Chrysler Portal Concept Preview: 2017 CES

CARS.COM

• Looks like: A BMW i3 that got stretched out and added a lot of glass
• Defining characteristics: Portal-like sliding doors front and back, large interior screens, social media integration, customizable technology, three rows of seats
• Ridiculous features: Internal “selfie” camera, facial/voice recognition for each passenger, individualized “audio zones,” mostly glass roof
• Chance of being mass-produced: Slim with a side of none, but the interior seating arrangement has potential for future Fiat Chrysler Automobiles products

Chrysler introduced a new technology-heavy concept called the Portal at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas and said the concept showcases the automaker’s vision of the future.

During its presentation, Chrysler heavily emphasized that this was a car for millennials — so much so that when I hear that word now, I endure involuntary shudders. It means the focus of the presentation was on connected technology, the ability to share photos and music inside the vehicle and, of course, an internal camera so the people in the car can take selfies.

However, what was intriguing were the more practical advancements found in the cabin, which offer incredible flexibility to owners.

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Exterior

The Portal bears the most resemblance to the BMW i3, just stretched out and with some concept-only touches like the giant 21-inch wheels and thin lens projector headlamps.

There are several exterior cameras as well, which use facial recognition to identify passengers as they approach the vehicle, allowing the Portal to apply their personal settings. Chrysler also said that the Portal will be able to detect and recognize mobile devices from up to 30 feet away and start to apply climate, seat position and other personalized controls.

The most interesting exterior feature of the Portal are its doors. The front and rear doors slide open in opposite directions and have the B-pillar support integrated into them. When the doors are completely open, they provide an almost 5-foot-wide opening for easy loading and unloading of passengers and cargo.

Located around the doors is a circular LED ring that serves the dual purpose of user customization and communicating with other vehicles. Owners can pick the color of the LEDs to a color they like or one to aid in the identification of the vehicle (e.g., “mine will be the green car in the parking lot”). These LEDs can also be used to show other drivers when the Portal is operating in autonomous mode, or simply to signal a turn.

Interior

Befitting a car making its debut at a technology show, the Portal is stuffed like a turducken with new gadgets ranging from the practical to the outlandish.

Similar to many other concepts we’ve seen, the Portal has screens galore. The large screen up front is used to display information to the driver and is paired with a camera that can detect where the driver is looking in order to display important alerts directly in the driver’s field of view.

Up above the front seats is an active matrix organic light-emitting diode display for second- and third-row passengers. These two screens work in concert, allowing passengers to “dock” their devices in ports available at each seat to share things like photos and music.

Each seat also gets something that Chrysler calls “personalized audio zones.” Facial recognition can determine who is sitting in each seat and will play passengers their own audio. Groups can also be set up and the system can find congruency among preferences to play music or show content that everyone can agree on — there’ll be no need to fight for the remote in the Portal.

Beyond the crazy technology, what’s most impressive are the practical touches. Each of the six seats are located on tracks that run the length of the Portal’s interior, meaning that each seat can slide forward or back to make room either for cargo or for passengers who need more legroom. The seats can also fold down or slide all the way back out of the Portal to open up even more space.

The cabin also offers a large sense of space, with a roof made of mostly glass except for a carbon-fiber x-shaped brace. Chrysler did not say how it would help regulate the cabin temperature on a hot summer day, but this doesn’t seem like a feature that has a chance of making it to production.

Under the Hood

The Portal is a fully electric vehicle, with a 100 kilowatt-hour battery pack mounted under the floor powering a single electric motor that drives the front wheels. Estimated range for the Portal is 250 miles on a full charge. Chrysler has also added next-generation DC Fast Charger capability, which can restore 150 miles of range in 20 minutes.

Like the Nissan Leaf, the charge port for the Portal is located up front behind the badge. While charging, the badge will pulse to show the charge level of the battery pack.

Safety

Out of the box, the Portal is designed to offer SAE Level 3 semi-autonomous operation. This means that the Portal can drive itself in “certain highway conditions,” according to Chrysler. When autonomous driving is engaged, the steering wheel will retract into the dash and the LED lighting on the inside and outside of the vehicle will change color to reflect that the car is operating autonomously.

Chrysler also said that the Portal was designed to upgrade to higher levels of autonomous driving as the technology progresses.

Additionally, the Portal will offer V2X communication, which means that it can communicate with other vehicles on the road that are operating autonomously as well as with infrastructure. It can also provide warnings for accidents up ahead, emergency vehicles or traffic signs.

The Portal offers a fresh look at the future of motoring. Thankfully, it isn’t one that’s just digital — the advancements offered here have real-world practicality, as well.