For students interested in automotive design, there’s nothing better than Stellantis’ Drive for Design competition. Now in its 11th year, the annual event encourages young people to embrace their creativity and envision vehicles of the future.
This year’s contest kicked off on March 21st and was open to U.S. students in grades 10-12. It asked them to create the electric Ram truck of the future and the submissions surely didn’t disappoint.
The winning entry was the Ram Stadion, which features a futuristic design with angular lines, smooth surfaces, and slender lighting units. However, the concept is more notable for featuring a lounge-like bed with a canopy, yacht-inspired stairs, and seats that deploy from the sides of the bed.
More: These Futuristic Jeeps Are The Winners Of Stellantis’ Drive For Design Contest
The Stadion was created by 12th grader Rocco Morales from Northville, Michigan. If the name sounds familiar, it should as he also won first place last year and came in second place back in 2021. That’s quite a streak and Ram design boss Mark Trostle said, “Rocco is clearly a passionate designer with a bright future ahead of him.”
For coming in first, Morales won a Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 tablet which is worth about $2,500. More importantly, he’ll receive a summer design internship at the Ram Truck Exterior Design Studio.
Second place went to the Ram Rex from 10th grader Rohan Seiber, who hails from Portola Valley, California. It “reimagines the TRX to be the ultimate go-anywhere, do-anything full-size electric pickup truck.” More notably, it features a removable roof and a bed that appears to transform into a ramp.
Birmingham, Michigan’s Benjamin Miller came in third place with the Ram Ultima, which embraces the idea of modular design. The 11th grader created a truck that features an expansive greenhouse as well as the ability to “add more power and traction as needed.”
For their effort, Seiber and Miller will receive an Apple iPad Pro, an Apple Pencil, and a “Virtual Day of Design portfolio review with members of the Stellantis Design Team.” The duo will also be awarded a scholarship to the College for Creative Studies’ four-week summer program.
The entries were judged on craftsmanship, design quality, illustration, and originality. Trostle said it was “really difficult to choose a winner because each design is so unique and thoughtful.” He added he was “blown away by the creativity and enthusiasm of these students.”
