels, real door handles and side mirrors, and a production interior.
As automakers are racing towards an electric future, Chrysler has committed to becoming all-EV by 2028, with their first vehicle being an EV crossover in 2025. The Airflow Concept is a “nod” to this production vehicle, according to Chrysler CEO Christine Feuell, but we believe the Airflow could reach production as-is. At first glance it’s the right car at the right time, and all those concept car goodies from decades past like giant wheels, slim LED headlights, hidden door handles, and large/multiple infotainment screens are all production realities these days.
The more I peruse the press photos of this concept, the more excited I get. Do I miss the wild and artful concepts of Chrysler’s past? Of course I do. But the Airflow is a strong indication that Stellantis hasn’t given up on the brand just yet and that there’s significant opportunity to challenge EV startups for a solid piece of marketshare in a rapidly changing automotive landscape.
This is Chrysler’s comeback, and we’re here for it.
See the full gallery here.
