gilles Archives | AutoDepot

Report: Ralph Gilles responds to Dodge rumors, says brand is ‘here to stay’

Filed under: Dodge

This is why we love Ralph Gilles. While in Italy hanging out with a group of Viper Club members in Europe, the SRT boss took the time to respond to a question directed at him on Instagram in regards to the future of Dodge.

Recent reports have painted a bleak picture for Dodge, but Gilles defended Chrysler’s full-line brand by stating that the rumors are, “all rumors, Dodge is here to stay! It may get more focused going forward but not killed!” The idea of a “more focused” Dodge brand could lend some credibility to reports that the Grand Caravan and Durango are on their way out, which would leave Dodge solely as a car, or car-based, automaker.

Ralph Gilles responds to Dodge rumors, says brand is ‘here to stay’ originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 12 Jul 2013 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Report: Ralph Gilles responds to Dodge rumors, says brand is ‘here to stay’”

Video: Ralph Gilles teaches Jay Leno about burnouts in 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

Filed under: Classics, Sedan, Performance, Videos, Dodge

Ralph Gilles does a burnout in a 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

Ralph Gilles does a burnout in a 2011 Dodge Charger R/T – Click above to watch video after the jump

Jay Leno recently got the chance to spend a little time with the 2011 Dodge Charger R/T and Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles stopped by to answer the funny man’s questions. If ever there was a guy who could accurately compare the Charger to its predecessors, Leno would be it. The man knows a thing or two about Mopar history and exactly what has made the original models so sought after to begin with. He’s also an unabashed Chrysler fan through and through, so it’s interesting to see his take on the newest iteration of the Charger legacy.

While we always enjoy the chance to listen to Gilles talk shop and Leno crack jokes, the best part of the clip is watching the Dodge CEO himself educate the comedian on how to properly execute a burnout with Hemi power at one’s command. Is there anything more enjoyable than a CEO behaving badly?

Probably not.

If you listen closely, you might even hear Gilles say that Chrysler is investigating whether or not to bolt a manual transmission into the Charger due to high interest. We like the sound of that action. Hit the jump to watch the video.

[Source: Jay Leno’s Garage]

Continue reading Video: Ralph Gilles teaches Jay Leno about burnouts in 2011 Dodge Charger R/T

Video: Ralph Gilles teaches Jay Leno about burnouts in 2011 Dodge Charger R/T originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Video: Ralph Gilles teaches Jay Leno about burnouts in 2011 Dodge Charger R/T”

Gilles: Next Dodge Viper inspired by a “naked woman on the beach.” Aren’t we all?

2010 Dodge Viper Final Edition Roadster, ACR and Coupe – Click above for high-res image gallery

The Dodge Viper has always been an impressive looking vehicle, but its muscled lines haven’t ever been what we’d call feminine. That may change with the next-generation version of the Snake. Ralph Gilles, head of Chrysler design and the Dodge brand, says that the look of the next Dodge Viper will be inspired by “a naked woman on the beach.”

Sorry, but we’re having a hard time coming up with a witty quip after that one (well, other than the one in the headline).

Gilles made the announcement while speaking with reporters at the Automotive News World Conference, and while the revelation about the vehicle’s design inspiration was a big highlight, he also announced that the next Viper would take dead aim at stealing buyers away from both the Porsche brand and the Chevrolet Corvette. That’s especially true when it comes to the crowd of younger buyers – guys and girls under 45.

The next-generation Viper is set to debut in 2013, and while that gives Dodge plenty of time to get the car right, we don’t expect either Porsche or Chevrolet to sit back and allow the Viper to play catch up. Suddenly we’re very excited to see what the sports car world looks like in two years.

Gallery: 2010 Dodge Viper Final Edition

[Source: Automotive News – sub. req.]

Gilles: Next Dodge Viper inspired by a “naked woman on the beach.” Aren’t we all? originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 14 Jan 2011 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Gilles: Next Dodge Viper inspired by a “naked woman on the beach.” Aren’t we all?”

Praise the Lowered: Gilles says new Chrysler models to hug the ground

Filed under: Chrysler, Dodge, Design/Style

2011 Chrysler 200

2011 Chrysler 200 – Click above for high-res image gallery

According to Ward’s Auto, we can expect more than a nice interior from future Chrysler products. It seems the automaker will be making a conscious effort to keep its vehicles closer to the ground in order to improve styling, fuel economy and handling. This revelation came after lining Dodge products up against the competition. Apparently, the company found that comparable products from rival automakers were generally lower than anything rolling out of the Pentastar den. For 2011, the automaker has moved to fix that, cranking out vehicles that have a lower center-of-gravity compared to their predecessors.

That includes products like the 2011 Dodge Durango, which uses a significantly lower front fascia than the Jeep Grand Cherokee specifically to nudge the vehicle’s fuel economy as high as possible. According to Ralph Gilles, senior vice president of product design, low-slung looks will come to dominate the company’s design language moving forward, especially as Chrysler begins to redraw models based on Fiat architecture in the near future. Don’t expect to hear us complain about the change, but off-roaders and those suffering from parking lot barrier scrapes might have a few things to say about it.

Gallery: 2011 Chrysler 200: First Drive

2011 Chrysler 200

[Source: Wards Auto]

Praise the Lowered: Gilles says new Chrysler models to hug the ground originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Dec 2010 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

Continue reading “Praise the Lowered: Gilles says new Chrysler models to hug the ground”