Students in Clemson University’s graduate automotive engineering program will debut their urban mobility concept vehicle at the General Motors Renaissance Center in Detroit this month.
Focused this year on generation Y and Z consumers living in 2020 megacities, the concept vehicle is the fifth product of the graduate school’s Deep Orange program, a multidisciplinary student, faculty and industry-sponsored project.
Deep Orange 5 is built for young adults who move to cities to seek better jobs and higher incomes, and face the major transportation challenges such as traffic congestion, road space, parking space, air pollution and carbon dioxide emissions inherent in large cities, according to the project’s website. The vehicle aims to solve the problem many automakers face when targeting a generation with little money to spare, less interest in vehicle ownership and a desire for extra space, range and performance for leisure activities.
The project highlights “creating an emotional connection with the vehicle” that integrates social media networking.
Last year’s program turned out a BMW X3-inspired vehicle reminiscent of an SUV with a sliding glass roof and two-door rear trunk entry. Sponsored by BMW Manufacturing Co. in Greer, the vehicle was showcased at the Center for Automotive Research Group Management Briefing Seminar in Traverse City, Mich., last August.
Deep Orange allows students to work with new processes and product innovations in the automotive engineering sphere and provides for hands-on experience with vehicle design, engineering, prototyping and production.
The program combines interdisciplinary research to address industry and societal challenges and opportunities. The third iteration of the concept vehicle announced in 2013, for example, highlighted the opportunities of a hybrid hatchback with an unusual three-by-three seat configuration.
