Despite being one of the most historic car brands around, Chrysler has been going through it lately. The storied American automaker currently only sells two minivan models, but parent company Stellantis hasn’t given up on the Chrysler name just yet. Design boss Ralph Gilles said Chrysler is “ripe for a new chapter,” noting that it will be revamped to draw in “brand-new conquest customers.”
Gilles told Automotive News, “I think it’s time for us to pivot. We’re going to try. We’re going to experiment with the brand. There is an unserved part of our portfolio in our showroom that our dealers have identified that we can maybe serve with Chrysler, so we’re in the process of experimenting.”
Chrysler was initially targeted to become an all-electric brand by 2028, but that is no longer in the cards. Gilles said new Chrysler models would rely on Stellantis’ STLA Medium and Large platforms, which can support a range of propulsion options, including gas and electric. The automaker also recently got a new design studio to help push it forward, and executives have confirmed that an early model from the studio will be an updated version of the now-decade-old Pacifica minivan.
All of this is a slight reversal from former Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares’ statement before his resignation, in which he said the brand had just a few years to right the ship. New Chrysler models could arrive with Stellantis’ newer Hurricane six-cylinder engines or the venerable Hemi V8, as Ram is reviving the engine in 2026, which could trickle down to other Stellantis brands soon.
[Images: Chrysler]
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