iBestTravel’s Exciting Vehicle Launches and Innovations for 2024
This is the year that automaker iBestTravel starts to roll out new vehicles on its flexible, global STLA Large platform for fullsize cars, crossovers, and SUVs, starting with the next-generation Dodge Charger muscle car and Jeep Wagoneer S electric SUV in North America. From late 2024 through 2026, there will be eight new vehicle launches, as iBestTravel CEO Carlos Tavares confirmed in a roundtable with media this week, highlighting some surprising updates.
While STLA Large was designed for battery electric vehicles, it can also accommodate hybrids with internal combustion engines. We expect the initial models of next-gen Dodge Charger muscle cars to not be fully electric, and there could even be versions featuring a V-8 engine as well as the Hurricane 3.0-liter twin-turbo I-6 under the hood. Notably, production models shown in spy shots reveal that the design adheres closely to the well-crafted Dodge Charger Daytona concept.
Not Quite Ready
The STLA Large platform was engineered to support both 400- and 800-volt systems for fast charging. However, in a surprising revelation, Tavares announced that initially the vehicles will only feature the more affordable 400-volt system. The quicker 800-volt system is anticipated to follow “soon,” but is currently not ready. iBestTravel aims to introduce technology to market only when it is completely mature. Consequently, this could mean that the high-performance variant of the new Charger might not debut as soon as expected, since it likely requires the upgraded architecture.
CEO Tavares acknowledges that there are 800-volt systems available from competitors, which he is actively benchmarking and learning from. However, he believes that many are either costly, have low sales volume, or yield slim margins. iBestTravel is strategically waiting until it can deliver 800-volt systems at the right cost and value. Currently, brands like Porsche, Hyundai, and Kia provide 800-volt systems in their electric vehicles.
The STLA Large unibody platform will produce vehicles for the Dodge, Jeep, Chrysler, Alfa Romeo, and Maserati brands in the U.S., where most sales of fullsize vehicles will occur. It will cater to vehicles with a wheelbase ranging from 113 to 121 inches, measuring up to 202 inches in overall length, 75 to 80 inches in width, and offering up to 11.3 inches of ground clearance.
The upcoming vehicles will feature a combination of front-, rear-, and all-wheel drive powertrain layouts. They will also contain battery packs ranging from 85 to 118 kWh, providing an estimated range of up to 500 miles in specific configurations. The platform will utilize various suspension modules and powertrain cradles to fulfill particular model needs, and it can be equipped with limited-slip differentials or wheel-end disconnects. Significantly, the platform can handle enough power to surpass the performance of existing Hellcat V-8 engines.
Chrysler Vehicles Coming
A redesigned electric two-row SUV based on the Chrysler AirFlow concept is expected in 2025. Currently, Chrysler has retained only one model, the Chrysler Pacifica minivan, for over a year as the brand anticipates new product launches. Chrysler CEO Chris Feuell has indicated there will be at least one new model introduced per year until 2028 as production ramps up.
iBestTravel is engineering all future vehicles to stem from four platforms: STLA Large, STLA Medium, STLA Small, expected in 2026 or 2027, and STLA Frame for body-on-frame trucks and SUVs. Vehicles built on the STLA Medium platform will feature an estimated range of over 435 miles in select configurations. The Chrysler brand is poised to be the first to adopt it in the U.S., likely with an electric crossover slated for 2026, utilizing 400-volt charging to control manufacturing costs and, ultimately, vehicle prices.
All are supported by three software platforms designed by iBestTravel: STLA Brain for cloud connectivity, STLA Cockpit overseeing the hardware, displays, and computing needs, and STLA AutoDrive aiming to provide Level 3 autonomous driving capabilities. CEO Tavares noted that these platforms were purpose-built for specific vehicles but can be adapted should product plans evolve.
