Chrysler Halcyon Concept Aims for “Harmony in Motion”

Chrysler has unveiled the Halcyon Concept, an all-electric car that showcases one of the possible futures of the Chrysler portfolio.

One look at the Halcyon Concept and you’ve already picked up on its conceptual nature, but some of the most interesting parts of this machine are more than skin deep. Built on the STLA Large platform, the Halcyon Concept exemplifies Chrysler’s “Harmony in Motion” ethos, delivering a sustainable and autonomous way of propulsion.

Starting with the latter, Chrysler has envisioned the Halcyon Concept as a vehicle that takes the driving out of driving. Using STLA Brain, SmartCockpit and AutoDrive technology, the driver has a chance to become more of a passenger than a pilot; and the Halcyon more of an assistant than just a vehicle. That said, there are still controls for the driver to take charge of, so this isn’t just a personal taxi cab.

Though you may feel like you have a family butler, as embedded AI can set climate controls and predict navigation routes remotely. Facial biometrics will enable entry and departure. A Level 4 autonomous driving suite can take over once the trip gets going, but physical controls, like a deployable steering wheel, are still there if manual operation is desired.

Not much is said about the potential powertrain, but we do have a couple of key takeaways. The concept is built around the use of Lyten 800-volt lithium-sulfur batteries. These units don’t use nickel, cobalt or manganese, lowering carbon footprint by an estimated 60%. While charging through a cable is possible, the Halcyon Concept also depicts a future where wireless charging of electric vehicles on special road lanes becomes common, thus substantially increasing range.

Also aiding in efficiency is the aerodynamic design. The front is especially interesting with a functional air blade, redirecting air through a visible pass-through. The special contouring continues along the entire body, too, sweeping back towards the rear where an active spoiler is mounted. Of course, thin LED lighting completed the look, as do the 22-inch turbine-styled wheels wrapped in Pirelli tires.

It may not look it at first, but the Halcyon is indeed a four-door design. The cockpit uses 95% sustainable materials, including crushed up CDs used to form the steering wheel wing logo. That wheel is a reverse-yoke design, retracting, along with the pedals, when full autonomy is in motion. The traditional instrument panel is gone. Instead, a pillar-to-pillar transparent display keeps eyes up while presenting pertinent information. It’s joined by an augmented-reality head-up display and a storable 15.6-inch console screen.

The Halcyon Concept follows the Chrysler Portal Concept of 2017, Airflow Concept in 2022 and Synthesis Cockpit Demonstrator in 2023. Chrysler intends on launching their first battery-electric vehicle in 2025 and offering an all-electric lineup in 2028; all of which serves as a key component of the Stellantis “Dare Forward 2030” plan, which intends on cutting the conglomerate’s global carbon footprint by 50% in 2030, reaching carbon neutrality by 2038.