The Chrysler Airflow Is not Useless — It Simply Will not Look Like This

About two months in the past, we overheard that Chrysler was “evolving” its Airflow electrical crossover idea “in a brand new route,” based on Stellantis international design chief Ralph Gilles. This evolution appeared to be fairly drastic although, which painted an impression that Chrysler was in impact killing the Airflow in favor of a automobile maybe designed for a similar section, however with a radically totally different look. Gilles needs you to know, nevertheless, that the Airflow very a lot isn’t lifeless. It’s simply altering, which might be for the most effective.

Right here’s what the design boss posted to Instagram earlier this week:

I need to clear one thing up. I’ve been seeing so many articles saying that Chrysler isn’t constructing the Airflow EV… sadly misunderstanding me making an attempt to elucidate that the design will evolve as we push the thesis much more beneath model CEO Chris Fuell and our VP of Chrysler design [Irina Zavatski] management. The Airflow was just the start of the story… a North Star sort of idea embodying a myriad of ideas we’re cooking up with the prolonged and now much more succesful Stellantis equipment! Together with electrification, we explored superior infotainment, complete life connectivity, sustainable cabin supplies, whereas as its namesake underscores…explored the fusion of engaging physique work versus aerodynamics, exploring absolutely automated and assisted driving configurations. All are lively work streams within the group at the moment and ongoing. The ultimate product no matter it’s ultimate identify and supreme theme…will forge a refreshing new route for the model… So sure it could not look verbatim just like the idea however that doesn’t imply any work has been stopped. Keep tuned.

The Airflow was just about the one future automobile we knew Chrysler was engaged on, so there’s no means it might’ve been flatly canceled until Stellantis’ imaginative and prescient for one in every of its most storied marques is really to pump out the Pacifica and solely the Pacifica till the top of days. That stated, Chrysler completely must get this one proper as a result of it doesn’t have a lot of a model to talk of anymore, and the Airflow, whereas trying good, stood to look much more dated than it already does come 2025, when it was deliberate to launch.

So it’s good that the Airflow is evolving. It wanted to. The present idea is greatest described as a 200 that swallowed a Jeep Compass, and solely a kind of two vehicles continues to be on sale anymore. That’s not an inspiring impression for a mannequin that’s nonetheless two years out, whereas Hyundai and Kia proceed to throw out bizarre shit each two months.

Gilles appears enthusiastic concerning the new method, which we haven’t seen but. After all he’d by no means admit to something much less, however the reality he’s described it as a “refreshing change of route for the model” and informed MotorTrend weeks again that Chrysler’s new CEO, Chris Fuell, challenged the staff by requesting a proposal that had “actually zero to do with something that you’ve got seen at the moment” together with the present Airflow, are good indicators. If I’ll make a suggestion, y’all by no means did something with the 1995 Atlantic idea.