Stellantis has unveiled the all-new STLA Medium platform, which will be used to underpin electric cars, crossovers, and SUVs in the C and D segments.
Set to go into production in Europe later this year, the STLA Medium platform is a global architecture and the first of four BEV platforms that were originally announced in 2021.
The platform is “BEV-by-design” and highly flexible in order to accommodate a wide variety of vehicles. In particular, the automaker said models based on the architecture can measure 169.3-192.9 inches (4,300-4,900 mm) long and have wheelbases of 106.3-114.2 inches (2,700-2,900 mm). These vehicles can also have more than 8.6 inches (220 mm) of ground clearance for respectable off-road capability.
Vehicles based on the STLA Medium platform will be offered with front- or all-wheel drive. The company went on to say we can expect outputs of between 215 hp (160 kW / 218 PS) and 382 hp (285 kW / 387 PS).
The platform will accommodate batteries with a useable capacity of up to 98 kWh and Stellantis revealed there will be “Standard” as well as “Performance” battery packs. The former will provide more than 310 miles (500 km) of range in the WLTP cycle, while the Performance variant will increase that to more than 435 miles (700 km).
STLA Medium has a 400-volt electric architecture and promises to deliver best-in-class energy efficiency, charging times, and connectivity. Details are a little hazy, but the automaker said vehicles based on the platform will be able to go from a 20% to 80% charge in 27 minutes as they’ll be able to charge at up to 2.4 kWh per minute. The company also said some models will have an energy consumption rating of less than 14 kWh per 62 miles (100 km).
The automaker went on to say the “high-energy density single-layer battery pack” will maximize interior space, while also “improving ride and handling with a low center of gravity.” Stellantis added, “Platform components, such as the cabin heating/cooling system, steering, braking assist and propulsion are designed to minimize energy consumption. Those efforts combine with extensive use of lightweight and rigid materials to optimize vehicle range and deliver exemplary ride and handling performance.”
Up to two million vehicles can be built annually on the STLA Medium platform in several plants across the globe. Stellantis went on to say the platform was designed with future upgrades in mind as it benefits from the “STLA Brain architecture, STLA SmartCockpit, and STLA AutoDrive platforms – enabling over-the-air updates to software and enhanced hardware.” Furthermore, STLA Medium has been created with an eye towards future battery chemistries and even solid-state batteries.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said, “What we see today is the product of just over two years of no-compromise innovation to deliver clean, safe and affordable mobility, supported by our €30 ($32 / £25) billion investment in electrification and software through 2025.” He added, “The STLA Medium platform demonstrates the power of the global Stellantis technical community, delivering products that are hyper-focused on our customers and rewriting long-held assumptions of transportation as we drive for carbon net zero by 2038.”
