Back in the spring, it became obvious that the next-gen Chrysler EV SUV wouldn’t take the form of the Airflow concept that had been showcased for years in multiple iterations. And, a couple of hours ago, Stellantis chief design officer Ralph Gilles offered an update on Chrysler’s upcoming EV, which is confirmed for production in 2025, reassuring us that the team is working at full pace to develop the model that will reshape the brand.
Back in 2021 when FCA and PSA officially merged to form Stellantis, the world’s fourth largest carmaker, CEO Carlos Tavares stated that each of the company’s 14 brands would have a decade to prove it can deliver a successful “core model strategy”.
Fast-forward to 2023, Chrysler’s 300 full-size sedan, which regained its 6.4L HEMI V8, is scheduled to go out of production by the end of the year, leaving the Pacifica minivan as the sole model before the said 2025 arrival of Chrysler’s new electric SUV.
However, while the multiple iterations of the Airflow EV concept Chrysler had showcased since the 2020 original led us to believe this would make it to production, back in March, Gilles told Motor Trend‘s Alisa Priddle that wasn’t the case anymore.
The chief design officer explained that Chrysler’s new CEO Christine Feuell, who joined the company in 2021, wanted to go back to the drawing board for the company’s upcoming EV: “She wanted a statement that had literally zero to do with anything that you have seen today, even the Airflow concept car. It is evolving in a new direction,“
Ralph Gilles’ Instagram statement on the Chrysler electric SUV progress
Meanwhile, that interview became the source for countless articles. And now Gilles took to Instagram to clarify that the focus should be not on the Airflow EV being left behind but on the Chrysler team continuing to work on the upcoming model.
“I must clear something up. I have been seeing so many articles saying that Chrysler isn’t building the Airflow EV… unfortunately misunderstanding me trying to explain that the design will evolve as we push the thesis even more under brand CEO Chris Fuell and our VP of Chrysler design @irina_z_j [Irina Zavatski] leadership,” Gilles wrote.
The interior and exterior of the Chrysler electric crossover are being revamped at the very least
The chief design officer explains how developing the Airflow meant looking into infotainment, connectivity, sustainable interior materials, the styling/aero appeal that goes with this historical Chrysler nameplate, ensuring us that all these directions are still being pursued.
Naturally, the future Chrysler EV, which we assume will continue to use an SUV shape given the growing demand for this body style, will showcase the direction the brand has chosen for this new age: “The final product whatever its final name and ultimate theme…will forge a refreshing new direction for the brand… So yes it may not look verbatim like the concept but that doesn’t mean any work has been stopped. Stay tuned,“
It looks like Chrysler will release a new series of concepts before anything hits the showroom. This may mean that the carmaker is preparing to test the waters via multiple concepts previewing the said EV SUV or maybe even introduce show cars that could lead to multiple production vehicles playing in different segments: “The Airflow was just the beginning of the story… a North Star type of concept embodying a myriad of concepts we are cooking up with the extended and now even more capable Stellantis apparatus!“
While Gilles, whose most recent work involves the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT EV and the Ram Revolution electric truck, isn’t telling us much here, this statement essentially means Stellantis remains fully committed to building a proper future for Chrysler. And if that means upping the ante on the design and tech front as the market evolves, it makes for positive news.
Chrysler’s future EV SUV will ride on the STLA Large platform
Underneath the redesigned body of the electric crossover, we’ll find Stellantis STLA Large architecture, which means access to impressive tech like 800V fast charging and up to 400 miles (644 km) of range. Given the positioning of the brand, the Chrysler EV SUV will remain reasonable in terms of pricing, so you can expect an MSRP in the $50,000 range (before any potential EV tax credits).
As for Chrysler’s future direction, Feuell had explained that wave of new products will arrive every year, with the brand’s new portfolio scheduled to be fully released by 2028.