Like it or not, electric vehicles are arriving en masse to the American car market. Chrysler hauled the wraps off its Airflow Concept at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas in January , appearing in typical ‘electric car white’ as part of its parent company’s wide-reaching EV Day presentations. Now, the brand’s stylists have slipped that car into a photo-inversion machine, showing in a black body color with copper accents.

Chrysler – and all the brands at Stellantis House – were recently given a decade to prove their worth as part of a larger family. Readers can be forgiven if they raise an eyebrow at the specter of Chrysler remaining a going concern, since they currently sell only three models – two of which are essentially the same vehicle with different powertrains (Pacifica and Pacifica Hybrid). Compared with the powerhouse of activity at Jeep and Ram – and Dodge, to a lesser extent – Chrysler seems to currently be the odd man out.

Not if the crew behind this Airflow Concept have their way. Part of a long term plan which calls for Chrysler’s first BEV by 2025 and a full battery-electric portfolio by 2028, the vehicle shown here has a sleek body with typical EV cues like flush door handles and a near-invisible charging port on its left flank.

Its front fascia is recognizable as a Chrysler, despite the brand only having a couple of models now, while par-for-the-course black cladding resides over the wheel arches. It’s the latter which definitively spells this machine as a crossover, not a wagon. As shown, it is certainly polar opposite to the Arctic White exterior previously shown at CES and other events.

“The Chrysler Airflow Graphite Concept, the latest version of our all-electric concept, represents the many possibilities on our brand’s road to an all-electric future,” said Chris Feuell, Chrysler brand CEO – Stellantis. “This new persona of the Airflow highlights the flexibility of the Chrysler brand’s future design direction and our ability to create personalities reflective of our diverse customers.” Sounds like they’re planning to be around for the long haul and expect to survive whatever culling of brands happens at some point in Stellantis’ future.

Its interior is not the typical flight-of-fancy concept car cabin, suggesting there’s a reasonable chance the basic shapes and placement of gubbins in here are a realistic vision of what may show up in a production vehicle.

There are screens galore, as you’d expect, and a so-called STLA SmartCockpit which is apparently capable of operating as an ‘extension of digital, work, and home environments’. In a nutshell, different apps and AI-based programs in fields like navigation and voice assistance could permit owners to plan a family road trip route using home-based tools then pick up the nav instructions once all hands are under way in the car.

Motor output and battery size of the Airflow are under wraps for now, but the company does expect the Airflow to deliver up to 400 miles of driving range in its current configuration.

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I like the look. But reliability? In an Italian company? Uh, no.

It’s not an Italian company. It’s an Italian/French/American company that also owns a major brand in Britain and…actually, I’m not sure where I’m going with this.

It’s not an Italian company. It’s an Italian/French/American company that also owns a major brand in Britain and…actually, I’m not sure where I’m going with this.

That’s a good lookin’ Citroen there. I have no idea what makes this a Chrysler, but I’m not alone – I don’t think Stellantis does, either.

Every automaker has to have a generic CUV shape. It’s proving nearly impossible to build any crossover that looks any different than all the rest, no matter what the price.

Why? BMW is easily identified by angry huge nostrils.

“Every automaker has to have a generic CUV shape.”

I agree, and they are all ugly. I’d prefer something more boxy, like the style of the new Ford Bronco.

When Cd is your only design goal, everything looks the same.

“When Cd is your only design goal, everything looks the same.”

Well, then all SUVs would look like fighter jets.

I’m all in favor of Stellantis making Chrysler the US brand for rebadged Citroens and Peugeots. At least they’ll be interesting cars, and if you’re buying a Chrysler it’s not like reliability is a major concern for you in the first place.

It’s not a Citroen. It’s a Chrysler. Not all Stellantis vehicles are Citroens. If there were the new Ram Dakota would you say “nice Citroen”? Or a new Dodge or a New Jeep? Is the Wagoneer a Citroen?

True they all look alike but this is not a bad looking cuv. I would consider it when I buy an EV.

Definitely on my list as the time it is going to be released will be roughly the same point when I’m ready to trade in my current Bolt.

I like everything but that paint color.

400 miles means it needs a ~100 kWh battery if it’s very efficient, which seems like a stretch in this package size. But it’s plausible, especially if they keep the power down. It doesn’t need to go 0-60 in 3 seconds.

As for being a Chrysler, I see the glass half-full. If STLA wanted to kill off the brand, they could have just bypassed Chrysler and used a different brand. Instead, they’re investing into the brand, and claim they want to expand it. I think that’s hopeful.

Stellantis is giving Chrysler and Dodge 10 years (9 years now) to figure out their identity and be successful. Dodge I’m sure will do fine given the ageless look of the Charger, Challenger and the current Durango. Chrysler on the other hand …? Let’s just say, if Chrysler were my child, I’d be putting a lot less money aside for his college fund.

Source: https://youtu.be/qhbupp6e_VY

I’m with Ford and Jeff, another shapeless blob with no soul. Anymore how is a Mercedes any different than a Chevrolet SUV? Might as well save the money.

The color and the lighting make it hard to see any detail. I’d really like to see STLA bring Peugeots over rebadged as Chryslers. The 508 is dead sexy and I think their crossovers could compete with Buick. Most of that fleet is already electrified in some form as well.

to automotive aficionados, Airflow brings to mind Art Deco classics from nearly a century ago. If it doesn’t go into production, or if it does get made and subsequently bombs, Airflow will mean, to the general public, nothing more than flatulence.

Kia not GM is slowly becoming the next big EV producer. Unlike GM, Kia also has a decent passenger carline along with some impressive CUVs. Affordable EVs are the future not $100,000 electric sports utility vehicles. I wager GM has not even sold a 500 Hummer EVs yet.

GM, what a disgrace! Dead Weight agrees with you.

What do you call a front heckblende?

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