Despite showing it at several auto shows over recent years, Chrysler has decided to kill the Airflow concept. The electric vehicle no longer represents the design vision of the company, and will soon be replaced by a new and different concept.
The decision to shift away from the crossover model was made by Christine Feuell, the CEO of the brand, and is currently being executed by Ralph Gilles, Stellantis’ Head of Design, and his team, as reported by Motor Trend. Hired to oversee the brand’s revitalization, Feuell joined Chrysler in 2021, after serving as the Chief Commercial Officer at Honeywell.
“Chris came at it with her perspective, which we really enjoyed,” said Gilles. “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.”
Gilles said that Feuell challenged the Stellantis design team with creating something even better. He added that the result is among the designs he is the most excited about.
Read: Stellantis Reveals Plans For Future Vehicles At Dealer Event
The good news for lovers of the Airflow is that some of its design features and aesthetics may make into the brand’s production vehicle. However, Feuell said that it would be more tech-forward, inside and out, because Chrysler wants to be on the forefront of advanced technology in the future.
While Chrysler doesn’t intend to publicly showcase the car until 2024, early iterations have already been presented to dealers and featured in customer clinics. The company says that initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting strong enthusiasm for the vehicle.
“It blew the doors off. That’s a good sign. And Chrysler is ripe for that,” said Gilles. “We’ve done it before, we’ve been able to give the brand new, exciting product, so we’re pretty stoked about it.”
Photos Mike Gauthier / Carscoops
In addition to the new aesthetics, the concept will also be based on a new platform. Unlike the Airflow, which is built on the same RU platform as the Pacifica, Chrysler’s new vehicle will be based on the STLA Large platform. That will give it access to all kind of fancy tech, such as 800-volt fast-charging and up to 400 miles (644 km) of range. Although the model will be tech-forward, Feuell maintains that it should have an attainable price.
Whatever comes of the vehicle, we know that it won’t be called the Airflow. Chrysler is working with a naming consultant to come up with something fresher. The company also confirmed that the EV won’t be called the 300. Although she wasn’t ready to get rid of the name, Feuell said that this EV won’t have an alphanumeric name. She said that the company has a selection of contenders, some of which are inspired by Chrysler’s past, some of which are brand-new.
We will find out what the new name is next year, when its new design is unveiled. Then, it will be another year before the electric SUV is launched in 2025. While that’s a long wait, Feuell says that consumers’ patience will be rewarded, and that the floodgates will open after that.
“Starting in 2025 you are going to see a succession of new products coming from us every single year,” she said. Although she hasn’t yet said how many new vehicles the brand plans to offer, the entirety of the new portfolio will be ready for the world to see by 2028.
