Stellantis Kicks Off Design Contest To Create "The Future of Fast"
Say what you will about Stellantis and the cars that fall under its brands, the company certainly has style. From Dodge to Ram and everything in between, Stellantis' brands always feel led by design and the emotional aspect, drawing people to make vehicular purchases. Knowing this is one of its core values, Stellantis is relaunching the Drive for Design contest, including a Drive for Design Junior segment so kids can get in on the action.
Stellantis' North America design team is never short of ideas, and they are looking for outsiders to help inspire the next generation of Stellantis cars, trucks, and SUVs. The company's head of design, Ralph Gilles, has always been a man with a plan, and that still stands; Stellantis is just looking to share the love.
Drive for Design is a contest open to U.S. students of high school age (grades 10-12), and it encourages participants to follow the theme of "Design the Future of Fast." With a name like that, it's almost like they're working on cars that could make an appearance in a certain movie series that the brand has had a big part in over the last two decades. Stellantis says they want the designers' minds to run wild, and we're all for it.
The contest is being led by Mark Trostle, who is V.P. of Ram Truck, Mopar, and SRT exterior design. Trostle was actually a winner of the Drive for Design contest back in the late 1980s when he himself was a high-schooler. Now that SRT is back, Trostle wants to light a fire under the excitement for the brand.
“Designing an SRT vehicle means unleashing a fearless mindset and dreaming up performance-driven ideas that look fast even when they’re standing still,” Trostle said. “We can’t wait to see how students of every age push the limits and redefine what fast, powerful, and downright awesome can look like for the next generation.” Stellantis will pick one grand prize winner, with two additional finalists rounding out the podium.
Perhaps even more exciting is that Stellantis is running a Drive for Design Junior iteration of this contest. This allows kids from kindergarten age through 9th grade to get in on the designing action. Drive for Design Junior is a new addition to the long-running contest, and we can't help but love that Stellantis is helping to bring automotive enthusiasm to the younger generation. One winner will be selected per age group (K-3rd grade; 4th-6th grade; 7th-9th grade).
Entries are due by April 23, 2026 at noon EDT. Entries and more information can be submitted and found at: StellantisDriveForDesign.com
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Based in Connecticut, Ross hosts The Hooniverse Podcast. He has been in the off-road world since he was a kid riding in the back of his dad’s YJ Wrangler. He works in marketing by day and in his free time contributes to Hooniverse, AutoGuide, and ATV.com, and in the past has contributed to UTV Driver, ATV Rider, and Everyday Driver. Ross drives a 2018 Lexus GX460 that is an ongoing build project featured on multiple websites and the podcast.
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Say what you will about Stellantis and the cars that fall under its brands,........Okaaaaay.....it stinks!