Chrysler Contest 2023

Chrysler Design Contest

The latest buzz in the automotive design world comes courtesy of Stellantis, who recently wrapped up their Drive for Design Contest. Tasking high school students with crafting the Chrysler car of the future, the contest drew just under 30 participants. Nonetheless, these young automotive visionaries presented some stellar concepts.

First Place

Michigan’s own 11th grader, Ryan Panizzoli, snagged the top spot with his model, the Chrysler Quantum. His design is a throwback to the elegance of 1930s luxury cars, featuring a grand, extended hood topped by a sleek floating roof. Imagination took the wheel as Ryan included futuristic tech like quantum computing and optical fibers in the vehicle’s structure. Ryan’s win grants him a summer internship with Ram’s design team, paired with the perks of an Apple iPad Pro and Pencil. Additionally, he’ll enjoy the honor of being a student judge at the EyesOn Design car show in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

Second Place

Felix Bucaro from Wisconsin took home the second-place prize with his Airstream design. This isn’t your grandma’s trailer; the Airstream is a car with fighter jet flair. Featuring a canopy-style body and aircraft-inspired steering, it forms a cockpit-like central driver’s seat flanked by two passenger seats. This concept introduced ideas like blade-like taillights, drawing inspiration from the aviation world.

Third Place

Back to Michigan for third place, Owen Bronson reimagined the Chrysler 600. Celebrating the Chrysler Six’s centennial, the 600 channels sports car vibes with echoes of the Firepower concept from 2005. Specific details are still mostly under wraps, but its sports car homage underscores a sleek, modern spirit while nodding to Chrysler’s storied past.

While Bucaro and Bronson didn’t walk away with internships, they still pulled in an Apple iPad Pro, connectivity with the Stellantis design team for networking, and enjoyed invitations as student judges for the car show. Their efforts were also rewarded with scholarships to the Transportation Design summer program at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

In a world where gaming consoles often steal attention, these young designers remind us of the power of imagination and design. The Chrysler Quantum and its peers demonstrate that innovation in automotive design is alive and well. These entries not only showcase the creativity of our youth but also hint at the dynamic future of the Chrysler brand.