Chrysler Designers Are Ready to Make a Strong Comeback
The century-old American automaker has at last established new dedicated teams for design, product development, and marketing at Chrysler.
Chrysler might be disappointing some of its loyal fans with its 100th anniversary special edition, which is basically just a window sticker placed on a standard minivan. However, the brand has been promising new and exciting products for years, and now it seems they’re finally gearing up to deliver. Ralph Gilles, Stellantis’ design chief—known both for his lifesaving Jeep Wrangler innovation and his signature designs across the company—has revealed the formation of new teams focused on design, development, and marketing at Chrysler. This move signals that fresh models could be on the way soon.
It’s honestly a bit surprising—and even concerning—to consider what Chrysler’s situation must have been like under previous management. The fact that it didn’t already have dedicated teams working on the design and engineering of its next-generation models suggests the brand lacked the necessary resources to operate as a fully developed automaker. That said, the entire Stellantis family has faced challenges when introducing new vehicles and electric models, like the Hurricane-engine-powered next-gen Ram 1500 or the all-electric Dodge Charger Daytona. In that light, perhaps Chrysler made a smart move by holding back for a few years, waiting for the market to settle around new electrified technologies like BEVs and hybrids before fully committing to its next wave of products.
“We’re Back On With Chrysler,” Says Ralph Gilles
That’s about to change—big time—for Chrysler. In a candid interview with HARJA, Stellantis design chief Ralph Gilles declared, “I’ll put it very bluntly, we’re back on with Chrysler.” He explained, “We set up a [design] studio. We didn’t have a Chrysler studio before; it was kind of coupled in with the Dodge studio. So, we established a separate Chrysler studio about a year and a half ago, and since then, we’ve been going nuts in there, exploring concepts.”
Gilles continued, “The product planners now have their own team. There’s a dedicated marketing team, too. We’ve built all the necessary pieces to properly support the brand, and that has brought a new energy, fresh questions, and new demands from the brand leadership.”
What To Expect From Future Chrysler Models
Ralph Gilles also clarified that the Halcyon concept won’t be entering production in anything close to its current form. However, many elements from the concept will heavily influence Chrysler’s upcoming models. He pointed out features like the glass roof, the hidden tech stack, the augmented reality head-up display, and active aerodynamics as key innovations that will shape the next generation of vehicles.
While Gilles stopped short of confirming any specific models or body styles, he did suggest that lower-profile vehicles, such as sedans, provide efficiency benefits—especially for electric vehicles—and indicated that Chrysler will take this advantage seriously in its future lineup.
“There’s been some talk about lower vehicles because they’re more efficient,” Gilles began. “For battery-electric cars, they perform really well in terms of energy demand, so that’s all I can say for now. We have a lot of different form factors to explore,” he promised.
As of this week, Chrysler CEO Chris Fuell provided an updated timeline for the brand’s upcoming product surge. He revealed that a new crossover is expected to launch sometime in 2027, with a possible debut as early as 2026. This will be followed by a second, yet-to-be-revealed model believed to draw more directly from the Halcyon concept—potentially a lower-profile vehicle such as a sedan or fastback. The 2027 crossover is now confirmed to arrive as a hybrid, while Chrysler’s electric vehicle plans remain uncertain amid the recent slowdown in EV market demand.
