- Ralph Gilles says the next Ram will take a fresh approach to design.
- Maserati is pivoting into a tech-led design lab chasing ideas.
- SUV fatigue grows as the automaker refocuses on simpler cars.
Stellantis design chief Ralph Gilles is thinking well beyond the next facelift, sketching out how all 14 brands might evolve in the years ahead. His roadmap includes futuristic Ram trucks, a “complete pivot” for Maserati, and a clearer sense of identity for the group’s European marques.
Focusing first on North America, Gilles offered a blunt take on today’s full-size trucks. Speaking to Car Design News, he took aim at what he sees as overly aggressive styling, calling out the “angry” and “super exaggerated” faces of new GM models and even the Tesla Cybertruck, while questioning whether buyers genuinely connect with that look.
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Ram, it seems, plans to head in a different direction. The next generation, already in development, with Gilles telling the publication that it’s being shaped with a “different appeal” in mind, one that leans into a “much more futuristic” presence on the road. Gilles also confirmed the brand is exploring a midsize pickup, widely expected to be the Dakota, noting that “trucks have gotten quite big”.
In terms of powertrains, Gilles isn’t convinced that battery-electric pickups are the right answer, at least not yet. In his view, pushing full electrification onto trucks feels forced, and possibly out of step with how the segment is actually used.
SUV Fatigue And Focus On Affordability
Step back from trucks, and his general take on body styles is telling. He openly admits to a sense of “SUV fatigue”, echoing customers who want sedans back in the mix, while younger designers lean toward hatchbacks that are “fun to drive and easy to park”.
More: Fast Cars And Luxury Trucks Are Getting Wildly Expensive As Cheap Cars Vanish
Affordability, though, is the bigger pressure point. Gilles describes it as “the biggest challenger right now is to make an affordable product, something desirable and compelling”. Stellantis, he says, is shifting toward “essentializing” design. This involves stripping out the costs, focusing on “what is actually necessary”.
As for the effect of AI in the automotive industry, the designer envisions a future where cars offer a “humanoid aspect”, creating an interpersonal relationship between the driver and the machine through advanced UX.
European Brands Need Work
While American marques like Jeep, Dodge, and Ram have clear identities, Gilles admits that Europe requires some “cleanup” to eliminate overlap between heritage-rich names like Fiat, Peugeot, and Citroen. Those marques have rich histories but the designer sees an opportunity for a change, creating “new unique signatures” for each one.
More: Own A New Alfa Romeo? Congrats, It’s Rarer Than A Porsche
Meanwhile, Alfa Romeo remains a “headscratcher” for Stellantis designers, as “performance means different things to the next generation”.
Gilles also touched upon Maserati, saying the troubled brand is gearing up for a “complete pivot” in terms of styling. The next generation of Trident models is currently being designed as a “cauldron of experimentation,” moving toward a tech-heavy, futuristic statement that may ignore “business sense” in favor of pure innovation.
More: Maserati Is Facelifting The Cars No One Bought, Hoping Someone Finally Does
The design boss also shared his enthusiasm for the Cadillac Celestiq, as a cool example of a historic brand “rediscovering their roots, in a new way” with a vehicle that is “hard to ignore”.
