- Chrysler unveils a Graphite version of its futuristic Airflow Concept at the 2022 New York auto show.
- Chrysler reinforces commitment to launch its first EV by 2025 and to be fully electric by 2028.
- The Chrysler Airflow Concept features a dual-motor powertrain and and all-wheel-drive system, as well as the company’s nex-gen technology infrastructure.
UPDATE: Chrysler first unveiled its Airflow concept at the 2022 Consumer Electronics Show and now unveils a Graphite version in New York, details of which have been added to the story below.
Chrysler went to the wind tunnel in the 1930s to help reshape the automobile with its Airflow. Chrysler’s Airflow also helped introduce unibody construction to the American market and was one of the more advanced cars of the 1930s. Despite failing in its initial run, the Airflow has become a sought-after vehicle for collectors and holds a special place in Chrysler’s history. Now Chrysler is reviving the nameplate by way of a battery-electric concept.
The Chrysler Airflow Concept hits all of the expected notes for an upcoming electric vehicle. Chrysler says the Airflow has an expected range of up to 400 miles, all-wheel drive, and plenty of futuristic consumer tech. The all-wheel drive comes from a pair of 150-kW electric motors feeding the front and rear axles respectively. That translates to about 201 hp per motor, which means this Airflow would be relatively powerful if it hit the streets today.
The real strength of this Airflow is the technology behind it. The team at Chrysler integrated its STLA SmartCockpit and STLA Brain platform. The STLA Brain is the next generation of Stellantis information architecture, with SmartCockpit helping manage the user experience of the car.
Not letting this next-gen tech go to waste, the folks at Chrysler styled the interior of the Airflow concept with the future in mind. Like the Grand Wagoneer, the Airflow Concept has no shortage of screens, with a massive center touchscreen leading the charge. While this interior is futuristic in the best tradition of concept cars, it also feels like an honest look into the near future of Chrysler’s interior design.
At the New York show, the Airflow Graphite concept, with 22-inch rims, features a new Galaxy Black exterior and Cyprus Copper interior and exterior accents. "This new persona of the Airflow highlights the flexibility of the Chrysler brand’s future design direction and our ability to create personalities reflective of our diverse customers," says Chris Feuell, Chrysler brand CEO. "As our brand evolves to offer a full battery-electric vehicle portfolio, we are completely rethinking and reinventing the customer experience."
Using a menu-based format, screens throughout the Airflow Graphite interior can be personalized and simplified, the automaker says. Information on the screens can be shared with all passengers by swiping. Each seat features a built-in camera, enabling occupants to participate in a group video conference call.
There isn’t a confirmation of production plans for the Airflow. The automaker says its first electric vehicle is set for 2025, which makes you look at this seemingly production-ready electric crossover and assume that it will get the nod. And Chrysler says the company will feature a fully electric lineup by 2028. That might be harder for other brands under the Stellantis umbrella, but Chrysler's relatively limited offerings does make achieving a fully electric portfolio slightly easier.
Could the Chrysler Airflow be successful this time around? Or will it share the fate of its namesake? Let us know in the comments below.
