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Ralph Gilles talks past, present and SRT future

Ralph Gilles -- SRT boss, Chrysler vice president of design, curator of something called the "Man Van," has become the public face of Chrysler performance, carrying the legacy of Firepower engines and 428 Coronets and the Dodge Viper RT/10 into the future with the Challenger, Charger and Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8s. Since "unofficially" helping form it in 2003, Gilles has seen SRT transformed into Chrysler's most coherent performance strategy since Plymouth Rapid Transit, a company-wide force so much greater than the flagship Dodge Viper. He was there from the beginning.

SEMA adds four to hall of fame

The Specialty Equipment Market Association is adding four names to its hall of fame: Gray Baskerville, Art Chrisman, Chris Economaki and John Towle. The SEMA Hall of Fame recognizes those who have especially helped foster the growth of the special-equipment automotive industry. -- Baskerville was senior editor of Hot Rod magazine for 30 years, though his writing is what really secured his ticket to the hall.

Giles Taylor appointed Head of Exterior Design at Rolls-Royce

Rolls-Royce will be welcoming Giles taylor as its a new Head of Exterior Design in April this year. Taylor, who has spent the last 10 years in British automotive design roles and headed up the design team who created the XK and XJ model series under the direction of Ian Callum at Jaguar, will fill the vacant position in the Rolls-Royce design team. He will be based in West Sussex, UK, and report to Rolls‑Royce's Chief Designer, Ian Cameron.