Chrysler Halcyon Concept First Look: Six Doors and Sci-Fi Tech
What does the Halcyon’s technology and minimalist design mean for the Chrysler brand at large?
What do people really want out of a vehicle? At a bare minimum, they need it to get from point A to point B—a need any vehicle moving under its own power should meet. But after manufacturers endlessly researched the ideal number of cupholders and moved on to orchestrating dance moves with flashing lights and flailing doors, we had to wonder if the industry is making better cars or justdifferentcars? The new 2024 Chrysler Halcyon all-electric concept sedan strives to strip back the noise, presenting occupants with what they need, only when they need it.
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The Halcyon doesn't even have an instrument panel—a step beyond Tesla dropping gauge clusters—and uses a single 15.6-inch retractable touchscreen. It seems the Halcyon concept gives us Chrysler's ideal picture of how connected cars and smart devices can be thoughtfully integrated into our lives, putting its customer-focused Harmony in Motion philosophy into action.
The Basics
Proposing a new sedan amid America's love affair with SUVs might seem somewhat pointless, but Chrysler brand CEO Christine Feuell believes the right features packaged in an engaging way can still capture consumers' hearts. The success of the Tesla Model 3 suggests she is right, though Chrysler's 2025 release is still an electric SUV. Work remains to be done to bring back sedans' mass appeal, but the Chrysler Halcyon concept proposes ambitious ideas that might be ready for consumers somewhere down the line.
The design is immediately captivating, with an aerodynamic shape made of 40 percent glass. The long, sloping roof-to-road windshield gives an unobstructed view except for the Air Blade device directing air over it. According to Chrysler, the gently displaced atmosphere glides off the pointed LED tail as the STLA Large EV platform efficiently converts electrons into clean and quiet forward momentum.
The glass gives a distinct look that is sustainable to manufacture and infinitely recyclable, and it doesn't require paint or the pollutants that come with it, Chrysler says. Films like the Hombre Black and copper edges of the doors offer a paint alternative. The Elemental Silver paint that is present mimics recycled metals, but maybe it won't have to pretend by the time something like the Halcyon enters production. The Solar White laser-etched suede headliner is 73 percent rPET (recycled polyethylene terephthalate) that uses plastic waste from water bottles. Textile-infused wood replaces non-recyclable materials, and only non-leather trim finds its way onto the car.
Even the redesigned Chrysler wing logo—first unveiled on the Airflow concept—is made of crushed compact discs. Materials like this will eventually begin showing up in new Chrysler products, contributing to Stellantis' Dare Forward plan to reduce its carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2038.
The red-carpet entry may sound extravagant, but it has practicality. The front and rear doors open in opposite directions, revealing a pillarless entryway with a hinged roof panel that raises to improve head room. The front seats slide toward the center of the car, and the steer-by-wire system allows the steering wheel to stow away with pedals that retract flush into the floor during entry or Level 4 autonomous driving with STLA AutoDrive.
