![Bugatti Bird-gate Followup: Driver identity revealed <b>[*UPDATE:</b> Now with actual crash video!]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2009/11/bugatti-veyron-swim-1258147199_143x85.jpg)
Dodge Challenger Concept designer leaves Chrysler
Big name designers often skip from one job to another in the automotive world. Chrysler seems to be losing more than its fair share of artistic types, as the Auburn Hills-based automaker has lost two top designers in recent weeks. First, long time design chief Trevor Creed retired. Now Dodge Challenger Concept designer Micheal Castiglione has left for a smaller, more diversified design house. Castiglione has joined Ken Okuyama Design as their chief designer where he will work on everything from eye glasses and furniture to trains and planes. Okuyama also has some automotive interests, including the K.O 7 open wheel and the interesting-looking K.O 8 coupe (above). During his 15-year tenure with the Pentastar, Castiglione's best work came in the form of the Dodge Challenger Concept, but he also worked on the Jeep Compass concept and the Chrysler 300 production car.
[Source: Car Design News]
Get a WordPress.com Blog
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Parkerman 1:40PM (9/15/2008)
If he had anything to do with the actually production compass.. thank god he is gone.
Reply
Torrent 2:33PM (9/15/2008)
If in fact he was, he should be hired again and then fired.
Eric Liberatore 2:00PM (9/15/2008)
The Compass spoils an otherwise impressive design portfolio.
Reply
btflan1964 2:00PM (9/15/2008)
Shame to see this talent get away. The Challenger and 300 are great cars.
Reply
geo.stewart 2:19PM (9/15/2008)
someone ticked they didnt get the head job? or just doesnt get along with Ralph?
Reply
AZZO45b 4:22PM (9/15/2008)
How 'bout he knew Chrysler is not a STABLE ship & looked for a reliable paycheck eh stu?
BTW, Casti already didn't work for Chrysler since the Pacifica studio was closed & everybody was dumped (except the 3 staff members that came back to MI)
Farris 3:42PM (9/15/2008)
Spam elsewhere. Be gone!
Reply
tanooki2003 3:51PM (9/15/2008)
Good riddance to bad rubbish, as one would say.
He needs to go back to the cranky old fart club of low life activists who are pissed that cars don't look like they did 30-40 years ago.
Reply
AZZO45b 4:28PM (9/15/2008)
He did more than "retro" cars you uninformed d*ck-head. Google numerous Chrysler/ Dodge/ Jeep concept cars & see how many times Mike's name pops up
You will realize you are talkin' from your a$$
tanooki2003 8:09AM (9/16/2008)
Tsk Tsk. Such hate. Do you kis your mother with that mouth?
AZZO45b 9:12AM (9/16/2008)
Yep. Mom wouldn't have edited d*ckhead! My "hate" counters your uninformed "hate"
:)
Gardiner Westbound 3:51PM (9/15/2008)
One wonders how Chrysler will design, engineer and market competitive cars and trucks without designers, engineers and marketeers. Probably doesn't matter to money manipulator Cerberus and hardware king Nardelli.
Reply
Good_luck_Mike 3:55PM (9/15/2008)
Mike did the Original Jeep Compass Showcar. That car was awesome. It was designed as a 2 door Jeep.
It was the dumb friggin idiot Trevor Creed that ruined the compass by turning it into a 4 door worthless piece of crap.
Mike has amazing sketching and design talent that was completely under-utilized by Chrysler management. I just hope the other good designers get out.
Ralph is Chryslers PR golden child they called up after Nesbitt left. Hmm, what has Ralph really designed... The original Dodge Neon Steering wheel and the interior wash over of the VIPER GTS-R. They moved him into the 300C Studio just before it was launched and gave him the credit for it. How many of you people out there still think that Nesbitt did the PT Cruiser.
Reply
AZZO45b 6:00PM (9/15/2008)
Agree with you on that design HACK Trevor Creed
Your neon info is WAY OFF though. Chrysler used to put the designers on U.S. Patent paperwork & Ralph Gilles is NOT on there. Guys credited with the designs of the neon don't get the press Gilles & Nesbitt have. You must be mixing up your black designers... Dave Smith (now at GM) did concepts for the neon.
Enough people also believe Bryan did the PT... like GM & Lutz who hired him away from Chrysler. Nesbitt then designed the Chevy "PT" (most call it the HHR) even though in interviews he has distanced himself from it. :)