Fiat Chrysler is expected to debut an all-electric vehicle at CES next week, and it's believed to be a Pacifica EV.
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles will unveil an array of new high-tech infotainment systems during the maker’s first-ever news conference at the big CES event in Las Vegas next week.
FCA issued a statement detailing the new digital systems on Wednesday, technology that includes the latest Uconnect infotainment system, as well as new features developed specifically for the 2017 Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid minivan.
But the automaker’s biggest announcement remains under wraps. It is widely expected to reveal an all-new, long-range battery-electric vehicle that could compete with the likes of the new Chevrolet Bolt EV and the upcoming Tesla Model 3.
FCA has been slow to embrace electrification, lagging behind many of its key rivals. The Pacifica Hybrid is actually a plug-in model, the first the company has produced.
Might the Chrysler Pacifica Hybrid be getting a new purely battery-electric sibling? Rumor is the EV will debut at the Consumer Electronics Show.
(Way to unveil autonomous Chrysler Pacifica at NAIAS. For more, Click Here.)
The Euro-American automaker does have a full battery-electric model in its fleet, but the Fiat 500 EV has limited range and has so far failed to generate much interest from consumers.
Industry experts believe that automakers will have to deliver a minimum of at least 150 to 200 miles per charge to become competitive with gasoline-powered vehicles. Price will also need to come down.
The Chevy Bolt EV and Tesla Model 3 will both cost around $30,000 once the $7,500 federal tax credit is factored in. And they will allow more than 200 miles of range.
Transforming a minivan into a fully electric model would have both advantages and disadvantages. Its large size would provide plenty of room to store batteries, but its mass and poor aerodynamics would also cut into range.
(Click Here for more on the new Waymo/Chrysler Pacifica Hybrids.)
Much of the speculation about FCA's new EV centers on a minivan, there is the possibility that it could be another car, like the 500e.
Several very well-placed sources have told TheDetroitBureau.com they expect FCA will actually reveal a different model turned electric during its Jan. 3, 2017, CES news conference.
While FCA is keeping its battery-car plans under wraps for now, it did confirm Wednesday that it will reveal a Gen-4 version of its familiar Uconnect infotainment system, which it says “includes performance improvements with faster startup time and enhanced processing power.”
The new version also will get a sharper, 8.4-inch touchscreen that can use smartphone-like gestures, such as pinches. The system also will now accommodate the new Apple CarPlay and Android Auto systems that allow a motorist to display and operate numerous smartphone-based apps on the car’s built-in infotainment system.
There will be additional features added to the new Uconnect upgrade developed specifically for the Pacifica Hybrid. These will let a user track such things as the flow of the vehicles power, while also charting the driver’s history behind the wheel. This can help a motorist learn to get more out of a charged battery.
(NHTSA targeting 1 million FCA vehicles over rollaway risk. Click Here for the story.)
Pacifica Hybrid owners also will be able to use the system to schedule charging in order to take advantage of off-peak electric rates.