Video: Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles Lights Up ’11 Charger R/T For Jay Leno

Robert Kibbe
March 22, 2011

Jay Leno is not shy about his passion for cars, and he’s one of the few celebrities out there who admits that his high-dollar TV gig is really just a means to fund his car habit. He hosts a show called “Jay Leno’s Garage” that features all of the many cars in his shop, but recently he’s started to have on guests and their cars.

We came across this episode that features Leno, a ’11 Charger R/T, and Dodge CEO Ralph Gilles. Gilles was a car designer before moving into the management ranks, and if you dig the way a modern Chrysler 300 looks you have him to thank for it.

On his visit to the set Gilles showcased the ’11 Charger R/T and said that from a styling perspective it had a lot of the ’68 Charger pulled into it, especially when compared to the previous model. It’s loaded with features that make it nice and comfortable including heated seats front and rear as well as optional heated and cooled cup holders.

The build quality is obviously through the roof, the Coke bottle shape is in there, as are the hood indentations, but what really matters is the HEMI upfront and the rear wheels doing the propulsion. Leno loved the car and drove it hard, but Gilles took car of business and showcased he’s a car designer that has a heavy right foot. In other words, he’s out kind of CEO.