In January 1924, Maxwell Motors launched the first Chrysler, the B-70. Today, owners and pundits alike are questioning whether Chrysler has a future, as its product line has been cut to a single model (four models as the company counts Pacifica, Voyager, Pacifica PHEV, and Caravan). Its leader, Christine Feuell, told the Detroit Free Press that more vehicles were coming.
A crossover is set for 2027, delayed from 2025, and another vehicle (likely a hatchback along the lines of the Charger) is planned but without a public launch date. Plans to launch the crossover in 2025 may have been the impetus for celebrating Chrysler’s centennial in 2025 rather than 2024 (Fiat Chrysler had also moved the date by one year for the 90th birthday, ostensibly to match the name change from Maxwell to Chrysler which involved a financial-instrument holding company taking over Maxwell, around a year and a half after the Chrysler was unveiled and sold; the real reason was to match when new product was ready).
The company will bring chosen “safe” writers and influencers to an event on Belle Isle and show them historic Chrysler cars, presumably including the 1924 model the company showed unironically at the New York Auto Show. There is also an independent anniversary anyone can attend at Chryslers at Carlisle, July 11-13 (Stellpower readers who wish to join .
The new Stellantis CEO, Antonio Filosa, told Walter Chrysler’s great-grandson that the company was still committed to Chrysler for the future.
Feuell originally stated that Chrysler would be the first all-electric Stellantis brand, and was holding out for 800V powerplants; that would explain why the Charger was released at least one full year before the first new Chrysler. A number of company followers on the fan/information site Allpar questioned why the Wagoneer S showed up as a Jeep rather than as a Chrysler, given that it has almost no off-road capability in terms of approach and breakover angles, suspension articulation, and protective gear (skid plates).
Now, the plan is to come out with gasoline-powered vehicles first, then possibly create electric versions. Thus, the crossover will start out as a gasoline-electric hybrid, and might or might not lead to a gasoline version. The crossover may or may not be related to the existing Wagoneer S, which is closely related to the Dodge Charger. A Jeep Liberty, sharing its core body and its KM code with the Wagoneer S, is due in 2025.
The Pacifica is likely to be refreshed in 2026, but probably will not be released as battery-electric.
More on this interview: see the Detroit Free Press
More on Chrysler: see the book Century of Chrysler (1924-2025)
David Zatz started what was to become the world’s biggest, most comprehensive Mopar site in 1994 as he pursued a career in organizational research and change. After a chemo-induced break, during which he wrote car books covering Vipers, minivans, and Jeeps, he returned with Patrick Rall to create StellPower.com for daily news, and to set up MoTales for mo’ tales.
David Zatz has around 30 years of experience in covering Chrysler/Mopar news and history, and most recently wrote Century of Chrysler, a 100-year retrospective on the Chrysler marque.
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