Back in the early 1980s, Chrysler came out with the Dodge Caravan/Plymouth Voyager. As history tells us, the new concept at the time revolutionized the way families got around. It practically combined car-like driving of station wagons with the flexibility and versatility of the full-size van. And in a neat package that was easy to park and drive around town, to boot.
Fast-forward to more than 30 years later and we now see millennials at the verge of starting their own families and careers. They are seeking a vehicle that is flexible, adaptable to their environment, and of course, earth friendly. A vehicle like the Chrysler Portal Concept.
The Portal, which will be unveiled at this year’s Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada, is pretty much the millennial interpretation of the minivan of the future. In fact, it actually somehow combines the traits of a station wagon, minivan, SUV, and crossover in a cool package.
The interior, for instance, isn’t your typical boxed-in enclosure. The use of a lot of openings on the roof, sides, and pretty much everywhere possible, makes the cabin bright and airy. This is combined with thin-sculpted seats that can be slid fore, aft, and even folded for various people and cargo carrying options. And that dashboard may look sparse yet is packs a wallop of technology and features.
All these functions are controlled by various screens and docking ports located throughout the vehicle. These allow seamless integration with all sorts of mobile devices—a must in any millennial’s journey. Moreover, these displays make it possible to control different functions and communicate with the outside world even while on the go.
Speaking of being on the go, the Chrysler Portal Concept can easily be converted into a cargo hauler for bikes and other gear by the simple fold of a seat or two. This is ideal for milennials who lead an active lifestyle yet still want a vehicle that can ferry them in style the rest of the week.
Those young ones who are worried that this vehicle will be a gas guzzler can relax, as the Portal is designed to be a battery-powered electric vehicle. Range-conscious folks can berathe a sigh of relief, knowing that they will have roughly 400kms on tap before they need to plug in to recharge the battery. And with fast charging that takes around 20 minutes for a range of 240kms, a quick pit stop or snack break can also be turned into a fast top up.
Apart from these, the Chrysler Portal Concept is a study in cool technology. The exterior, for instance, features LED lighting in front, on the sides, and at the rear that can easily change color, shape, and movement. Then there is the Level 3 Autonomous Driving that allows the Portal to drive itself on the highway. Once it gets back within city limits, it will alert the driver to take over, Should s/he be unable to do so, the vehicle will pull over to safety.
And tech goodies like facial recognition, vehicle to infrastructure communication, and seamless device integration are all part of the package. All these in the name of safe mobility for the owner and his environment.
Millennials, your minivan has arrived.
