Chrysler has unveiled the all-electric Halcyon concept car. It fires off a barrage of attention-grabbing features including 800V lithium-sulfur batteries, Level 4 autonomous driving, and wireless charging. But there’s more, lots more.

The Halcyon imagines a future that takes advantage of innovative Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) technology to wirelessly recharge electric vehicles traveling over specially equipped, dedicated road lanes, allowing for unlimited range and travel.

Chrysler Halcyon Concept Wireless Charging and Lithium Sulphur Batteries

Let’s begin with some of Halcyon’s charging and battery tech. The car can use Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer (DWPT) technology to wirelessly recharge. This system operates on dedicated road lanes, enabling EVs to travel without limitations in range. Chrysler notes that drivers could drive coast to coast with no requirement for chargers, charge cords, or charging stations. In 2022, Stellantis collaborated to showcase the capabilities of DWPT technology at the Arena del Futuro circuit in Chiari, Italy. This partnership demonstrated the potential of this technology for the future of EVs. Moreover, the concept foresees the integration of Lyten 800V lithium-sulfur EV batteries. These batteries do not use nickel, cobalt, or manganese. The result: an approximate 60 percent reduction in carbon footprint compared to current best-in-class batteries. In May 2023, Stellantis Ventures, the corporate venture fund of Stellantis, publicly disclosed its investment in Lyten.

Sculptural Styling, Slippery Aero

The Chrysler Halcyon Concept is based on the STLA Large platform. Chrysler says the car offers an “aerodynamic, streamlined and uncompromising vision of the Chrysler brand’s future exterior character.”  The four-door Halcyon showcases sculptural styling, starting at the front where the body descends within four inches of the road. To enhance performance and range, a functional front air blade aerodynamic pass-through area is subtly integrated. Front air curtains optimize aerodynamic performance, while the elongated windshield provides a wide, sweeping view. The concept’s Elemental Silver color creates the illusion of a recycled metal exterior. Side aero blades efficiently guide airflow, and illuminated Chrysler wing logos on these blades indicate the vehicle’s charge level upon the driver’s approach. There’s also an adaptive cross-car front LED headlamp. It’s centered by the LED-lit Chrysler wing logo.

The Halcyon has a butterfly canopy and red-carpet-style side doors.

No Door Handles, a Butterfly-Hinged Canopy, and More Aerodynamics

To streamline Halcyon’s aerodynamics, thin, blade-like side mirrors house cameras for a sleeker aero profile. Autonomous entry eliminates the need for door handles, enhancing aerodynamic efficiency while maintaining the concept’s minimalist design. Active Aero Technology includes a sliding rear lower aero diffuser, rear spoiler, and air suspension for enhanced efficiency and driving dynamics. The lightweight 22-inch wheels boast a turbine-shape design. They’re paired with low rolling resistance 255/35R22 Pirelli tires. The Acrylic-tinted butterfly-hinged canopy serves as a third door. It works in conjunction with the red-carpet-style side doors to offer spacious ingress and egress. The rear of the car has a water line emphasizing width and shoulders. The undercarriage is designed for emerging inductive charging technology, ensuring unlimited range through communication between vehicle sensors and those embedded in the road.

Interior Offers an Almost 360-Degree View

The Chrysler Halcyon Concept’s interior offers an almost 360-degree range of view and stress-free autonomous features. This autonomy coexists with the option for the driver to take control. At the heart of the cockpit is a cross-car, pillar-to-pillar transparent display. This provides a forward-looking view of information while maintaining focus on the road. Complementing this display is a stowable 15.6-inch console screen, rotatable for portrait or landscape orientation. It allows quick access to information and start-up assistance. Voice recognition commands fully control the displays.

No Conventional Instrument Panel, Lighting Plays a Pivotal Role

The conventional instrument panel is replaced, allowing passengers to utilize a wide footrest that spans the car’s width. Chrysler says this enhances relaxation and optimizes the panoramic windshield view. The glass center console design unifies cabin spaces in a modern architectural fashion, extending from front to rear. Interestingly, lighting plays a pivotal role in the Halcyon. It serves as a focal point for the clear acrylic console design that incorporates textures and shapes to bend and diffuse the lighting. Accent lighting extends through the doors, footrest, and footwells, contributing to the overall ambiance. The lightweight, keystone-shaped front seats are luxurious and supportive, wrapping over the glass center console to maintain interior continuity. These seats can fully retract into the rear position, creating an expansive, accessible area.

Vision of Potential Next-Gen Stow ‘n Go Seating

The Halcyon highlights a potential next-generation vision of Stow ‘n Go seating, originally invented for Chrysler minivans. The Halcyon’s rear seats retract into the trunk area to create additional space. This transformation can be initiated through either biometric identification or voice command. Additionally, the car’s sculptural rear armrests contribute to the flow-through console. The Dark Grey wood interior floor features a malleable, textile-infused wood with a microfiber backing. Brushed Black Copper door and door sill film accents, serve as an alternative to paint. The trunk area incorporates the same textile-infused wood and includes a removable runner board for storage. A pass-through from the rear seats facilitates the transport of oversize items, such as ski equipment.

STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit, and STLA AutoDrive

The Halcyon Concept has an array of cutting-edge technology from Stellantis. This includes STLA Brain, STLA SmartCockpit, and STLA AutoDrive technologies. These systems work together to achieve what Chrysler calls “Harmony in Motion.” During Prepare Mode, a Stellantis AI virtual assistant proactively readies the driver and the Halcyon for the day, providing notifications about upcoming events. This experience extends to the integration with other connected devices, such as smartphones or smart home thermostats. Leveraging advanced STLA Brain and SmartCockpit technology, the Intelligent Cabin Comfort feature analyzes weather conditions and adjusts HVAC levels remotely based on personalized preferences. Halcyon also boasts predictive navigation. This synchronizes with the driver’s calendar to anticipate real-time traffic and navigation routing. It streamlines the driving experience and minimizes driver inputs.

Welcome/Entry Mode

As the driver approaches Halcyon, the vehicle employs biometric identification in a Welcome Mode, recognizing the driver and initiating a greeting. This interaction involves illuminated LED exterior lighting animation, personalized exterior sound features, and a welcoming message on interior screens. During the Welcome/Entry Modes, the driver serves as the “key” for unlocking the concept through facial biometrics. This ensures a safe and secure, hands-free entry and start-up. The doors autonomously unlock and open in response. Biometric functions extend to detecting whether the driver is carrying a package or backpack, prompting the intuitive retraction of the next-gen Stow ‘n Go seats to create additional storage space. To facilitate ingress, the air suspension lifts Halcyon to the appropriate entry height as the driver enters the cockpit.

Pre-Drive Mode and Drive Mode

Entering Pre-drive Mode, the vehicle activates and greets the driver. It can emit a calming or energetic sound based on preset preferences. Corresponding to different sound frequencies, product shapes appear on the console screen. Ambient interior lighting and sounds adapt to driver inputs, enhancing the cabin environment. In Drive Mode, there’s a dynamic and personalized driving experience. Utilizing the STLA AutoDrive technology platform, the Halcyon offers Level 4 autonomous driving features. Drivers can either relax and let the vehicle take control or take the wheel.

Level 4 Autonomous Driving

The STLA AutoDrive technology platform offers Level 4 autonomous driving. When engaged, the steering wheel and pedals retract, and the dimmable glass canopy and windshield can turn opaque, creating immersive spaces like Stargazing Mode. In this mode, seats recline, and the augmented-reality windshield HUD projects information on stars and constellations. Passengers can watch movies and play games in the adaptive environment, guided by a media system selecting content based on the driver’s preferences. The augmented-reality HUD includes a Memory Landmark feature. This marks points of interest and previous locations, making them selectable and shareable. For drivers preferring manual control, voice recognition deploys the steering wheel and associated controls. Customized EV drive modes offer selectable levels of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) support. Holographic elements in the HUD seamlessly blend into the real world for navigation and gamification.

Exit Mode

Halcyon’s Exit Mode seamlessly integrates Automated Parking features and automatically adjusts seats and ride height to facilitate vehicle egress. Smart exterior lighting enhances vehicle-to-pedestrian communication, projecting blinkers or stopping signals onto the ground through near-field projection to enhance pedestrian safety. The console screen communicates a send-off message, complemented by animated lighting and sounds.

Chrysler Plans All-Electric Portfolio by 2028

The Chrysler Halcyon Concept is the latest addition in a series of concepts showcasing the brand’s ongoing electrification plan. Prior to this, the brand introduced the Chrysler Portal Concept in 2017, followed by the Chrysler Airflow Concept in 2022, and the Chrysler Synthesis Cockpit Demonstrator in 2023. Looking ahead, Chrysler has set a timeline for its electrification initiatives. The brand plans to launch its inaugural battery-electric vehicle in 2025, progressing toward an all-electric portfolio by 2028.