A year ago at CES in Las Vegas, Stellantis showed the world what a Chrysler EV could look like – a transformation that will take place in 2028 when it becomes an all-electric brand.
Now we get a glimpse into the company’s vision for future car cabins. The result? Chrysler, the 97-year-old marque under global automaker Stellantis, wants its in-car technology to make “real life” easier.
The brand is demonstrating its vision at CES 2023 through Chrysler Synthesis, a two-seater demonstration of in-car technology and how drivers and passengers can use it. As part of the demonstration, the company created a typical day in this future car life with a virtual personal assistant that uses biometric recognition, automated driving that allows the driver to make video calls, and entertainment and wellness experiences such as mediation, games and karaoke. There is even a feature that allows customers to create and synthesize their own music
While this may be a design exercise aimed at exciting consumers and shareholders, the core technology is a real part of Stellantis’ strategy. Stellantis has said it will invest more than $33.7 billion through 2025 in software and electrification. The ultimate goal is to have 34 million connected cars on the road by 2030 that Stellantis can generate revenue from for years after they are sold to consumers.
To achieve that lofty goal, Stellantis is developing three components that will be integrated into future products, starting with the underlying electrical and software architecture called STLA Brain. This underlying system is integrated with the cloud that connects electronic control units in the vehicle to the vehicle’s central high-performance computer via a high-speed data bus. It allows the company to upgrade software “over the air” or wirelessly to vehicles.
On top of this “brain,” Stellantis will add its “SmartCockpit,” a platform built in partnership with Foxconn that will deliver applications to the driver, such as navigation, voice assistance, e-commerce marketplace, and payment services. A third automated driving platform called “AutoDrive”, developed with BMW, will complete the automaker’s software plan.
All three of these platforms will be in new Stellantis vehicles by 2024.
Visitors to CES 2023 will get to see the “brain”, “smart cockpit” and “autodrive” in action through the Chrysler Synthesis concept, which includes a 37.2-inch sculpted black glass infotainment screen for both front row occupants. Inspired by the Chrysler Airflow Concept unveiled last year and representing the brand’s future design direction, the two-seater cockpit features sustainable materials. No chrome allowed.
Image Credits: Stellantis
The sprung vegan seats are wrapped in arctic upcycled chrome-free soft upholstery, the instrument panel is made from 100% post-industrial plastics and ocean plastics, and the floor is “responsibly sourced” walnut wood. LED lighting completes the picture.
However, the real asset on display in the Chrysler Synthesis is the software.
The software in the Chrysler Synthesis – and in theory future Chrysler vehicles – includes a virtual personal assistant, the ability to learn owner behavior and preferences, and frequent over-the-air software updates to provide new and fresh content.
The assistant is designed to make everyday life easier, such as installing updates and syncing with calendars for scheduling and route planning, enabling multitasking while driving autonomously, recommending parking and charging options, assisting with e-commerce services, connecting to appliances and smart homes. (It should be noted that Tesla vehicles, new Mercedes models with the MBUX infotainment system, and other vehicle models have some of these “smart” features).
Chrysler also foresees a more automated driving future. The Chrysler Synthesis supposedly demonstrates Level 3 automated driving that allows the driver to take their hands off the wheel and eyes off the road.
