If Chrysler (er, Stellantis) can get the Airflow into production soon, they have a winner.
by Wallace Wyss –
Back in 1934, Chrysler became the first American automaker to incorporate improved aerodynamics into a car, ie. letting aero rule over aesthetics. But the public wasn’t ready for the waterfall grille. The model was a dog and it was ditched in 1937.
In January at the CES 2022, Chrysler resurrected the Airflow for a brand new electric SUV concept reinforcing their plan to build only battery-electric vehicles come 2028. Not sure where that leaves Dodge — makers of pickup trucks and muscle cars — or Jeep.
The three brands are making too much money to give that all up to go fully electric by 2028. They did say a production Concept will have two 201 horsepower (150 kW) electric motors and a range of 350 to 400 miles. As far as autonomous driving, the company says it will have that and the ability to upgrade software over the air, and programmable screens for each passenger that will allow them to communicate with each other while riding in the car.
And of course to make the animal lover happy there’s vegetable tanned leather inside. It will also have something Stellantis calls STLA Brain Platform, which sounds mysterious like the stock exchange symbol for Tesla, ie, TSLA.
We can hope that the Stellantis has a running driving version means it is well on the way to introduction. We can hope batteries are improved so that it can break 400 mile a charge. And that the price is under $40,000. A pretty face ain’t gonna make it by 2025.
Or is it the band choosing a new selection of tunes while the titanic tacked a steeper incline toward the bottom of the Atlantic?
Design Commentary
FRONT Very nicely done, especially the peek-a-boo headlights. Still an attempt at a mesh air intake down below when why does an electric need air?
SIDE Remarkably free of the sharp edged sculpture most of the competition uses.
REAR Full width taillight band has continuity.
IN SUM Nothing radical but still fresh looking. Will not date even if it takes to 2025 to see it.
Let us know what you think in the Comments.
THE AUTHOR Wallace Wyss is readying a book called How Tesla Killed Detroit.
This advertisement below shows how proud Chrysler was of the Airflow in 1934. Even though it was an innovative design the buying public was not impressed and thus sales were low.
Mike Gulett, Editor
Photos of the new Airflow compliments of Chrysler.
Beautiful car.
Looks like a better looking Jaguar iPace.
It looks just as good as the new Maserati Grecale.
Pretty nice looking. Will take a lot to knock Tesla off its hefty pedestal!
Personally I think most of these so-called environmentally friendly “Things” look like garbage. Congratulations Chrysler, can’t stand that stupid other reference, for designing something actually not bad..Jack