FCA Design Boss Posts Futuristic Charger/Challenger Design Sketch, Trolls Splitter Guard Trend

Ralph Gilles has had a cheeky dig at the trend to keep splitter guards on new Dodges, while possibly hinting at a future styling direction for the brand

Like many across the world right now, FCA global head of design Ralph Gilles is self-isolating and working from home. To an extent, though, it seems to be business as usual - Gilles noted in an Instagram post that his team is still having “virtual design reviews”.

He even - breaking with normal convention - posted a design sketch of what looks like a next-generation Challenger or Charger which was apparently rejected. The reason? “The designer decided to make the yellow spoiler guards a permanent part of the theme,” Gilles said.

There’s quite a lot to unpack here. What it looks like Gilles is doing is having a cheeky dig at the trend for new Dodge owners keeping fitted the yellow splitter guards their cars are delivered with, while also giving some hints about Dodge’s future styling direction.

FCA Design Boss Posts Futuristic Charger/Challenger Design Sketch, Trolls Splitter Guard Trend

Or perhaps it’s just the former and not the latter. But either way, it’s prompted a discussion about the brand at a time when car news is starting to dry up, while also providing a bit of humour at a tricky time for the automotive world.

It’s well known that Dodge isn’t keen on the whole splitter guard retention thing, going so far as to change them from yellow to pink earlier this year in a bid to deter owners from keeping them. It isn’t just a question of taste, either, with the pieces capable of causing paint damage in the long run.

Sponsored Posts

Comments

Matthew Henderson

Looks mean. I like it

03/26/2020 - 10:43 |
3 | 0
Robert Gracie

That car looks as if its ready to fight, it doesnt look at all friendly, its ANGRY!

03/26/2020 - 11:21 |
2 | 2
Andrés Cely Herazo

The roof looks like from an 80’s concept car… Yet I like that design.

03/26/2020 - 13:00 |
0 | 0
Lbs207

Looks like something I made at Test Track…

03/27/2020 - 00:12 |
0 | 0
Orlando Eeckhout

Looks a bit like an older mitsubishi.

03/30/2020 - 09:06 |
0 | 0