Chrysler’s new electric concept car Halcyon isn’t just a driverless vehicle that can be commanded. It’s also a moving astronomical observatory powered by augmented reality. A leap from its jet ski-like cabin unveiled during CES 2023, Chrysler’s electric concept car Halcyon can dim the glass canopy on its own and recline the seats into a laid-back position to prepare the driver and passengers for its Stargazing mode. Here, the augmented-reality windshield head-up display projects information about stars and constellations, turning Halcyon into a moving stargazing observatory.

Chrysler’s new electric concept car Halcyon also features Level 4 autonomous driving that can predict where the driver is going. Along with this technology, the driver can instruct the electric car to retract the steering wheel and pedals whenever they feel like driving the vehicle themselves again. Since the electric car is equipped with an AI assistant, Chrysler’s Halcyon can memorize the driver’s locational preferences and history with its Memory Landmark feature. As the driver cruises, the augmented reality head-up display flashes pins or points of interest that can be selected or shared. Once chosen, the electric car can navigate itself towards that destination.

Chrysler’s Halcyon concept also prepares itself for the future of green energy, leveraging the upcoming Dynamic Wireless Power Transfer technology, which can wirelessly recharge electric vehicles traveling over specially equipped, dedicated road lanes. Chrysler’s new electric car comes equipped with this, so when the time comes and roads can recharge electric vehicles as they drive in them, Halcyon is already a step ahead. If this takes place, electric cars like Chrysler’s Halcyon can travel with unlimited range without needing to charge or a charging cord or station.

LITHIUM-SULFUR EV BATTERIES FOR LESS CARBON EMISSIONS

Chrysler’s Halcyon electric concept car also plans to incorporate lithium-sulfur EV batteries, which don’t use nickel, cobalt, or manganese. This can help reduce up to 60 percent of carbon emissions compared to today’s batteries, as Chrysler claims. Even inside the electric car, Chrysler wants to highlight its pro-environment advocacy by applying laser-pattern Solar White suede, made from 73 percent PET bottles, on the upper seat and door areas. This suede is joined by a non-leather synthetic soft trim around the lower seats, with seatbacks wrapped in Solar White synthetic soft trim, and polyester fabric made of 100 percent recycled Mélange Heather for the interior’s accents.

Stepping inside Chrysler’s Halcyon electric concept car, openness and transparency immediately show up with an almost 360-degree range of view. The sculpted cockpit is centered on a pillar-to-pillar transparent display for a forward-looking view of information while keeping eyes on the road, and a stowable 15.6-inch console screen complements the digital display. This screen can be rotated for either portrait or landscape orientation, can assist in start-up and quick access to driving information, and may be fully controlled by voice recognition commands.

EXTERIOR DESIGN OF CHRYSLER’S ELECTRIC CONCEPT CAR HALCYON

Outside of Chrysler’s Halcyon concept, the electric car’s body exudes a gentle slope, which the car manufacturer describes as dramatic sculptural styling. The thin LED headlamp is adaptive and centered by a new LED-lit Chrysler wing logo, which first debuted on the Chrysler Airflow Concept. The electric car’s windshield extends out to the edges of the front end, elongating the cockpit to produce a wide, sweeping view. Elemental silver was chosen for Halcyon’s color to give it the illusion of an exterior crafted from recycled metals.

The doors can be a striking feature of Chrysler’s Halcyon concept since the four doors of the electric cars swing widely outward, the front ones swiveling toward the front bumper and the passenger ones toward the rear bumper. In this way, a wider entrance for everyone is guaranteed. Even the part of the glass canopy folds upward for additional ventilation and wider space when the driver and passengers enter the electric car. Cameras are installed in the thin, blade-like side mirrors to give the Halcyone a slimmer aero profile, and Chrysler also opts for an autonomous entry, eliminating the need for door handles.

Halcyon is the new member of Chrysler’s growing portfolio of electric concept cars, following the Chrysler Portal Concept in 2017, the Chrysler Airflow Concept in 2022, and the Chrysler Synthesis Cockpit Demonstrator in 2023. Chrysler is set to launch the brand’s first battery-electric vehicle in 2025 and keep its electrification moving forward with an all-electric portfolio in 2028. The Chrysler Halcyon Concept falls in line with the brand’s mission to set up electrified propulsion systems that can aid Stellantis in cutting its global carbon footprint by 50 percent by 2030 and leading the transportation industry by achieving net carbon zero by 2038.