Stellantis Design Studio & Plant Tours Report
- vcotracks
- Aug 8
- 5 min read
Updated: Aug 9
Hello Everyone,
The Viper Club of Ontario held a 3-day London-Windsor-Detroit event July 23-25, 2026. This report covers the exclusive VIP tours that Stellantis VP & VCO director, Enio Parete, planned for us, See our July issue for the Steve Plunkett collection tour on the 23rd.
Stellantis is a huge club supporter with several executives and designers being VCO members. We thank them for creating over-the-top VCO events, rolling out the red carpet, and they never fail to impress us! We invited our friends from the Motor City Viper Owners Club to join us, and wish there was room to have invited all Viper owners.
July 23rd - Windsor Arrival
After touring the Plunkett Cadillac collection in London, we drove to our host hotel in Windsor, the DoubleTree by Hilton, with its great Detroit skyline views across the Detroit River. This was our 3rd stay here. The club arranged overnight parking security again.
July 24th - Jefferson North Assembly Plant VIP Tour
We staged our cars at the hotel, crossed the border as a group, and proceeded to plant.
Our Stellantis hosts, 1st photo from L to R, Sean Whittal -plant mgr, Matt McAlear - Dodge/Chrysler/Alfa Romeo CEO, Enio Parete - VP.
We visited the body shop and watched the body side framer weld the assembly together with a number of robots working in harmony like an automotive symphony, then proceeded to the paint shop and went to the colour booth to watch robots spray colour on the vehicles. Lastly, we went to the finally assembly shop, made a stop at the chassis loop, followed by a stop at the customer protection audit area. Basically we covered every major department in the plant.
We created much excitement among plant workers, with several posting videos online. Here's two that catch the enthusiasm for Viper!
A brief plant presentation and fabulous lunch followed.
We then visited Windsor Chrysler, 1 of 5 VCO dealer sponsors with experienced Viper techs and impressive modern dealerships. Mobil 1 donates cases of motor oil for event draws. We did two, the first for a free dealer oil change service at Windsor Chrysler, plus a second draw for just a case of oil. Thanks to both of these generous club sponsors!
There was some free time to relax, mingle and explore the Windsor Riverwalk area before dinner at Bistro At The River (photos below), and then again after dinner.
July 25th - Stellantis Design Studio Tour
After staging at the hotel, we were off to the huge 503 acre Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills. It's second in size only to the Pentagon, and with possibly even tighter security! This is where the automotive magic happens! What an impressive facility!
Entering with Ken Nowak, Team Viper. https://www.spiritofviper.com/kenneth-nowak/
Nearly 50 Vipers parked in a courtyard display area, with way over the 100 person capacity we were given for the event, which included our Ontario club and Viper Parts Initiative Team, Motor City Viper Owners members, Stellantis execs, and their designers.
Presentation - How the Viper went from on paper to on the road
by Rose Brandow, Director - Global Tech Planning & Business Optimization
"The Stellantis Auburn Hills Headquarters - Product Development Office welcomed Viper Owners for an unforgettable journey into the creation of the Gen 5 Viper. More than a behind-the-scenes tour, it was a rare opportunity to experience the passion, vision, and determination that transformed a legendary concept into a modern automotive icon.
Mark Trostle, VP of Ram & SRT Design, joined fellow Gen 5 Viper designers Tome Jovanoski, Chief Dodge Design, and Ryan Nagode, VP of Interiors, to share the remarkable story of how Ralph Gilles championed a secret effort to revive the Viper while staying true to its unmistakable spirit and DNA. Their firsthand accounts brought the audience into the heart of the design process, revealing how the team earned Sergio Marchionne’s approval and ultimately secured the green light for production.
The stories were filled with fascinating insights—from the simultaneous development of the production and racing versions of the Gen 5 to the pivotal design decisions that shaped the vehicle’s final form. Every detail deepened the connection to a car that continues to inspire generations of enthusiasts.
Adding to the experience was the setting itself: the IYKYK VooDoo Lounge, named after Ralph Gilles’ Gen 5 Viper ACR, a fitting backdrop for a celebration of Viper heritage. The tour also featured a Jeep Recon presentation by Ren Stone, Advanced Design Manager, including a clay model to production vehicle of the Jeep Recon before culminating in the iconic studio dome. There, we were surrounded by an extraordinary collection of vehicles, including Mark Trostle’s personal TRX and several historic Vipers from the museum collection of the former Conner Avenue Assembly Plant.
It was more than a tour—it was a chance to stand where history was made, hear the stories behind one of the most iconic performance cars, and reconnect with the spirit that made the Viper a legend."
Enio Parete introduced the Viper Club of Ontario's new president, Jamie Herrington, and VCO director for Western NY, Steven Colan, who introduced fellow VCO Viper Parts Initiative team members Chris Misztur & Ryan Fechney, Mopar licencing agency's CEO Mike Rachuy, Jim Bur, and announced the soon-to-be-released Viper parts search tool!
After the presentation we toured "the Dome" with finished vehicles, including a '68 Charger that inspired Ralph Gilles '68 Charger custom "Hellucination", clay model of the Jeep Recon, and the production Recon parked beside it.
From Ken Nowak, Team Viper.
"We were shown fantasy land where dreams become proposals and ideas become design. That’s where the beauty and the passion begin. Then engineering joins hands to back up the passion with hardware that strives to deliver on the dreams.  It’s a shame that all of the component labs, prototype build facilities and skilled trades shops must remain under wraps. Every step in the process from sketch to show room  happens inside that awesome facility."
After the studio tour we drove to the Ford's Garage Restaurant for lunch.
Much of the 3-day event was funded by the VCO. We thank Stellantis, Windsor Chrysler, Mobil 1 and all of our club sponsors for their generous and dependable support.
They helped make these and dozens of other outstanding events possible each year!
Thank you to all the club organizers, those at Stellantis, and attendees who helped make these such enjoyable tours, and contributed their words and photos for this report! The overwhelming enthusiasm and support for Stellantis' CEO Antonio Filosa's leadership was seen and felt everywhere! Here's to a bright and exciting future for Stellantis!
Jamie Herrington
VCO President
Preserving the Passion & Viper's Legacy, and Building Community Resources
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