This Mustang GTD Rival Captivated the Attention of Stellantis' Design Chief | Carscoops

      The [DODGE] is a thesis project by university student John Carioti, which has garnered attention from a chief designer.

      Ralph Gilles, the Chief Design Officer of Stellantis, highlighted the concept on Instagram.

      With its striking design, this EV could be a serious rival to the Ford Mustang GTD.

      It’s not common for a Stellantis design chief to acknowledge a senior thesis on social media, but that’s precisely what occurred for John Carioti. During his senior project at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, Carioti developed an impressive Dodge muscle car that caught the interest of Ralph Gilles, the Chief Design Officer at Stellantis.

      Gilles, who oversees the design for brands such as Jeep, Ram, Dodge, Chrysler, and Maserati, is well-versed in recognizing exceptional concepts. He featured Carioti’s design on Instagram, captioning it with, “Once again @ccs_detroit Seniors are Fire! ##.” This kind of recognition is what most aspiring designers dream of, and it will likely be beneficial for Carioti’s future career.

      The [DODGE] project, showcased as part of the academic year's exhibition, appears to be a strong contender against the Ford Mustang GTD, thanks to its prominent aerodynamic features. It draws design inspiration from the Charger Daytona but presents a more compact size, a fastback tail, and more aggressive dimensions.

      The front design is particularly eye-catching, featuring a large chin spoiler and full-width LED headlights that flank a narrow pass-through grille. Air flows through the grille into a hollow vent on the hood. Given the Fratzog logos, it’s clearly intended for a fully electric powertrain. However, if you envision it with a supercharged Hemi V8 instead, that sentiment is totally understandable.

      The profile is equally compelling, showcasing muscular fenders, sharp door creases, and sizeable alloy wheels. The rear design does not disappoint either; the LED bar beneath the active rear spoiler adds visual intensity, and the rear deck abandons the windscreen, following a trend embraced by brands like Polestar and Avatr. Carioti has also shown a variant with a fixed rear wing, which nicely complements the rear diffuser.

      Though Dodge is facing challenges selling the electric Charger Daytona and is focusing on the upcoming ICE-powered Charger SixPack, Carioti’s design provides a glimpse into the potential future of muscle cars. While the public may not be entirely prepared for electric muscle cars right now, this shouldn't overshadow his vision.

      Like most senior thesis projects, the [DODGE] is a design exercise without any plans for production. Nevertheless, it is a concept that could easily be modified to accommodate a Hemi V8, appealing to the more traditional muscle car enthusiasts.

      Carioti expressed his appreciation to Gilles for the recognition, and we hope this marks the start of a successful career for him. With his talent, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him influencing the future of muscle cars—and SUVs, as that’s the current trend—at a Stellantis design studio.