Future Chrysler SUV.
Last Updated:
Chrysler has been on and off the chopping block recently. With Stellantis denying that any brand was going to be killed. Then more rumors about some brands getting the axe by 2026.
Things have been quite confusing at Stellantis. However, Chrysler might be used to it by now since it has a long history of various owners and financial troubles.
They “merged” with Daimler Benz from 1998 to 2007. By 2007, Daimler had sold most of its shares to a private equity firm called Cerberus Capital. The company filed for Chapter 11 in 2009. It became “New Chrysler ” later that year and was basically owned by Fiat. It has been part of Stellantis since 2021.
There have been zero new models for many years now. With the death of the 300 sedan a few months ago, the only model currently on sale is the Pacifica Minivan. A model that started production in 2016.
We saw the futuristic Chrysler Halcyon concept last year. However, unlike the concept for the Dodge charger, Jeep Recon, and Wagoneer S, the Halcyon did not look like a production car at all.
The first all-new Chrysler in years will be a brand-new SUV based on the STLA Large platform and heavily related to the Jeep Wagoneer S, with its own design and interior. Not the Halcyon-based sedan. The all-new model will be coming out in 2025. A revised Chrysler Pacific is also coming out next year or in early 2026. (It will probably be another 2 years or so for a new one)
This could actually be great news for the brand. Since SUVs are what people buy. A good-looking SUV EV competing against GM’s Ultium models. Like the Chevrolet Blazer EV or Cadillac Lyriq. It might be a lifesaver for Chrysler.
The illustration above shows what a new STLA-based Chrysler SUV could look like.
Wagoneers should’ve been Chryslers.
Clearly the resources and everything that went into the Wagoneer S could’ve been the Chrysler Airflow. It even has an air vent design on the rear spoiler, which maybe was supposed to be on the Airflow.
It’s more likely that the kind of person who would get a Wagoneer might be more like someone who would get a Chrysler rather than a Jeep.
Meanwhile Stellantis has a ton of already developed small and medium sedans and crossovers in the Peugeot lineup that would make better Chrysler with mild tweaks. They even are EV and PHEV already.
Personally I think the most plug and play would be the DS Autos lineup being slightly reworked if at all to be Chryslers
I’ll believe it when one hits me while crossing the street.
Carlos Tavares thought he’d just keep milking the Americans while he pursued his Euro-centered agenda and kept asking for more payouts. And suddenly, Whoops! Americans stopped buying the elevated-price Jeep, RAM, Dodge products.
Peugeot and DS have the products in ICE, hybrid, PHEV and BEV that could supply an entire Chrysler lineup, but would need some small amount of rework for American tastes. Sadly, that wont happen because Tavares has no real interest in manufacturing in their current US locations, or importing from Europe. He’ll continue to throw his fits about no one wanting the Fiat 500e and we’ll actually get nothing as Stellantis pursues an all EV Chinese production via Leapmotor. The US, UAW, Italian labor, and Italian Govt will put pressure on Stellantis to manufacture in the locations that provided the company with agreements, funding, and tax incentives, Stellantis will begin to shutter operations and will be Chapter 11 in the US by end of 2026 and collection to return the millions of dollars pumped into Stellantis will be shouldered by the taxpayers. And Carlos will jump off with his golden parachute of cash.