Clemson Students to Show Complete Deep Orange 3 Vehicle

A next-generation Mazda-sponsored concept vehicle, conceived and engineered by Clemson University automotive engineering students, will be shown Monday for the first time at the Center for Automotive Research Management Briefing Seminars Aug. 5-8 in Traverse City, Mich.

The event marks the first time the completed Deep Orange 3 vehicle will be showcased with body panels designed by students at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, Calif.

The students will be on hand at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) booth at the annual briefing seminars to discuss the vehicle’s engineering concepts. Representatives from Mazda and the Art Center will be on hand to discuss the unique collaboration that led to the exceptional concept vehicle. 

Paul Venhovens, BMW Endowed Chair in automotive systems integration at CU-ICAR, who leads the Deep Orange program, will speak about the project during the Aug. 5 morning Global Manufacturing Strategies session.

The Deep Orange 3 prototype chassis vehicle was unveiled during the 2012 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show in Las Vegas. The vehicle was displayed minus the body panels, which now are complete.

This third-generation Deep Orange concept was sponsored by Mazda North American Operations and developed in collaboration with numerous automotive companies.

Deep Orange 3 features a unique hybrid powertrain that automatically chooses front-, rear- or all-wheel-drive; a load-bearing structure based on innovative sheet-folding technology patented by Industrial Origami; and a groundbreaking 3+3 seating configuration in sports car architecture.

As part of the graduate automotive engineering program at CU-ICAR, students are required to create and manufacture a new vehicle prototype. The Deep Orange project is breaking new ground in the thinking about automotive design and function.

The program provides students with experience in vehicle design, development, prototyping and production planning. Each year, a prototype vehicle is developed with a new market focus and technical objectives.