Could This be the Chrysler Vehicle that Saves the Brand in the Future

The Chrysler Brand has been in limbo for the last couple of years. The company, which is celebrating its 100th birthday this year, phased out its popular Chrysler 300 sedan after the 2023 model to make room for new EV production. The brand is left with only the Chrysler Pacifica minivan at the moment. An EV crossover has been promised but demand for EVs has waned. Several highschool students from across the country have strong suggestions for the direction Chrysler should take. Winners of Stellantis’ Drive for Design contest have different views of the vehicle that could save Chrysler.

Winning Entries

The Stellantis Drive for Design contest was the brainchild of designer Mark Trostle. He set up the contest to encourage students to consider automotive design as a future career. The winner receives a summer internship with the company at its Detroit area design office and other prizes. This is the thirteenth year of the Drive for Design contest and nearly 30 students participated from all over the country.

Judges evaluated each finalist’s entry on four criteria:

• Craftsmanship – 25%
• Design Quality – 25%
• Illustration – 25%
• Originality – 25%

“Judging the entries this year was a huge challenge for the team, as we had to choose between some outstanding sketches that showed a ton of effort and focus,” said Mark Trostle, head of Ram Truck and Mopar design for Stellantis. “I’d like to congratulate the winners for sharing and showing off their talents and creativity at such a young age.”

All three of the top finishers focused on innovation. One artist dreams of a car that can be divided in the middle for easier access. All chose a car as the vehicle that can drive Chrysler forward. The three winners are all in 11th grade.

Grand-prize winner Ryan Panizzoli receives a summer internship in Ram Truck design studio and invitation to be student judge at the prestigious EyesOn Design car show.

Panizzoli, from Michigan, called his creation the “Quantum”. Panizzoli described it this way:

“The Chrysler Quantum is the pinnacle of innovation and sophisticated design. With technology at the forefront, the Quantum utilizes quantum computing power and showcases it through optic fibers in the bodywork. The Quantum takes key design principles from 1930’s luxury vehicles, reimaging elegance for the future.”  

In addition to the summer design internship in the Ram Truck design studio, Panizzoli will also receive:

• Apple iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
• Featured post on Stellantis North America social media channels
• Invitation to serve as a student judge at the prestigious EyesOn Design car show at Ford House in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.

Second Place winner Felix Bucaro is from Wisconsin. He calls his creation the “Air Stream”.

Owen Bronson from Michigan placed third. Bronson honored Chrysler’s 100th birthday and its original vehicle called the Chrysler Six by calling his sporty vehicle the “Chrysler 600”.

Prizes for the second- and third-place finishers include:

• Apple iPad Pro and Apple Pencil
• Virtual networking opportunity with the Stellantis design team
• Featured post on Stellantis North America social media channels
• Invitation to serve as a student judge at the prestigious EyesOn Design car show at Ford House in Grosse Pointe, Michigan
• Scholarship to College for Creative Studies three-week Precollege Summer Experience "Transportation Design" program in Detroit, Michigan, July 13 - August 2, 2025

Several of the past winners have gone on to study design in college and are now working in automotive design.

Chrysler Photos

Mary Conway is a professional automotive journalist and has decades of experience specializing in automotive news analysis. She covered the Detroit Three for more than twenty years for the ABC affiliate, in Detroit. Her affection for the Motor City comes naturally. Her father ran a gas station while Mary was growing up, in Wisconsin.

Follow Mary Conway at @MaryConwayMedia and send her car news tips for future stories.