Though experiences have claimed Chrysler won’t be constructing the Airflow EV idea, the model’s chief designer, Ralph Gilles, cleared issues up this week. Gilles mentioned the Airflow idea was “just the start,” including Chrysler’s first EV will take the model in a brand new route.

As soon as a distinguished US automaker, Chrysler needs to revitalize its model within the electrical period. Below the Stellantis umbrella, together with Jeep, RAM, Dodge, Fiat, Maserati, and others, Chrysler plans to go all-electric by 2028.

Though Chrysler has but to launch its first absolutely electrical car, the automaker confirmed a glimpse of what it might seem like, revealing the Airflow EV idea final January.

Gilles, who took over as chief design officer for a number of Stellantis manufacturers, together with Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, Maserati, and Fiat in Latin America in January 2021, oversaw each the Dodge Charger SRT EV and Ram Revolution ideas.

Regardless of overseeing main undertaking designs, Gilles mentioned he’s most enthusiastic about Chrysler’s first EV.

In Might, Gilles mentioned in an interview with Motortrend that the Airflow idea was “evolving in a brand new route” beneath new CEO Chris Feuell, who took over in September 2021.

Gilles defined Feuell got here into the place with a brand new eye. “Chris got here at it together with her perspective which we actually loved,” he mentioned.

Below Feuell’s management, the crew goals to beat the Airflow design with extra trendy options and tech-focused design, together with new Stellantis know-how.

Feuell mentioned Airflow won’t be the identify of Chrysler’s first EV, and it additionally received’t be known as an electrical 300. She defined, “I don’t suppose it’s fairly proper for this product. It may very well be a fantastic identify for one thing that we carry out sooner or later. There’s a lot great historical past and fairness with the identify so I wouldn’t wish to rule it out for potential future use, however not for this one.”

A number of media shops took this as “the Airflow is lifeless,” however this was by no means the case. Gilles clarified the misperception, taking to his Instagram this week.

The design chief acknowledged, “I have to clear one thing up. I’ve been seeing so many articles saying that Chrysler isn’t constructing the Airflow EV,” including, “Sadly misunderstanding me attempting to elucidate that the design will evolve as we push the thesis much more beneath model CEO Chris Fuell.”

Though the ultimate product might not look precisely just like the Airflow, it is going to nonetheless carry over many options from the idea.

For instance, the Airflow included trendy infotainment and connectivity tech, sustainable supplies, and full (degree 3) and assisted driving capabilities, all of that are nonetheless progressing.

The Airflow idea was primarily based on Chrysler’s RU platform, used for the Pacifica hybrid, however the manufacturing model is predicted to trip on Stellantis’s STLA giant platform. The automaker revealed its STLA medium structure earlier this month, the primary of 4 due out globally.

Chrysler’s first EV is predicted to launch in 2025 as it really works towards an all-electric lineup by 2028.

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