Ram 'Stadion' electric pickup takes top prize in Stellantis Drive for Design contest

Eric D. Lawrence, Detroit Free Press
·2 min read
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Rocco Morales won first place in the Stellantis 2023 Drive for Design Contest.
Rocco Morales won first place in the Stellantis 2023 Drive for Design Contest.

A 12th grader from Northville won the grand prize in Stellantis’ annual Drive for Design contest with his vision for a Ram Stadion, representing a “new segment of pickup trucks.”

It's not the first win for Rocco Morales. He also took first place in 2022 and second place in 2021, according to a news release.

Morales’ sleek design featured a “fully capable off-road machine (that) could easily transform into a relaxing place to hang out,” the release said. An image of Morales’ design included a deployable canopy, stadium seating and yacht-like stairs for access.

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Morales' prize includes a summer design internship at the Ram Truck Exterior Design Studio and a Wacom MobileStudio Pro 16 tablet, the release said. This year’s contest asked students in grades 10-12 to sketch “the next-generation Ram EV truck,” a theme that aligned with the automaker's unveiling of its Ram 1500 REV electric pickup. Stellantis owns Ram, along with Jeep, Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat, Alfa Romeo and Maserati.

“Rocco is clearly a passionate designer with a bright future ahead of him,” Mark Trostle, head of Ram Truck and Mopar Exterior Design for Stellantis, said in the release. “It will be great having someone eager to learn and experience a professional design studio.”

Rohan Seiber, of Portola Valley, California, won second place in the Stellantis 2023 Drive for Design contest.
Rohan Seiber, of Portola Valley, California, won second place in the Stellantis 2023 Drive for Design contest.

Second and third places went to 10th grader Rohan Seiber, of Portola Valley, California, and 11th grader Benjamin Miller, of Birmingham, respectively. Seiber’s Ram Rex design included a truck with a configurable bed platform and unique exterior lighting and rail system; Miller’s Ram Ultima “is built around a modular design that would allow the owner to add more power and traction as needed,” the release said.

Seiber and Miller are in line for an Apple iPad Pro and Apple Pencil, a virtual day of design portfolio review with Stellantis designers and a scholarship to the College of Creative Studies' four-week summer program.

Benjamin Miller, of Birmingham, won third place in Stellantis' 2023 Drive for Design contest.
Benjamin Miller, of Birmingham, won third place in Stellantis' 2023 Drive for Design contest.

Trostle, who won an early iteration of the contest in 1987 when he was in high school, described an impressive design showing from the students who participated.

“Every year, I am blown away by the creativity and enthusiasm of these students,” Trostle said in the release. “It’s really difficult to choose a winner because each design is so unique and thoughtful. Our whole team is excited to work with these students, and I’m already looking forward to next year’s contest.”

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Winners since 2014 have come from California, Florida, New Hampshire, Michigan and Ohio. Local winners this year can be a student judge at the EyesOn Design at Ford House car show in Grosse Pointe Shores on June 18.Contact Eric D. Lawrence: elawrence@freepress.com. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stellantis Drive for Design winner offers Ram 'Stadion' EV