[rickaren]

SUVs but what about iconic Dodge and Chrysler models?

2/11/2021

Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares laid out a plan that’s good news for the development of pickups and SUVs at the company’s Auburn Hills tech center Wednesday, but the future of other iconic Chrysler and Dodge vehicles is an open question.

“We expect pickups and SUVs to be developed in the Auburn Hills,” Tavares said following a visit to the former Fiat Chrysler’s Detroit manufacturing complex. The Oakland County tech center also will develop electrified versions of those vehicles, he said.

Beloved, but slower-selling models like the Chrysler 300 sedan, Chrysler Pacifica minivan, Dodge Charger sedan and Challenger coupe were not mentioned.

Auburn Hills engineers’ main job will be developing pickups and SUVs.

That’s the most important thing for the U.S. role in the newly created Stellantis. By engineering and building many of the company’s most profitable and best-selling vehicles, Auburn Hills, and thereby Detroit, is assured a significant voice in investment, management and corporate strategy for what just became the biggest car company in town.

The savior of lost brands?
Just as they did under FCA, DaimlerChrysler and when Chrysler was independent, sales of Jeeps and pickups will determine Auburn Hills’ fate, and the company’s role in Michigan and America’s economies.

That doesn’t make the 300, Pacifica, Charger and Challenger disposable, though.

Each is, in its own way, a legitimate icon. Chrysler invented the minivan, and has always built one of the best, persisting as competitors dropped out of the market. The 300 reinvented the exciting American sedan in 2005.

Dodge has built a unique brand image around the Charger and Challenger’s styling bravado, performance and value. Who would’ve thought a brand could get away with commercials showing George Washington leading a charge at the wheel of a muscle car? Who wouldn’t hesitate before walking away from that image?

Not Carlos Tavares.

One of Stellantis’s early surprises has been the CEO’s enthusiasm for brands conventional wisdom said were doomed. He breathed new life into Opel after acquiring the German brand from General Motors. Now he speaks almost rapturously about Chrysler: “We’re very keen on supporting a Chrysler brand rebound,” adding Stellantis values and loves the brand. You don’t hear a lot of that. Trust me.

“We are going to fully use the tech center in Auburn Hills to engineer all products focused on the U.S. market,” Tavares said.

What’s next for 300, Charger, Pacifica?
That doesn’t mean the Pacifica or the big sedans and coupes are going away, IHS Markit analyst Stephanie Brinley said.

“Stellantis’ mission is not to slice and dice the brands and make them smaller,” Brinley said. “The goal is to do things better, not to do less.”

That means the long-awaited next-gen 300/Charger et al. are likely still coming on a modified version of the outstanding Giorgio platform FCA developed for the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Stelvio sport sedan and SUV. That should keep the iconic names and their performance profile alive for at least another five or six years. Beyond that, the survival of modern muscle cars like that will depend on advances in electric vehicles and whether Alfa Romeo can justify its survival after the middle of the decade.

Similarly, developing a new Pacifica should be relatively easy. Peugeot has built large front-wheel-drive cars and minivans that use the same kind of underpinnings as Chrysler minivans for decades.

“Where the engineering of a modular platform took place won’t be relevant,” Brinley said. “Stellantis’s scale can allow them to provide each brand with what it needs more efficiently.”

It took years for Chrysler’s model line to dwindle to its current paltry state. Rebuilding it will take years, too.

Stellantis CEO high on pickups and SUVs but what about iconic Dodge and Chrysler models?

At a visit to the former Fiat Chrysler’s Detroit manufacturing complex, Carols Tavares didn't mention the 300, Pacifica, Charger or Challenger models.

www.freep.com

 

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Reborn Ram Dakota Truck Reportedly Canceled
by Jay Traugott 02/21/2021

Stellantis has other plans in mind?


Ever since the arrival of the reborn Ford Ranger there have been reports here and there Ram also intends to re-enter the midsize truck segment. The Dodge Dakota was discontinued in 2011 following a nearly 25-year production run, and Ram, now the official truck brand, wants in on the action and profit. The Jeep Gladiator is officially classified as a midsize, but its styling is not for everyone. A more conventional design offering would only broaden Ram's appeal. Or would it?
GM Authority is now claiming "sources from within Stellantis" indicate the Dakota project has been canceled. No other details have been provided, so this should be taken with a grain of salt for the time being.

Reborn Ram Dakota Truck Reportedly Canceled

Ever since the arrival of the reborn Ford Ranger there have been reports here and there Ram also intends to re-enter the midsize truck segment. The Dodge Dakota was discontinued in 2011 following a nearly 25-year production run, and Ram, now the official truck brand, wants in on the action and...

carbuzz.com

 

[rickaren]

Grand Wagoneer | Grand Adventures

March 4, 2021 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - The return of an icon! The all-new 2022 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer will make their official debut at noon EST on Thursday, March 11, 2021.

The 2022 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer return as a premium extension of the Jeep® brand and mark the rebirth of an American icon while continuing their legacy as the first modern SUVs. The Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer build on a rich heritage of premium American craftsmanship, heritage and refinement while offering a new level of comfort, legendary 4x4 capability and customer service.

 

[rickaren]

Nearly all Stellantis nameplates will have electrified option by 2025

4/15/2021

By 2025, 96% of nameplates from Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Fiat and other Stellantis NV brands in the United States will have electrified options with all models offering a fully battery-electric option by 2030, CEO Carlos Tavares said Thursday during the company's first general shareholder meeting.


The details are an early glimpse into how the newly created world's fourth-largest automaker expects to tackle "the No. 1 challenge of the automotive industry," Tavares said. The company was created in January to generate the funds and scale to compete in an industry quickly adopting zero-emission technology in the face of growing demand and government mandates.

"This is what we are going to deliver to the market," Tavares said during the meeting, held virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. "Please recognize we are now accelerating this electrification move, and please recognize we are perfectly on-time and ready to deliver on the zero-emission mobility expectations for the markets in which we operate."
In 2021 alone, Stellantis expects to triple its worldwide electrified vehicle sales to more than 400,000 from sales made by its predecessors, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV and French automaker PSA Groupe. Stellantis is adding 10 new models this year for a total of 39 electrified nameplates. The company has more than 110 nameplates across its 14 brands.


Fiat Chrysler had been seen as a laggard in the EV space. Between 2018 and 2020, the Italian-American automaker spent $26.8 billion (22.4 billion euros) on product development and production in electrification, Giorgio Fossati, Stellantis' general counsel, said Thursday.
The company in the United States currently offers the plug-in hybrid Chrysler Pacifica minivan and recently launched the Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid SUV. An electrified version of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SUV is coming later this year.

"They need to provide some details on how they are going to migrate the North American product to electrification besides plug-in hybrids," said Sam Abuelsamid, e-mobility for market research firm Guidehouse Inc. "We've seen no details of that plan."

Underlying Stellantis' plans are four new global battery-electric platforms, including three for passenger cars and one for large SUVs and pickup trucks set to debut in 2024 with no less than 310 miles (500 kilometers) of range, Tavares said. BEV passenger car platforms will begin to be introduced for medium and large cars in 2023 with more than 435 miles (700 kilometers) and 497 miles (800 kilometers) of range, respectively. The platform for small cars should be launched in 2026 with more than 310 miles (500 kilometers) of range.

"Those platforms are sized to deliver no less than the numbers we have just mentioned, which will address what we call the range anxiety issue of electric vehicles," Tavares said. "I think this is quite a breakthrough."

Converging onto just the four platforms is expected to contribute a third of the forecast $5.9 billion in cost savings created from the merger that closed in January. That should facilitate the company's U.S. goals as well as have 98% of its European nameplates with a plug-in hybrid or pure EV option by 2025.

Such "LEV" options should represent 31% of the automaker's U.S. sales by then, up from 4% in 2021, and 35% by 2030, Tavares said. The company expects this will be above the market average mix of 30%.

In Europe, LEVs should represent 38% of Stellantis sales by 2025, up from 14% in 2021, and 70% by 2030 compared to a predicted market average of 60%.

For comparison, General Motors Co. said in November that 40% of its new U.S. vehicle entries will be fully battery-electric by the end of 2025 and has set a target of 2035 for when all of its vehicles will be fully electric — such a deadline that Tavares has refrained from setting for Stellantis.

Tavares also underscored Stellantis' commitment to control around 80% of battery-electric vehicles' value, which is more than the automaker has of vehicles it makes with internal combustion engines. The concept borrows from the first automotive century's golden age when automakers controlled key parts of assembly and component production in what the industry called "vertical integration." Stellantis will share more details on batteries and its strategy during an electrification day on July 8.

PSA previously had developed joint ventures that will continue under Stellantis for the production of battery cells and modules by the end of 2023, electric motors by the end of 2022 and transmissions for hybrids by the end of 2022 for Europe. Stellantis itself plans to produce battery management systems by the end of next year as well as create e-powertrain and energy management software.

The automaker has not announced plans for a battery plant in the United States, but Tavares said work is moving quickly on such projects. By 2025, the company expects to have capacity for 130 gigawatt-hours and 250 gigawatt-hours by 2050.

Its Automotive Cells Co. joint venture with French oil and gas company Total SE and its Saft Groupe S.A. battery company will begin battery production at gigafactories in Douvrin, France, by the end of 2023, and Kaiserslautern, Germany, by the end of 2025. They are expected to provide 50 gigawatt-hours of capacity.

"Not only do we want to fast forward on this electrification transformation because we believe that our purpose is to deliver a safe, clean and affordable mobility to the citizens of the communities in which we operate," Tavares said. "We are not only now going to accelerate, but we are going to do this in an efficient way that is not wasting the resources of the company."
Stellantis isn’t alone. GM is working with LG Chem Ltd. on a $2.3 billion battery cell plant in northeast Ohio set for completion by 2022. Volkswagen AG last month said a joint venture with Northvolt AB will produce batteries in Germany by early 2024. Ford is examining the possibility of manufacturing its own batteries, too.

Also during the annual general meeting, 99.6% of shareholders voted in favor of a $1.2 billion extraordinary distribution in lieu of an ordinary annual dividend that has been paused due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Payments of 38 cents (0.32 euro) per share will be made April 28.
Holding companies representing Stellantis' largest shareholders, the Agnelli family of Italy and Peugeot family of France, shared in a joint statement that they signed a consultation agreement this week "aimed at strengthening the relations between the Agnelli and Peugeot families and to provide support for Stellantis in its long-term success."

The understanding allows Exor NV, which holds a 14.4% stake in Stellantis, and Peugeot 1810, which has a 7.2% share, to exchange views, though it leaves them free to vote as they wish.

Nearly all Stellantis nameplates will have electrified option by 2025

The multinational automaker was created in January to generate the funds and scale to compete in an industry quickly adopting zero-emission technology

www.detroitnews.com

 

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Stellantis CEO commits Jeep, Ram pickup-maker to big EV targets

04/16/2021

The CEO of Stellantis, maker of Jeep SUVs and Ram pickups, told the company’s shareholders Thursday to expect a major boost in the number of pure battery-electric vehicle models it offers and in the percentage of low-emission vehicles it sells over the next nine years.

Carlos Tavares, who leads the company that resulted from the merger in January of Peugeot maker PSA Group and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, offered a portrait of an entity committed to an electrified future, particularly in its two most important markets, Europe and the United States. He spoke during the merged company's first annual general meeting for shareholders.

Tavares committed to increasing the share of low-emission vehicles the company sells in Europe from 14% in 2021 to 70% in 2030 and in the United States from 4% in 2021 to 35% in 2030. Those increases would be paired with a plan to boost the number of nameplates with low-emission vehicle offerings to 98% in Europe by 2025 and 96% in the United States by then. Low-emission vehicles include both plug-in electric hybrids and pure battery-electrics.

Tavares said the company would triple its low-emission vehicle sales this year compared with 2020 to more than 400,000 vehicles.

“This is what we’re going to deliver to the market. Please recognize that we are now accelerating this electrification move, and please recognize that we are perfectly on time and ready to deliver on the limited emissions or zero emissions mobility expectations of the markets in which we operate,” Tavares said.

Stellantis’ pledge to bolster its EV credentials continues the departure, particularly in messaging, from the days when the late FCA CEO Sergio Marchionne actively discouraged people from buying the Fiat 500e because he said he was sick of losing money on the electric vehicle.

Fiat Chrysler had been considered a laggard in the push toward electrification but had upped its commitments in recent years. The company has developed a plug-in electric version of its Jeep Wrangler, and Mike Manley, FCA’s CEO who is now head of the Americas for Stellantis, said the company would offer an electrified Ram pickup.

While plans for the future look relatively green, the company’s present includes vehicles with a different philosophy, such as the 702-horsepower 2021 Ram TRX and its 12 mpg combined fuel economy estimate.


Still, Tavares has said the company would do its part to tackle emissions issues as it balances the costs of electrification, something he said would be helped along by the introduction of four platforms between 2023 and 2026 for battery-electric vehicles. Tavares noted that the company currently has more than 110 nameplates, and he said that developing four BEV platforms, presumably instead of many more, would help free up cash needed for EV development.

He laid out the expected driving range for each as well:

• Small, 311 miles
• Medium, 435 miles
• Large, 497 miles
• Frame (which would include large SUVs and pickups), 311 miles

These numbers, he said, would address range anxiety concerns, the worry that an EV driver might run out of electric power before reaching a destination.

In addition, Tavares said the company intends to control a larger portion of the components that go into electric vehicles, from platforms to motors to batteries. The company has battery factories planned in Germany and France and will announce more this year, including in North America, he said.

The company will offer a deeper look at its plans during Stellantis Electrification Day, currently slated for July 8.

Stellantis CEO commits Jeep, Ram pickup-maker to big EV targets

Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, said the company would triple its low-emission vehicle sales this year compared with 2020.

www.freep.com

 

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DODGE PLANS TO “REINVENT” THE MUSCLE CAR
After The “Bachelor Party” Phase Of ICE-Powertrains Is Up
by Lucas Allen May 21, 2021,

Photo copyright MuscleCarsandTrucks.com

As electrification becomes part of an undeniable future for the automotive industry, the fates of our favorite V8-powered muscle cars appear to be all but written. That said, the muscle car segment is currently experiencing what could easily be called its brightest moment since their historic “golden age” of the late 1960s and early 1970s. And when you think of the current crop of these V8-powered machines, none are more true to their roots than the Dodge Challenger and Dodge Charger. As you might expect, the very character of these big, beloved American brutes are inseparable from their powerful Hemi V8 engines. But it appears a change in formula is imminent.

Dodge Durango SRT, Dodge Charger SRT, and Dodge Challenger SRT. Image via Stellantis.

The Future Of Dodge Muscle Cars
“There hasn’t been a date drawn in the sand saying you’ll no longer be able to buy an iron block Hemi anymore, but everybody knows it’s coming and they want to enjoy (today) while they can… it will come to an end, but the replacements are going to be so much more exciting,” said Matt McAlear, head of Dodge Sales Operations in an interview with MC&T.

If you take a look at the current Dodge Challenger and Charger lineup, you’d be hard pressed to know that the industry is embracing hybridization and electrification. The Dodge muscle cars are available with three different V8 engine options, ranging from 375 horsepower up to 797 horsepower in the Hellcat Redeye models. That isn’t to say that Dodge isn’t gearing up for an electric future, but they realize their customers want to be able to experience the best V8 engines they can with the time we have left.

Photo copyright Manoli Katakis, Muscle Cars & Trucks.

“I think more than anything people are looking for the next generation,” said McAlear, on the broad trend of the shrinking muscle car segment. “Everybody knows electrification is coming, we’ll reinvent the muscle car as far as Dodge is concerned. I’m extremely excited about where the future is going, but right now everybody is enjoying ‘the bachelor party.’ This is the last hurrah.”

Several key figures at Stellantis have also made remarks about the what the future of the Dodge muscle car family will look like, including CEO Carlos Tavares and celebrity design chief Ralph Gilles.

Photo copyright Manoli Katakis, Muscle Cars & Trucks.

The End Of An Era?
It’ll be a sad day when the last Hemi V8 rolls off of the production line, but we’ll never forget the impact they’ve had on the industry. But, as McAlear mentioned, there’s no clear line in the sand just yet (provided certain policymakers don’t get their way).

If this is truly the end of the line for the V8-powered Dodge Challenger and Dodge muscle cars, we couldn’t have asked for a better send-off. The current crop of models are genuinely some of the most enjoyable American vehicles money can buy.

As for whether or not there’s enough rare earth minerals to go around for the auto industry to make batteries, that’s another conversation.
“We’ll leave that to smarter people,” he said.

Photo copyright Steven Pham, Muscle Cars & Trucks

DODGE PLANS TO "REINVENT" THE MUSCLE CAR

The Dodge Challenger and Charger muscle cars are synonymous with their Hemi V8 engines. Of course that'll have to change in the EV Era.

www.musclecarsandtrucks.com

 

[rickaren]

Dodge Launching New Alfa Romeo-Based SUV

Jun 6, 2021

Dodge Launching New Alfa Romeo-Based SUV There are currently only three models in the 2021 Dodge lineup: Challenger, Charger, and Durango. The Dodge Journey and Grand Caravan were retired last year but the official website still advertises them as 2020 models. The fact of the matter is that Dodge requires new product as those three survivors aren't exactly new. Fortunately, the recent merger between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the PSA Groupe to create Stellantis opens up all kinds of new possibilities and Dodge will soon benefit. According to Passione Auto Italiane, via Reddit, the upcoming Alfa Romeo Tonale compact crossover will be reskinned and rebadged as the Dodge Hornet. The Tonale, as we recently reported, has been delayed by several months as Alfa Romeo's newly appointed CEO ordered some last-minute improvements. The model is now scheduled to go on sale early next year. As for the Hornet, the report claims it'll be built alongside the Tonale at the company's Campano production plant in Italy but it won't be sold in Europe. Both vehicles will share the same 2.0-liter turbocharged engine found in the Wrangler and, possibly, a plug-in hybrid powerplant, though the report didn't confirm the latter. It seems Dodge has been interested in reviving the Hornet nameplate, which was used years ago by AMC, for over a year. When it was still called FCA, the automaker filed a trademark request with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) in March 2020. Prior to that, there was the Dodge Hornet concept, pictured below, from the early 2000s. A nameplate revival isn't the only reason why the Dodge Hornet is kind of a big deal for the brand. The last time Dodge introduced a new model bearing a new(ish) name was way back in 2013 with the Dart. That compact sedan also had Italian underpinnings but it failed to catch on in the US and elsewhere it was sold. Dodge ultimately discontinued it in 2016. The company isn't likely to comment on future product but don't be surprised to see the Hornet debut sometime late this year or in early 2022.

 

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Next-Generation Dodge Muscle Cars May Be Previewed on July 8th

In the first instance, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles intended to switch the Challenger and Charger to the Giorgio vehicle architecture of the brand-new Jeep Grand Cherokee. The late Sergio Marchionne then said that a Maserati platform would be more appropriate for these applications. Right after that, he told the automotive media that an evolution of the 17-year-old LX platform would underpin the next-gen Dodge muscle cars.

35 photos


Fast forward to October 2020, and that’s when an agreement signed by Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and the Canadian auto workers union specified three new variants of the Challenger and Charger before the current generation bows out. When asked about the brand’s high-octane and muscle-bound future by our friends at Muscle Cars & Trucks, chief executive officer Timothy Kuniskis said to wait for July 8th for “some pretty interesting stuff.”

Tim has mentioned a SEMA reveal as well, but the big kahuna refused to go into further detail or even mention the Challenger or Charger nameplates.

If you could turn back the calendar to July 2019, that’s when FCA gave us a glimpse of the next-generation models in the guise of an eight-speed transmission. More to the point, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will be supplied with hybridized 8HP transmissions by ZF Friedrichshafen from 2022 onward, which means that the redesigned Charger and Challenger could arrive for the 2023 model year. Based on the health crisis that shall not be named and the microchip shortage, we could even look at a 2024 model year debut.

Previously confirmed with electrified assistance by the head of sales operations Matt McAlear, the all-new Charger and Challenger with the fancy 8HP box could arrive in mild-hybrid, hybrid, or plug-in flavors. The most powerful transmission is called 8HP80PH, and in P2 setup for plug-in applications, it cranks out up to 215 horsepower plus 332 pound-feet (450 Nm) of torque.

Combine these figures with the 6.2-liter supercharged V8 of the Super Stock that develops 807 horsepower and 707 pound-feet (959 Nm) on pump gas, and you’ll get 1,022 horsepower and 1,039 pound-feet (1,409 Nm) in total.

Next-Generation Dodge Muscle Cars May Be Previewed on July 8th

In the first instance, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles intended to switch the Challenger and Charger to the Giorgio vehicle architecture of the brand-new Jeep Grand Cherokee. The late Sergio Marchionne then said that a Maserati platform would be more appropriate for these applications. Right after...

www.autoevolution.com

 

[rickaren]

Dodge Is Building the World’s First All-Electric Muscle Car—and It’s Coming in 2024





Fri, July 9, 2021

Dodge may not be the first automaker that comes to mind when you think of the bleeding edge of automotive technology, but its executives realize there’s no use pushing back against the electric revolution.
On Thursday, the Detroit mainstay announced plans to launch its first fully electric model in 2024. But this won’t just be any old EV—it’s set to be the world’s first battery-powered muscle car.

The announcement was made during Dodge parent company’s Stellantis’s EV Day press event on Thursday. In a short video presentation, Dodge CEO Tim Kuniskis said his brand has no intention of offering mere electric cars but will instead sell “American eMuscle.” And as a way of proving this, Kuniskis revealed that the automaker’s first EV will be a zero-emission muscle car. A name has yet to be revealed, and the vehicle’s design was only hinted at, but the assumption is that the battery-powered beast will be based on the brand’s most famous muscle car, the Challenger. Of course, if the company is looking for an easy electrification pun, it could also be based on the four-door Charger.

“Our engineers are reaching a practical limit of what we can squeeze from internal combustion innovation,” Kuniskis said in his presentation. “They know, we know, that electric motors can give us more. And if we know of a technology that can give our customers an advantage, we have an obligation to embrace it.”

While details are currently close to non-existent, EV Day’s messaging suggests that the vehicle will be built on Stellantis’s new STLA Large platform. The auto conglomerate claims that vehicles built on the platform will be able to generate a maximum of 886 horsepower, go 500 miles on a single charge and accelerate from zero to 60 mph in two seconds, according to Autoblog. If true, this would make the forthcoming EV even more powerful than the current top-of-the-line Challenger, the SRT Superstock, which is equipped with a supercharged 6.2-liter High-Output HEMI V-8 that can generate 808 horsepower and 707 ft lbs of torque.

The muscle car, whichever nameplate it ends up using, won’t be the only famous Dodge that’s getting the electric treatment. Stellantis also announced plans to release an all-electric pickup based on the Ram, which is now its own dedicated sub-brand, in 2024. By then, America’s three top-selling trucks, including the Ford F-150 and Chevrolet Silverado, will have EV versions.

 

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Next-Gen Electric Jeeps And Rams Will Use Clever New Platforms

07/10/2021


These platforms will offer a range of up to 500 miles.

Officially announced close to a year ago, Stellantis became one of the most significant automotive companies in the world following the merger of Fiat Chrysler and French Groupe PSA. It came at a critical time as the many brands under the Stellanties umbrella transition to full electrification. The Stellantis EV day this week already brought us news of an electric Dodge muscle car, while an electric Jeep Wrangler was also teased. Underpinning a brace of forthcoming EVs will be four new electric platforms and, as part of EV day, Stellantis gave us a first look at them. The four platforms are known as STLA Small, STLA Medium, STLA Large, and STLA Frame.

Ram

Ram/YouTube









While the Small platform promises a range of up to 300 miles and the Medium one a 440-mile range, the Large and Frame platforms will underpin vehicles with a range of up to 500 miles. Fast-charging capability will enable 20 miles of range to be added in just one minute. Stellantis says that three electric drive modules (EDM) will combine the motor, gearbox, and inverter, and that they can be scaled with ease. This makes them suitable for front-, rear-, or all-wheel drive as well as 4xe models. But which vehicles are these platforms likely to underpin? Some conclusions could be drawn while the full EV Day 2021 stream was still live.

STLA Medium will serve premium vehicles, STLA Large will cater to AWD performance vehicles and more, while STLA Frame will focus on trucks. Likely new EVs from Stellantis include an electric crossover from Chrysler and a long-range luxury sedan that could perhaps go up against the Tesla Model S. A muscle car, DUV, SUV, an off-road Jeep, and a mid-sized truck were also mentioned. The new electric Ram 1500 will use the truck-focused STLA Frame platform; if it manages a 500-mile range, it will surpass the new Ford F-150 Lightning in this area. Stellantis also briefly teased a Wagoneer badge, indicating an electric version of the new SUV.

Battery capacities for the new platforms will range from 37 kWh to over 200 kWh. As for outputs, these will range between 94 to 402 horsepower depending on the specific power output. Remember, more than one EDM can be used per vehicle so high-performance cars will have the potential to offer over 800 hp. The STLA Small platform is likely to be reserved for city cars from the likes of Peugeot and Citroen in Europe, but the larger platforms should feature prominently in the US as Stellantis targets over 40 percent low-emission vehicle sales here by 2030.

Next-Gen Electric Jeeps And Rams Will Use Clever New Platforms

 

[rickaren]

Future Jeeps will be able to drive underwater, CEO says

July 15, 2021

Gary Gastelu
Thu, July 15, 2021


The new Jeep Wrangler Xtreme Recon can drive through 33.6 inches of water, but future Jeeps may be able to go much deeper than that.
During a recent electric vehicle presentation by Jeep's parent company Stellantis, a Wrangler was depicted driving while fully submerged, and that vision could become a reality.
"There is a little wink we have at the end, which is probably post-2030, but I know a lot of enthusiasts and a lot of our communities are requesting it," Jeep CEO Christian Meunier told The Detroit News. "There are some crazy, very amazing people in the Jeep community who do that type of thing already with an ICE, so you can imagine with a battery car what it would be."
Electric vehicles don't have air intakes or exhausts, so as long as their equipment is sealed they can operate underwater without any issues.

In fact, the currently available Wrangler Rubicon 4Xe plug-in hybrid, which has an all-electric range of 21 miles, is equipped with a waterproof battery pack and rated at a fording depth of 30 inches.

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The capability may be useful even without scuba equipment. Meunier also teased future off-road autonomous capability that will allow Jeep owners to have their vehicles drop them off in the wilderness and meet them at a location at the end of a hike, rafting trip or other activity that could involve a body of water along the way.

 

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	​ Dodge plug-in hybrid coming in 2022

8/04 2021

Dodge will launch a plug-in hybrid in 2022, parent company Stellantis revealed on Tuesday in a presentation outlining its 2021 first half results.


Unfortunately there were no further details on the plug-in hybrid but rumors point to the vehicle being a new addition to the lineup rather than a variant of the current Challenger, Charger or Durango.



The rumors specifically point to a compact crossover twinned with an Alfa Romeo crossover also due in 2022 and previewed by 2019's Tonale concept. The Dodge version is tipped to be called a Hornet, a name Dodge last used on a 2006 hot hatch concept, and whose trademark Dodge renewed in 2020.

The platform destined for the Alfa Romeo, and presumably the Dodge, is the same setup underpinning Jeep's Renegade and Compass. In those Jeeps, an available plug-in hybrid powertrain consists of a 1.3-liter inline-4 up front and an electric motor at the rear. Output ranges from 190 to 240 hp, and an 11.4-kilowatt-hour battery provides enough juice for an electric range of approximately 30 miles. Expect a more potent setup for the Alfa Romeo, and any Dodge twin.


The news comes just weeks after Dodge said it will launch an electric muscle car in 2024. This new electric car will be based on one of four battery-electric platforms that Stellantis will use for future models across its 14 brands.

Stellantis in its first half results presentation also revealed plans for the first electric Jeep to be introduced in the first half of 2023, and plans to make Alfa Romeo a fully electric brand by as early as 2027.

2023 Dodge Hornet spy shots: Alfa Romeo Tonale twin spotted

Before it jumps into the EV game, Dodge will dip its toe into the electrification waters with a plug-in hybrid.

www.motorauthority.com

 

[rickaren]

	Jeep will launch first EV in 2023

Stellantis revealed a timeline for the introduction of plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles at its various brands in a presentation on Tuesday outlining its 2021 first half results, and included in the timeline was a Jeep electric vehicle due in the first half of 2023.


The identity wasn't revealed but there are rumors the first electric Jeep will be a crossover even smaller than the subcompact Renegade, and twinned with similar crossovers at Alfa Romeo and Fiat.



The news comes just weeks after Stellantis announced plans to introduce four electric platforms that will eventually cover most vehicles across the company's 14 brands. The platforms are the STLA Small, STLA Medium, STLA Large, and STLA Frame, and they will offer range figures starting at 300 miles and going all the way up to 500 miles.






Jeep Wrangler Magneto concept

Jeep said it will take advantage of the platforms by offering an electric option in every segment it currently operates in by 2025. That means we'll likely see an electric Wrangler in the not too distant future, something Jeep already previewed with the Wrangler Magneto concept unveiled at the Easter Jeep Safari in March.


Before Jeep jumps into the EV game, the brand plans to add more plug-in hybrids. It already offers a plug-in hybrid Wrangler in the U.S., as well as plug-in hybrid versions of the Renegade and Compass in other markets. Next in the pipeline is a plug-in hybrid Grand Cherokee that arrives for the 2022 model year.


Jeep is quite serious about electrification and is even establishing its own charging stations at trailheads.

Electric Jeep due in 2023 shown for first time

Jeep wants an EV in all its segments by 2025, and the first will arrive as early as 2023.

www.motorauthority.com

 

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Rumor Says Dodge Hornet PHEV Won't Share Engine With Alfa Tonale

Aug 31, 2021




Andrei Nedelea



It will more likely get a variation of the PHEV powertrain that can be found in the new Jeep Wrangler 4xe.


Dodge hasn’t had a smaller crossover in its lineup ever since it stopped making the Journey, and that’s a very lucrative market segment that any manufacturer wants to be present in right now. That’s why Dodge is planning to launch a new model in 2022 to fill that niche and it will be a brother of the Alfa Romeo Tonale alongside which it will also be built, in the Pomigliano D’Arco factory in Naples, Italy.

Both vehicles will share the FCA Small Wide 4x4 platform also used to underpin the Jeep Compass and Renegade, although now that Fiat-Chrysler was bought by PSA and became part of Stellantis, this is most likely one of this platform’s last uses. In the future, Stellantis will for the most part shift all models from the brands that it now controls onto revised versions of PSA’s platforms.

When it comes to the Hornet’s plug-in hybrid powertrain, Mopar Insiders says it won’t actually be shared with the Tonale. The Alfa crossover will come with a 1.5-liter four-cylinder that in conjunction with electric boost will make around 200 horsepower, but this may not be enough for the Dodge variant of the vehicle.

The source says that the Hornet is more likely to feature a 2-liter four-cylinder, the same one that powers various Alfa Romeo, Maserati and even Jeep models. Its internal codename is GME-T4 and in the Veloce version of the Giulia or Stelvio, for instance, it makes 276 horsepower.

Currently, the GME-T4 is only part of a plug-in hybrid in the new Jeep Wrangler 4xe and there’s a good chance the new Dodge Hornet will be powered by a variation of it. In the Wrangler, it makes a combined 375 horsepower and 470 pound-feet (637 Nm), but because the Jeep is quite heavy, it still needs 6.4 seconds to reach 100 km/h from nought.


The new Hornet PHEV crossover is one of nine new plug-in hybrids announced by Dodge, and based on the brand's profile they all should have a sporty edge to them. The manufacturer also teased what is probably its most exciting new car, a still unnamed fully-electric retro-inspired muscle car.


Rumor Says Dodge Hornet PHEV Won't Share Engine With Alfa Tonale

 

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Stellantis Tests Two New Connected Safety Notification Technologies in North America

• Advance warnings of close-proximity traffic and pedestrian situations, delivered to the driver via Uconnect, improve awareness for safer, smarter decisions and pave the way for autonomous technology
• Two separate test programs employ vehicle-to-everything (V2X) connectivity to alert drivers:
  • Using Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC), the localized monitoring system can quickly make decisions at intersections and pedestrian zones, sending warnings on-site and to approaching vehicles
  • In-vehicle digital alerts when in close proximity to responding emergency vehicles and other roadway hazards

September 17, 2021 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Stellantis is exploring Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) and Safety Cloud® technologies in North America, giving drivers advanced notification warnings of potential hazards in their path.

“Greater connectivity speeds, improved hardware and expanded software expertise have opened new opportunities for Stellantis with safety systems being one of the many areas we focus on,” said Mamatha Chamarthi, Head of Software Business and Product Management. “Through smart and strategic partnerships, we will capitalize on next-generation systems and prove out the technology.”

Working with the 5G Automotive Association (5GAA) partnership, one test will demonstrate a cellular 5G connection with the MEC platform, allowing localized systems to quickly make decisions at the point where data is collected. For example, it uses on-site cameras and sensors to collect detailed data at an intersection that is beyond what a single vehicle can “see” with its on-board systems. The MEC system can locally process and communicate safety risks to on-site pedestrians and approaching vehicles.

The MEC platform demonstration evaluates a faster data exchange infrastructure for future technology applications with the ability to deliver a value chain for new connected services and increased levels of vehicle autonomy.

5GAA demonstration partners include Intel, Verizon, Harman, Altran, Telus and American Tower. Testing of Stellantis vehicles and partner technologies will be conducted at the University of Michigan’s Mcity Test Facility with near-term plans to expand testing to the Detroit area with cooperation from the Michigan Department of Transportation.

The initial test includes a pair of 2021 Jeep Wrangler 4xe plug-in hybrid vehicles equipped with Uconnect.

MEC platform technology is expected to launch nationwide within the next decade.

Safety Cloud Notifications
The second system is closer to production and emerged from “Star Up,” a company-wide innovation challenge that enables Stellantis employees to present new customer-focused technology concepts to the highest levels of management.

One of the innovative ideas that emerged from the event proposed an advanced warning system to indicate when emergency vehicles are in close proximity.

Engineering teams collaborated with HAAS Alert to pilot a new feature that delivers alerts to the vehicle’s Uconnect system when responding emergency vehicles and/or other roadway hazards tracked by the Safety Cloud digital warning system are in close proximity. The program leverages greater connectivity capability in the first automotive test of real-time Safety Cloud notifications.

The initial test includes company-owned vehicles in metro Detroit with 2018 model-year and newer Chrysler, Jeep®, Dodge and Ram vehicles equipped with Uconnect. The pilot project will measure and identify the effectiveness of delivering safety alerts to in-car screens, the impact the service has on driver safety and opportunities for improvement.

Pending the results, Stellantis may develop a commercial roll-out plan.

 

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Dodge Announces ‘Never Lift’ Business Plan, the Muscle-car Brand’s Two-year Look Down the Road

• Never Lift to provide a 24-month road map to Dodge’s performance future
• Dodge brand to mash the "go" pedal with news announcements every quarter
• Operation 25/8 leads the Never Lift launch with a massive eight-week, 25-dream-car giveaway
• Operation 25/8 details to be released Nov. 12, 2021
• Future program seeks Dodge brand "Chief Donut Maker;" more information slated to arrive in January 2022
• Dodge introduces Dodge Power Brokers dealer network as the exclusive source for new Direct Connection performance parts and performance-focused sales and customer service
• Dodge announces the return of Direct Connection as the exclusive source of the brand’s factory-backed performance parts that maintain the vehicle factory warranty, as well as technical information straight from the factory
• New lineup of Direct Connection performance parts and Dodge Power Brokers program roll out Dec. 15, 2021

November 8, 2021 , Detroit - Dodge Brand Chief Executive Officer Tim Kuniskis today previewed the brand’s two-year business plan, which he dubbed Never Lift. The Dodge Never Lift plan will be news-packed, calling for a minimum of one product- or automotive-enthusiast-related announcement every three months.

Included in today’s 24-month Never Lift rollout were four additional news announcements.

Operation 25/8
Dodge provided a first look at a massive eight-week, 25-car giveaway it’s calling Operation 25/8.

Operation 25/8 is named for the spirit of Dodge and the “Brotherhood of Muscle” that goes above and beyond, 24 hours a day, seven days a week (going one more hour, one more day).

The 25/8 dream-car giveaway will enlist the support of 25 superstars from the worlds of sports, music and automotive, with each offering muscle-car enthusiasts a chance to drive off with the new Dodge of their choosing. Amazon will also take part in the giveaway.

“More than gas, more than batteries, what fuels our run to tomorrow is attitude, a belief that we can always push harder, run faster and flat-out over-deliver on behalf of the brand and the Brotherhood of Muscle,” said Kuniskis. “25/8 recognizes the spirit that makes Dodge, well, Dodge.”

More details on Operation 25/8 will be released Nov. 12, 2021.

Chief Donut Maker
Kuniskis also added an early look at a consumer program designed to celebrate one of the unsung enthusiasts that make up the backbone of the Dodge brand’s “Brotherhood of Muscle.”

According to Kuniskis, Dodge is looking for an “ambassador” of Never Lift who embodies the spirit of the founding Dodge brothers.

“The Dodge brothers were scrappy go-getters. Never content to follow the trends, they were the seekers of a better, faster, more outrageous way of doing things,” said Kuniskis. “And we’re looking to hire someone just like them as an ambassador of Never Lift.”

Among the jobs benefits, Kuniskis listed a Hellcat to drive, $150,000 salary, wardrobe and a business card that carries the title “Chief Donut Maker.”

Dodge will provide more details of the Chief Donut Maker program on Jan. 12, 2022.

Dodge Power Brokers
Dodge is introducing Power Brokers, a network of elite dealerships equipped with staff trained to deliver a performance-focused customer service experience.

Certified Dodge Power Brokers dealership sales, service and parts department staff will meet high standards of comprehensive knowledge and expertise in areas including Dodge vehicle features, high-performance parts and installation, as well as motorsports programs. Only dealerships with a proven track record of delivering an elevated level of customer service are eligible for Dodge Power Brokers certification.

“Every Dodge dealer in the country will continue to provide an outstanding sales and service experience,” said Kuniskis. “But Dodge Power Brokers dealers will offer everything an enthusiast needs to reach the next level of performance.”

Sales personnel at Dodge Power Brokers dealerships will have the knowledge to walk customers through Dodge vehicle performance features and available performance upgrades. Customers will also be able to purchase a vehicle with upgrades directly from a Dodge Power Brokers dealership, with the added benefit of maintaining the balance of the factory vehicle warranty when parts are installed by a Dodge Power Brokers dealer.

Dodge Power Brokers dealers will also host performance clinics for enthusiasts and feature a full lineup of Dodge performance models available for customer test drives.

The Dodge Power Broker program will begin to roll out Dec. 15, 2021.

Direct Connection
Performance has a new name at Dodge.

Dodge announced today the return of the Direct Connection performance parts brand as the exclusive source of the brand’s factory-backed performance parts and straight-from-the-manufacturer technical information.

Dodge Power Brokers will serve as the exclusive source for all new Direct Connection performance parts.

“Dodge is a pure performance brand, and the reintroduction of Direct Connection will empower members of the brotherhood looking for increased performance without violating emission requirements or the factory warranty,” said Kuniskis. “We’re doubling down on our commitment to Direct Connection by pairing it with our new Dodge Power Brokers program, so when customers want to unlock the true horsepower potential of their Dodge muscle car, they can connect with a network of dealerships as their trusted resource.”

Direct Connection will launch with a full line of factory-tuned parts, including exclusive new Direct Connection “Tuner” and “Stage” kits that will allow Dodge owners to install factory-tuned, 50-state-legal stage kit calibrations. The Direct Connection Stage II kit can unlock nearly 100 additional horsepower, while a Stage III kit is under development to unlock even more.

All-new Direct Connection modern performance kits will be available to upgrade the engine, suspension and driveline of the current-era Dodge Challenger while maintaining vehicle factory warranty when installed by a Dodge Power Brokers dealer.

In the competition arena, Direct Connection will deliver race-ready parts for the Dodge Challenger Mopar Drag Pak, including engines, transmissions and a body-in-white (BIW) that will allow racers to build their own Drag Pak.

Direct Connection resources for muscle car enthusiasts and racers will include a performance parts website, technical information telephone hotline and parts catalog.

Direct Connection was first launched in 1974 as the exclusive source for performance parts and technical information, straight from the manufacturer. As an industry first, Direct Connection changed the game with a massive portfolio of ready-to-run performance parts sold through the dealer network with how-to performance-upgrade guides known as performance recipes. The Direct Connection hotline, catalog and more armed racers and enthusiasts with the information they desired. Whatever the performance need – street, track or strip – Direct Connection provided the parts and knowledge.

Dodge will carry on that performance legacy by supplying a new generation of muscle-car enthusiasts looking for “ready to run” parts with a one-stop shop for factory-backed high-performance parts and technical expertise, straight from the factory.

Dodge Direct Connection performance parts and content will roll out Dec. 15, 2021.

Dodge//SRT
For more than 100 years, the Dodge brand has carried on the spirit of brothers John and Horace Dodge. Their influence continues today as Dodge shifts into high gear with muscle cars and SUVs that deliver unrivaled performance in each of the segments where they compete.

Dodge drives forward as a pure performance brand, offering SRT versions of every model across the lineup. For the 2022 model year, Dodge delivers the drag-strip dominating 807-horsepower Dodge Challenger SRT Super Stock, the 797-horsepower Dodge Charger SRT Redeye, the most powerful and fastest mass-produced sedan in the world, and the Dodge Durango SRT 392, America’s fastest, most powerful and most capable three-row SUV. Combined, these three muscle cars make Dodge the industry’s most powerful brand, offering more horsepower than any other American brand across its entire lineup.

In 2020, Dodge was named the "#1 Brand in Initial Quality," making it the first domestic brand ever to rank No. 1 in the J.D. Power Initial Quality Study (IQS). In 2021, the Dodge brand ranked No. 1 in the J.D. Power APEAL Study (mass market), making it the only domestic brand ever to do so two years in a row.

Dodge is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

 

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Chrysler Airflow EV Concept Previews Stellantis's Mach-E Rival

Joey Capparella
Tue, December 7, 2021

Photo credit: Stellantis

• Chrysler showed an EV concept car called the Airflow that it says will come to market in the near future.
• It appears to be an electric crossover model similar in size and shape to the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
• We expect it to ride on the company's STLA Medium platform, and it could arrive as soon as 2024.

Chrysler's first new model in several years looks to be an electric crossover that could wear the historic Airflow nameplate. First shown during Stellantis' EV Day event earlier this year, we now have more information on this concept car that's meant to showcase new technologies including electric platforms, driver-assistance features, and infotainment software. Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares said it's "more than a pure concept" and hinted that this vehicle could make its way to production by 2024, which is backed up by U.S. trademarks for the Airflow name filed in 2019 and 2021.

It's no coincidence that this Chrysler has a similar shape and similar proportions to the Ford Mustang Mach-E, our EV of the Year winner that's already achieving sales success in the marketplace. While we don't know the exact size of the Airflow, it appears to be a potential competitor for the Mach-E and other compact-crossover EV models such as the Tesla Model Y and Volkswagen ID.4.

Stellantis has announced plans for four new EV platforms including STLA Small, STLA Medium, STLA Large, and STLA Frame. We think that the Airflow would fit on STLA Medium. Based on previous claims Stellantis has made about its new EV models, this means it could achieve a driving range of up to 440 miles and use electric motors making between 167 and 241 horsepower. A dual-motor all-wheel-drive option is likely.

Photo credit: Stellantis

Inside, the Airflow features an onslaught of screens, with a giant central infotainment display that's flanked by separate screens for the driver and passenger. There are also rear-seat entertainment screens. Connectivity features will likely include over-the-air updates and vehicle-to-vehicle communication.

There's no concrete timeline on the Chrysler Airflow's arrival as a production model, but given that the concept has side market lights and exterior mirrors, we think it will reach showrooms sooner rather than later. Stellantis is targeting 2024 for its new platforms, so we could possibly see this Chrysler as a 2025 model in the U.S.

 

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Dodge Challenger could get a downsized turbo straight-six

Ronan Glon
Tue, December 14, 2021





Dodge has confirmed plans to ditch the V8, and a new report sheds light on how it hopes to keep the next-generation Challenger exciting in spite of downsizing. The coupe will reportedly inaugurate a twin-turbocharged straight-six engine that will offer Hemi-like horsepower.

Citing anonymous sources, website StellPower wrote that the 3.0-liter engine is called GME-T6 internally. It should have been unveiled by this point, as earlier reports claimed that the new Jeep Grand Cherokee would usher it in, but vibration- and noise-related issues have allegedly delayed its introduction. It's now scheduled to make its debut in the next Challenger that's tentatively due out in 2023 as a 2024 model.

Enthusiast website Muscle Car & Trucks speculates that, in its standard configuration, the straight-six will at least match the 5.7-liter Hemi V8's 372-horsepower rating while offering more torque than its bigger sibling's 400-pound-foot output. Some degree of hybrid assistance could push the six's output to somewhere in the vicinity of 700 horsepower, which would allow Dodge to replace the 6.2-liter Hellcat V8. Rear- and all-wheel-drive variants will be available, according to the same report, but a naturally-aspirated six will not be offered.

Other cars, trucks, and SUVs in the Stellantis portfolio will receive the GME-T6 engine as well; it's reasonable to assume that, if it goes in the next Challenger, it'll also end up in the next Charger. However, keep in mind that none of this is official: The only facts confirmed by Dodge are that it needs to kill the V8 to comply with looming emissions regulations and that the supercharged Hellcat V8 will retire after 2023.

Enthusiasts not interested in a muscle car powered by a downsized engine need to act relatively quickly. Dodge noted in August 2021 that what it calls "the new platform" will make its debut for 2024 and that the current-generation cars will retire shortly after. We know there's an electric muscle car on the horizon, but details are scarce and it's too early to tell if it will be related to the next Challenger or if it will be marketed as a standalone model. Additional details about the company's future plans will be released before the end of 2022.

 

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Chrysler Unveils Airflow Concept at CES 2022; Announces Plan for Brand’s First Battery-electric Vehicle by 2025, All-electric Lineup by 2028

• • 
    
  • Chrysler pulls back the curtain with the unveiling of the Chrysler Airflow Concept at CES 2022 in Las Vegas, announcing commitment to launch its first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) by 2025 and plans for full battery-electric portfolio by 2028
  • Iconic American automotive brand will serve at the forefront of Stellantis’ transformative, sustainable mobility technology that will make the world cleaner, safer and more seamlessly connected
  • The all-electric Chrysler Airflow Concept integrates leading-edge drive-system technology with intuitive AI and connected vehicle technology that delivers 350- to 400-mile range and fast-charging functionality
  • Airflow Concept embodies Chrysler’s new contemporary, technology-forward design, featuring an elegantly dynamic profile and LED-illuminated Chrysler wing logo on the cross-car grille/light blade, complimenting the Airflow’s sleek, silent electric-powered ride
  • Airflow’s seamlessly connected STLA SmartCockpit, powered by STLA Brain, enables an extension of digital, work and home environments, all in sync to create a personalized experience for every passenger, with screens that can be simplified and grouped to individual needs and interests
  • Modern and spacious interior, accented by light from a panoramic roof and a calming color palette, evokes an open, airy lounge area that delivers a comfortable space away from home and work
  • Chrysler Airflow’s STLA Brain platform is fully over-the-air (OTA) capable, designed to quickly deliver new and upgraded features and functions that enhance and improve the vehicle over time
  • The Chrysler Airflow includes STLA AutoDrive to deliver Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities, which will also be upgradable via OTA updates

January 5, 2022 , Las Vegas - The Chrysler brand revealed today the Chrysler Airflow Concept at CES 2022, giving a glimpse at the leading-edge drive-system technology, fully connected customer experiences and advanced mobility features, wrapped in inspiring, dynamic design, which will fuel the Chrysler brand’s future.

Chrysler also announced that the brand’s transformation will include the launch of its first battery-electric vehicle (BEV) by 2025 and a future all-electric Chrysler vehicle lineup.

“The Chrysler Airflow Concept represents the future direction of the Chrysler brand, providing a peek at the dynamic design, advanced technologies and seamless connectivity that will characterize the full-electric portfolio we plan to reach by 2028,” said Chris Feuell, Chrysler brand CEO - Stellantis. “Chrysler is an iconic American automotive brand, with a heritage in creating new advanced technologies and product segments. Our brand will serve at the forefront as Stellantis transforms to deliver clean mobility and connected customer experiences.”

Through more than 96 years, the Chrysler brand has earned a reputation for innovative engineering, groundbreaking style and affordable luxury. One recent innovation, the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid, the first and only plug-in hybrid minivan, served as a springboard to the brand’s electrified future.

The new connected vehicle isn’t simply about moving from point A to point B. The Chrysler Airflow Concept reinvents the customer experience by integrating the STLA Brain platform and STLA SmartCockpit to deliver seamless connectivity to transform the experience for driver and passengers. The concept creates a connected hub that brings a consumer’s digital lifestyle into the vehicle, using advanced technology to create a customized space for each occupant.

“The Chrysler Airflow Concept represents the start of the brand’s journey toward a fully electrified future. It is the result of a thoughtful synthesis of the full arsenal of Stellantis’ connected vehicle technology – inside and out,” said Ralph Gilles, chief design officer - Stellantis. “The design features a decisively elegant aerodynamic exterior and a modern, sophisticated interior that takes the customer on a new level of digital delight.”

Seamless Connectivity Optimizing Customer Experiences
The Chrysler Airflow Concept is designed as a space to bring people together, both physically and virtually.

Enabled by STLA Brain and STLA SmartCockpit, the user experience in the Airflow Concept is agile, intuitive and always fresh. The interior showcases ideas for giving every passenger a personalized experience that seamlessly connects them with their digital lives, as well as the other passengers.

The Airflow Concept unifies these advanced technologies, communicating through advanced visualization and thoughtful interaction. The Airflow Concept user experience employs multi-layered, high-contrast graphics and thoughtful details to provide a clean, sophisticated appearance that is safe, easy to use and easy to understand.

Using a menu-based format, screens throughout the Airflow interior can be personalized, simplified and grouped based on individuals and interests. Information on the screens can be shared with all passengers by swiping. Customization and personalization are key, whether driving or acting as a co-pilot.

Each screen is a personalized space to access the digital world via connected entertainment, apps and downloads. Each seat also features a built-in camera, enabling occupants to participate in a group video conference call from the comfort of the Airflow cabin.

Over-the-air (OTA) updates keep Airflow Concept services current and let passengers quickly and easily add new and innovative features. That functionally keeps the vehicle fresh, exciting and capable, enhancing the overall ownership experience.

The backbone of the Airflow Concept user experience is the new electrical/electronic (E/E) and software architecture, STLA Brain. This architecture is highly flexible, breaking today’s bond between hardware and software generations. It enables software developers to create and update features and services quickly, taking advantage of capabilities built into the cockpit without waiting for a new hardware launch.

The STLA SmartCockpit, demonstrated in the Airflow Concept and built on top of STLA Brain architecture, seamlessly integrates with the digital lives of vehicle occupants to deliver AI-based applications, such as navigation, voice assistance, e-commerce marketplace and payment services.

Fully Electrified + Fully Connected
Along with the fully connected ultimate user experience, the Chrysler Airflow Concept previews the brand’s commitment to delivering a fully electric vehicle lineup by 2028, produced using clean manufacturing processes and made with recyclable and renewable materials. Through the use of industry-first technologies, the Chrysler brand will delight customers and influence the industry to make the world better, cleaner and safer.

The Chrysler Airflow Concept is equipped with STLA AutoDrive, which delivers Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities and will be upgradable via OTA updates.

The concept features all-wheel-drive capability and is powered by two 150 kW electric drive motors (EDMs), one in the front and one in the rear. The concept is designed to accommodate larger capacity EDMs, offering the potential for future high-performance applications. Drive motors are located toward the front and rear of the vehicle, maximizing interior space and enabling the large wheel size and wide stance of the Airflow Concept. The battery is designed to achieve between a 350- and 400-mile range on a single charge.

Dynamic Design Language
The sculptural, expressive design of the Chrysler Airflow Concept envisions the next generation of premium transportation and user experience. The concept reimagines how the driver and passengers interact with advanced technologies while delivering a first-class travel experience that balances technological needs within a serene environment.

The Airflow Concept features a dynamic design proportion, with a low ride height and streamlined, two-tone roof line that achieves an elegant yet athletic profile while increasing EV range. A long wheelbase and wide track, along with large 22-inch wheels and tires, are enhanced visually with Celestial Blue accent color cladding. The design elements work together to enable a dramatic stance and deliver excellent handling and performance dynamics.

The Airflow’s silent electric ride harmoniously supports the sleek design aesthetic, with the concept’s dramatic expression completed by an Arctic White body color that conveys a sense of calm and serenity. Up front, the Airflow announces its electric aesthetic with the Chrysler wing logo tied into a cross-car grille/light blade illuminated with crystal LED lighting. A crystal LED taillight runs the full width of the vehicle, accentuating the wide stance. The Airflow Concept features welcome, departure and animated lighting, including a unique aqua that signifies the vehicle is charging. The diffuser shape of the lower rear fascia highlights the aerodynamic, smooth underbody, a key to achieving optimum driving range.

The modern and spacious interior is also accented by a light and calming color palette, evoking an open, airy lounge area that delivers a comfortable space between home and work. The interior design is made to sooth and relax occupants, surrounding those inside with flowing lines that move throughout the space, creating a greater feeling of spaciousness and comfort. Technology is integrated seamlessly into the interior in the form of dark glass sculptures. The central control area integrates individualized climate controls near the C-shaped air slots. Crystalized textures throughout the vehicle add a sense of precision, providing an intricate transition from the exterior and aligning with the advanced interior design highlighted by premium refinement.

Redefined interior touchpoints support ideas of tranquil, serene comforting spaces and combine illusionary weightlessness and grounding metals to give the Airflow Concept a dynamic, dreamy design. Soft leather-wrapped seats help achieve a lighter, smoother atmosphere. Materials, including vegetable-tanned leather, as well as floor mats, fabric and carpeting made of recycled materials, imagine a future of sustainable design.

Infotainment screens appear as gloss black sculptures, seamlessly integrating technology within the overall interior composition. Seating uses a unique slim structure that rests on a pedestal base, enhancing comfort and roominess while allowing for maximum legroom, shoulder space and personal storage for each passenger.

Functional and ambient lighting helps the driver and passengers create a personalized inner sanctum, augmented by the Airflow Concept’s panoramic roof that allows daylight to stream into the cabin. The ambient lighting reveals itself in direct lines, adding modernity, and indirectly through perforations in the upper door bolsters and a cascade of light spilling out from under the armrests in all four doors. The lighting syncs to the mood of the interior and changes based on the passengers’ preferences and the content on the displays. Subtle design choices create an overall feeling of serenity with craftsman-like attention to detail in accent points, such as the perforation and embossed pattern on the seats, unifying the refined interior.

Chrysler Brand
The Chrysler brand has delighted customers with distinctive designs, craftsmanship, intuitive innovation and technology since the company was founded in 1925. The Chrysler Pacifica continues to reinvent the minivan, a segment Chrysler invented, with an unprecedented level of functionality, versatility, technology and bold styling and the most advanced available all-wheel-drive system in its class. The available innovative hybrid powertrain takes this revolutionary vehicle a step further. It’s the first electrified vehicle in the minivan segment and achieves more than 80 MPGe in electric-only mode, has an all-electric range of more than 30 miles and a total range of more than 500 miles. Chrysler Voyager offers fleet owners a budget-friendly minivan that also provides a well-equipped, exceptional driving experience. The Chrysler 300 lineup delivers on the brand’s promise of iconic and elegant design executed with world-class performance, efficiency and quality – all at an attainable value. Chrysler is part of the portfolio of brands offered by leading global automaker and mobility provider Stellantis. For more information regarding Stellantis (NYSE: STLA), please visit www.stellantis.com.

 

[rickaren]

Chrysler's Electric Plans Include Three SUVs, Electric Minivan

Jan 16, 2022

At the beginning of the year, Chrysler announced that it would be going all-electric by 2028. The plans seem to fit the iconic American brand which has seen its sales dwindle and lineup shrink to just three vehicles. In addition to the announcement, Chrysler unveiled the swanky Chrysler Airflow Concept. At the time, Chrysler wouldn't provide any information on what electric vehicles it would sell and didn't confirm any information on whether the Chrysler Airflow Concept would make it into production.

What To Expect From Chrysler

In speaking with Motor Trend, Chrysler CEO Chris Feuell outlined a few electric cars we could expect to see from the automaker in the future. The first important tidbit is that the Airflow Concept won't go into production. There's a chance that Chrysler may move away from the Airflow name, too.

While the concept won't make it to dealerships, Chrysler will be building an electric vehicle on the same STLA Large electric vehicle platform that Stellantis is developing. All of Chrysler's upcoming EVs will be built on that platform. If the Airflow Concept is anything to go off of, the first SUV should have a 118-kWh battery pack with a range of roughly 350 to 400 miles.

After the first electric SUV, Chrysler will come out with "one or two" more SUVs. It's possible that these two SUVs could be part of the same family with the smaller one offering five seats and the larger one offering three rows of seats. With Jeep's focus on bringing large SUVs like the Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer to market, we understand the need to find a way to come out with a profitable EV right out of the gate.

The most popular vehicle Chrysler sells at the moment is the Pacifica minivan. Chrysler was one of the first automakers to come out with a minivan and the body style is incredibly important to the automaker. So, it shouldn't but all that surprising to hear that Chrysler will ensure the minivan has a place when it moves to being an all-electric brand. Don't expect Chrysler to just electrify the Pacifica, though.

The Minivan Will Continue To Exist

Instead, Feuell sees the move to electrification to give Chrysler the ability to see a "fresh perspective" on what a minivan or "multi-purpose vehicle" can be, claims Motor Trend. This "multi-purpose vehicle" theme is something we've seen recently with minivans like the Kia Carnival. Automakers know that consumers are interested in vehicles that offer spacious cabins and large cargo areas, but aren't interested in purchasing minivans. Turning them into "multi-purpose vehicles" gives minivans a second life.

Chrysler may come out with a variety of EVs with multiple body styles, but Chrysler will use a lot of the same connected vehicle technology as the other automakers under the Stellantis brand. The outlet claims that future Chryslers will come with the built-in-camera system we saw in the Airflow Concept. Other features we could see include screen filters and direct audio.

Chrysler isn't the only automaker in the Stellantis lineup that's getting serious about electric cars. Dodge, Jeep, and Ram are all expected to show off serious products for their electrification goals.

Chrysler's Electric Plans Include Three SUVs, Electric Minivan

Hot on the heels of announcing that Chrysler will lead the electrification charge for Stellantis, Chrysler’s CEO has provided some more information on upcoming electric vehicles from the brand.

www.futurecar.com