The latest concept vehicle from Fiat Chrysler Automobiles shows the automaker is working to shed its image as a manufacturer of just trucks and sport utility vehicles.
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Chrysler Portal Concept
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles won't be hosting a press conference at the 2017 North American International Auto show. But that isn't to say that the manufacturer has nothing new in the works, it simply chose to present its latest offering at this year's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas.
Ahead of the show's opening, yesterday afternoon FCA unveiled the Chrysler Portal Concept with the tag line "Designed by Millennials for Millennials."
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Tim Kuniskis, Head of Passenger Car Brands for FCA, explained the reasoning behind the line, "The Chrysler Portal concept is backed by significant research on the millennial generation. Millennials have clearly defined that they want a vehicle that will grow with them as they experience life changes… and it was essential that we fully explored the idea of what a vehicle could look like for this emerging generation."
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FCA started out by defining what it considers the four current modes of family transportation are - station wagons, minivans, SUVs and crossovers. But after studying millennials, it found that this group of buyers is looking for their own version. To be sure, it must offer flexibility and advanced technology, but it also must be practical, functional, socially responsible and come with "a sense of personal style."
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Looking like a cross between the Chrysler Pacifica minivan and a BMW i3, FCA describes the battery-electric Portal's exterior as "a mono-volume form that 'shrink wraps' the battery-electric vehicle (BEV) powertrain and interior packaging.
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As you would imagine, technology is a big part of the Portal's raison d'être and it comes with a boatload of it. Along with the requisite ports, screens and Wi-Fi, passengers can set up both individual and group settings, while facial recognition and voice biometrics allow the vehicle to automatically call up preferred personal settings including music, lighting, interior temperature and heated or cooled seats. Being cloud-based, the vehicle will re-sync those settings should any passenger change seats.
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Social media also comes into play, as passengers can share content on a "community display screen" via a docking station in the headliner – a feature that might come in handy during road trips. A trip's progress can also be monitored and, at lunch time, vehicle occupants can order from a "quick service" restaurant on site either by voice or touchscreen without having to roll down a window.
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Highlights of more than 20 additional technologies include:
• Vehicle-to-X (V2X) communication that enables the vehicle to "talk" with the public infrastructure, internet and other vehicles
• A 360-degree situational awareness view, such as surrounding vehicles, GPS information and points of interest
• Level 3 autonomous driving with a display communicating the status of the vehicle and the surrounding environment
• A companion app with the ability to customize vehicle lighting, control vehicle and home settings, lock/unlock doors and operate other functions from any location
• Personal Zoned Audio keeps the driver aware of surroundings by enhancing sound and directionality in the event of approaching emergency vehicles
• Seamless vehicle integration of personal devices, such as phones, tablets, cameras and wearables
• Community sharing enables passengers to share music, images, videos and more with other passengers
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