Unless you want a minivan, Chrysler’s current lineup has nothing to offer you. The brand’s presence in the United States has been reduced to the Pacifica and Voyager, both capable family vehicles but completely out of touch with the current market, which is dominated by crossovers and SUVs. But parent company Stellantis has plans to resurrect the stagnant brand, with a brace of new models on the way that could include a return of the 300 sedan, possibly inspired by the Halcyon concept.
Now, Chrysler CEO Christine Feuell has shared more detail about the company’s planned product strategy, under the watchful eye of new Stellantis CEO Antonio Filosa. It includes everything from a sub-$30,000 vehicle to the return of SRT-badged performance models.
Chrysler is Anything But Dead
Rumors that Stellantis planned to sell or shut down Chrysler are just that, according to the company’s CEO.
“I want to put to rest any thoughts, rumors, or assumptions that it is being sold. It is not,” said Feuell, according to Moper Insiders. “Like I said, Antonio Filosa is now at the helm of the company, he believes in Chrysler, he is rebuilding our portfolio, and he is doubling down his investment to grow in the North American market and reclaim leadership in all of our brands.”
The first change in Chrysler’s strategy was to abandon previous plans to go all-electric by 2028. Instead, the company will embrace multiple powertrain options.
“Our new STLA multi-energy platforms, as well as our existing platforms, are engineered to offer a variety of powertrain options, including internal combustion, hybrid, and electric.”
Related: Chrysler 300 Rumored to Return: Could This Be Its Bold New Look?
Upscale Models and SRT to Return
Chrysler
Chrysler plans to attack multiple segments with a much more comprehensive lineup. Expected to launch in 2026 will be a heavily revised Pacifica, a new D-segment crossover with the C6X codename, a smaller crossover below that, and a new sedan that could revive the 300 name.
Chrysler will also look to recapture part of the luxury market with what’s referred to as its “blue-collar luxury” approach, typified by past models like the Chrysler LHS. Large sedans from non-German brands are a hard sell, though, so perhaps Chrysler’s D-segment crossover will have a more premium look and feel.
Chrysler
More excitingly for enthusiasts, SRT-badged Chryslers are set to make a comeback. The 300C SRT8 was a true muscle sedan with big power and a bellowing soundtrack, and Chrysler obviously believes it’s worth investing in this area. Stellantis has a few V8s at its disposal, along with the Hurricane turbo-six engine family, so the powertrains already exist.
“I am so excited to bring back SRT,” said Feuell. “I can tell you after meeting with my counterparts Tim Kuniskis and Matt McAlear we got a really awesome plan for SRT. It’s a great opportunity for us to bring back the performance brands and products that have been so iconic in the past as we look to the future.”
Feuell even went as far as to say that a high-performance Pacifica would be fun, and while that’s unlikely, the very fact that she didn’t dismiss the idea is an indication of how open the CEO is to take the brand forward with products that fans don’t necessarily expect.
Related: Why Chrysler Should Revive the PT Cruiser
Sub-$30,000 Model Part of Varied Future Lineup
While many of the cars discussed so far are expected to carry higher price tags, Chrysler also wants to tap into the more affordable end of the market with a sub-$30,000 vehicle. The last vehicle the brand sold in this category was the 200 sedan.
“One of the things that is very important for us to prioritize though is affordability… we are working on a small car or whether you call it a compact car, but something that can transact under $30,000… something that will be beautiful and fun to drive and aspirational, because you want people to feel proud… that it’s wearing a Chrysler badge.”
Feuell didn’t provide more details about such a car, but with cheaper cars being hard to find right now, something in this price segment with a bit more excitement would be a welcome addition.
Final Thoughts
Unlike Lincoln and Buick, we’re glad to see that Chrysler isn’t moving to an SUV-only lineup. From powertrains to body styles and cost-effective models to more premium ones, the brand appears to be on a mission to offer as much choice for customers as possible. Whether this multifaceted approach pays off remains to be seen, but we’ll get our first answers next year when the new Chryslers begin arriving.
