How Dodge Continues to Innovate Auto Design Despite Regulations
Dodge’s ‘neo-retro styling’ has made a huge impact. Now, FCA’s head of exterior design explains how regs won’t stop their progress.
Think of every car brand on the market today. Each of them has a certain approach to their automotive design. Most enthusiast fall in love with what are known as “concept cars,” which are pre-production designs of soon to be production cars. They usually boast exotic body lines, exaggerated aerodynamic features, and sporty styling through the roof. However, folks usually end up being surely disappointed when the actual production vehicle is debuted and it looks nothing at all like the concept they once fell in love with.
Why do these cars never end up looking like these cool concepts? Well, when it all comes down to it, manufactures are restricted by regulation. This can mean anything from safety to emissions. This forces manufactures have to adjust their designs accordingly. Every year, this restrictions get more and more crippling, but Dodge has figured out a way to push through these walls and keep innovating design. An article from Muscle Cars and Trucks explains the how and why of Dodge’s strategy for the future.
Who is leading the push of Dodge’s styling initiative? Without a doubt it would be the head of exterior design for FCA US, Mark Trostle. Trostle has been known to a true-bred car enthusiast and is the sole reason Dodge has integrated the “neo-retro” styling into its modern muscle cars. As a Michigan native, Trostle has American muscle in his blood and it couldn’t be more evident than in the design of attention-grabbing models like the Challenger and Viper. According to the article, Trostle can often be found at local car meets or the race track, connecting with the people. He sounds like an awesome guy and we understand how he is able to make such an intimate connection in his designs.
When asked about how he handles the challenge of these regulations, Trostle stated “I look at challenges as an opportunity to be creative”. He then states that his design concept is to keep the spirit and heritage of the car alive while still giving people a fresh and unique way at looking at something they can recognize. This way, the car can still evoke the nostalgia of the originals, but at the same time spark a new fire in the heart’s of enthusiasts.
When we think about hugely successful cars like the Dodge Challenger or Jeep Wrangler, we must owe the majority of that success to their stunning designs. So if you ever see Mark Trostle at your local car show or event, make sure to buy that man a drink, because he deserves it. If you’d like to hear more of Trostle’s interview, we suggest checking out the full article.
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