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Stellantis has officially announced the winners of its 2026 Drive for Design competition, and this year’s group proves that the future of performance design is in good hands. Now in its 14th year, the program continues to spotlight young talent across the United States, but 2026 marks a major evolution. For the first time, the contest expanded beyond high school students, opening the door for younger creators through the newly introduced Drive for Design Junior program.
In this articleâ–ľ
Winners Showcase Creativity Across All Ages
Real Opportunities Beyond The Sketchbook
SRT Design Energy Is Back
Building The Future Of Mopar Performance
The theme for this year, “Design the Future of Fast,” pushed students to think beyond today’s boundaries. Participants were tasked with envisioning what the next generation of Street and Racing Technology (SRT) vehicles could look like using one of Stellantis’ core brands—Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, or Ram. The goal was simple: combine speed, power, and attitude into something entirely new.
Winners Showcase Creativity Across All Ages
Felix Bucaro, is the grand prize winner of the Drive for Design 2026 contest. (Stellantis).
At the top level, the Grades 10-12 category delivered some standout work. Taking first place was Felix Bucaro, a 12th grader from Wisconsin, whose design captured the spirit of future performance. Michigan’s Owen Bronson secured second place, marking his third consecutive year finishing in the top three—a rare level of consistency in a competition like this. Rounding out the group was Javier Espino, an 11th grader also from Michigan, who earned third place honors.
The addition of the Junior categories added even more excitement. In the Grades 7-9 group, Jaxon Brobst from Ohio took the top spot. Michigan students dominated the younger brackets, with Richie LeBlanc winning Grades 4-6 and Catherine Codouni claiming first place in the kindergarten through third-grade category.
Real Opportunities Beyond The Sketchbook
Owen Bronson, is the runner-up winner of the Drive for Design 2026 contest. (Stellantis).
This competition isn’t just about recognition—it’s about opening doors. The first-place high school winner earns eligibility for a summer design internship with the Ram and SRT Design Studio, offering real-world experience in one of the most exciting areas of the automotive industry. Their winning sketch will also be featured across Stellantis North America’s social media platforms.
Second- and third-place winners aren’t left out either. They’ll gain access to virtual networking sessions with Stellantis designers, have their work showcased online, and receive a scholarship to attend the College for Creative Studies’ three-week pre-college transportation design program in Detroit this July.
All three top finishers will also serve as student judges at the prestigious EyesOn Design Car Show at Ford House in Grosse Pointe, Michigan, on Father’s Day, June 21, 2026—an opportunity that puts them alongside some of the biggest names in automotive design.
Junior winners receive their own set of rewards, including classroom visits from Stellantis designers, professional-grade art supplies, and tickets to the same EyesOn Design event.
SRT Design Energy Is Back
Javier Espino is the third place winner of the Drive for Design 2026 contest. (Stellantis).
One of the biggest takeaways from this year’s competition is the renewed focus on SRT-inspired performance design. As Stellantis continues to reinvest in its in-house performance division, the energy is clearly trickling down to the next generation.
“We challenged the students to create a futuristic performance vehicle using key SRT attributes of speed, power and attitude, and the winners blew the doors off,” said Mark Trostle, VP of Ram Truck, Mopar and SRT exterior design. “The imagination and talent we’ve seen over the years was seriously notched up with the SRT design theme and definitely adds to the excitement of the return of our in-house performance division for the next generation.”
Building The Future Of Mopar Performance
Jaxon Brobst submitted the winning sketch in the 7th-9th grade bracket of the Drive for Design Junior 2026 contest. (Stellantis).
Programs like Drive for Design continue to play a key role in developing future automotive talent, especially in a region like Metro Detroit where car culture runs deep. By giving students hands-on opportunities and real industry exposure, Stellantis is helping shape the designers who could one day define the next generation of Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep®, and Ram vehicles.
If this year’s winners are any indication, the future of SRT performance design isn’t just alive—it’s evolving in ways that could redefine what we think of as “fast.”
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Robert S. Miller
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