1,200 entries submitted

Swedish electric car manufacturer Polestar has announced the winner of its 2024 Design Contest, held in collaboration with Hot Wheels.

Now in its fourth edition, the Polestar Design Content created an opportunity for professional and student designers to dip their toes into the car design space. Many participants have gone on to work for the Polestar Design team and other automotive brands.

This year’s contest attracted 1,200 participants who were asked to submit designs inspired by the 1:64 scale sized models, as well as Polestar’s design language. The four-judge panel - consisting of representatives from Polestar and Mattel - were asked to choose designs that combined the “playfulness and vibrancy” of Hot Wheels and Polestar’s minimalist design aesthetic.

Winner - Polestar TRX

The winning design was created by professional designer Shashank Shekhar from India. His rugged off-roader Polestar TRX concept was a bold take on the Swedish brand’s design philosophy with exaggerated proportions and sleek surfaces. It will become part of the 56 year old story of Hot Wheels by being made into a collectable for customers to buy in the summer of 2025.

Shashank Shekhar: “I'm thrilled to win. This will be the first design in my career to be produced, so it's a big deal for me. I never thought that someday, something I have created would end up as a Hot Wheels car. It has been a great journey, and I've had an amazing time so far. Something like this gives you a lot of confidence as a young designer.”

Cyber Shaker and Polestar Track Toy concepts just miss out

The runner-up prize went to Italy’s Powei Chen for his Cyber Shaker concept, which combined design cues from the past and present with its cyberpunk design. An honourable mention went to Roman Moor of Germany for his Polestar Track Toy concept, a nod to classic Le Mans cars like the Ford GT40.

Juan-Pablo Bernal, Head of Interior Design at Polestar: "We were looking for innovative ideas with this theme, and the submissions definitely exceeded our expectations. We saw some of the most daring designs to date. I can't wait to see what the ‘Polestar TRX’ collectable will look like in real life."

Ted Wu Senior Vice President and Global Head of Design of Vehicles and Building Sets at Mattel: “It was a pleasure for Hot Wheels to collaborate with Polestar for this innovative design contest. This year’s winner accepted the challenge and was inspired by both Hot Wheels and Polestar, bridging the two brands together. We are looking forward to seeing the ‘Polestar TRX’ in a 1:64 scale and welcoming this die-cast to be included in our Hot Wheels history.”

Read more about Hot Wheels:

La Liebre of Chile is 2024 Hot Wheels Legends Tour Winner - November 2024

Hot Wheels and Formula 1 announce partnership - October 2024

2023 Hot Wheels Legends Tour Winner Crowned - November 2023

words: Mike Booth
pictures: Polestar