Recently, Motor Trend published its 2009 edition of the Power List—a thorough look at the movers and shakers in the U.S. and world auto industry. It might surprise some (and not others) to note there's no one on that list who has much, if anything, to do with pickup trucks or SUVs. An oversight, I'm sure, but it does seem strange since more than half the vehicles sold in the U.S. for almost 10 years are truck, crossover, or van.
This got me thinking. What if Truck Trend did our type of Power List? We'd make it about the movers and shakers in the truck half of the world. In fact, maybe we don't even call it the Power List. Car guys seem to emphasize horse "power" all the time, but truck guys know that what's really important is torque. Maybe we'll call ours the "Torque List," dedicated to those who really enjoy the truck side of the world, be it diesels, medium-duty trucks, Tonkas, or plain ol' half-tons. We plan on putting together our list of 25 or so truck guys in the auto industry (U.S., Canada, and maybe Australia) whom you need to know and list them in an upcoming issue of the magazine. It makes sense that it be a yearly thing, so we can keep track of those major players from year to year: who are the ladder-climbers and who are on the way out? We want to get those name and faces out from behind the curtain and let you know who the people are making decisions regarding your next pickup and SUV. There are some interesting characters there and they deserve some credit; however, we're also big believers in letting you know who was responsible for letting that hideous mistake through the cracks as well.
We'll need to know what you think so stay tuned for your opportunities to chime in about all the new stuff coming down the road. For now, here are a few names you should know because they've been influential in getting us the trucks and powertrains we have -- and what we'll be getting in the future.
TT Power List Top Five
1. Matt O'Leary
Ford F-150 Chief Engineer
Matt's been given the challenging task of leading the F-150 team in probably its most challenging feat to date: making the next-generation 2009 F-150 better in every way than the vehicle it replaces. Not a small task, but from the looks of it, Matt has done an admirable job. Will the highly charged and highly competitive full-size half-ton buyers be as enthusiastic? We'll have to wait and see. Matt's been with Ford for more than 25 years and is looking to carry the new F-150 into this new fractionalizing, fuel-economy-frenzied buyer's market. We expect to hear more from him.
2. Ralph Gilles
Chrysler Group Design V.P. Jeep and Truck
No stranger to success, Ralph has penned some of the more dramatic and eye-catching designs to come out of Chrysler in many years. It's no small accident that the new Dodge Ram has a new front grille evocative of the front grille on the Dodge Charger—familiar crosshairs, forward tilt, large Ram's head. But Ralph will be the first to tell you a unique design was only half the strategy. The other half needed to include segment leading technology and clever solutions to common problems truck guys have with their truck. This melding of style with function, we're guessing, will help keep Ralph a strong player in truck design.
3. Charlie Freese
General Motors V.P. diesel technology
Not yet a household name, but when the new 4.5-liter Duramax turbodiesel comes out of GM next year and makes its way into just about every full-size pickup and SUV they make (as an optional engine), there will be buzz. Charlie spent some time working on the previous-generation Powerstroke turbodiesel and is now heading up GM's entire diesel division. Some have called his engineering solutions on the new diesel “groundbreaking” in that he was able to get more power and torque out of the engine while saving about $600 in cost.
4. Gale Banks
CEO of Banks Engineering, Inc.
Many know him as the literal and figurative head of the Banks Engineering, but Gale is constantly consulting with many of the big (and little) manufacturers about what powertrain technology makes sense and where it needs to be. Gale's goal for many years was to show diesel technology is no longer just for trains and big trucks. Now that he seems to have completed that goal (with quite a bit of help from many others), his job is getting huge aftermarket groups (like SEMA) to see that green and diesel technology will be the next big car-mod wave.
5. Gary White
General Motors V.P. of full-size truck and SUV
As one of the lead advocates and overseers of the GMT900 platform (2007 Chevy Silverado, GMC Sierra, as well as the Chevy Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade/EXT), Gary made huge inroads in streamlining development and product testing that allowed for a stronger emphasis on issue like interior upgrades, towing capacity, ride and handling, and payload capacity. Many of the operational systems Gary put in place have been applied to other truck and car development programs.
Related Articles: Motor Trend's "The 2008 Power List"