After months of collaboration and tireless work in ensuring a top-end build at the end of the day, the Deep Orange 3 prototype was born.

Every engineering from the inside and out came from the minds of these young and up-and-coming designers, a tribute to not only their creativity but also to their skills and understanding on how to build a car from scratch. The design of the Deep Orange 3, in particular, was actually penned by student Frederick Naaman at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. Everything else was developed and built by students in Clemson’s graduate automotive engineering program, all of whom are required to create and manufacture a new vehicle prototype . The vehicle’s concept and design are developed in partnership with students from the transportation design department at the Art Center focusing holistically on the vehicle and the end-user.

Built in collaboration with Mazda, the Deep Orange 3 actually represents a next-generation Mazda concept vehicle, conceived and engineered from the ground up by automotive engineering students at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR). "Impressive" doesn’t even do justice on how to describe this vehicle.

But the automotive engineering students from Clemson University aren’t your typical students. For one, they know how to design a car, but more importantly, they know how to design a pretty cool car. Both things were shown in full bloom with the presentation of the Mazda Deep Orange 3.

When you ask students to design a car, you normally get some wildly imaginative drawings of vehicles with wings on it, turbo boosters, or a combination of both in some occasions.

Exterior

The prototype chassis of the Deep Orange 3 was actually shown at last year’s SEMA show in Las Vegas. It had everything on it except the body panels, a clear indication of what the students had developed up to that point and a sign of things to come on what lay ahead for the prototype.

And the result is nothing short of impressive. One look at the Deep Orange 3 and you’ll immediately notice the inspiration drawn from Mazda’s "Kodo" design language and built using a load-bearing structure based on innovative sheet-folding technology patented by Industrial Origami. The hatchback shape of the prototype also looks better than most of what Mazda has produced in recent years, a tribute to the ingenuity of these students.

The slit-like headlights and the sharply contoured front bumper likewise lends a touch of sporty aggression that the Japanese automaker should seriously consider putting into its production models.

Exterior Dimensions in (mm)

Length 175.2 (4,450) Width w/o mirrors 75.0 (1,905) Height 53.1 (1,350) Wheelbase 107.5 (2,730) Track width front/rear 65.9/65.9 (1,675/1,675) Minimum ground clearance 4.3 (110) Weight lbs (kg) Unladen 3,086 (1,400) Gross Vehicle Weight Rating 4,189 (1,900) Weight Distribution front/rear 50/50% (with 2 occupants)

Interior

Not much information was given about the interior but the mere proposition of a 3+3 seating configuration already has us wondering why nobody has thought about doing this in the past. We can only imagine the space issues, though, considering that the Deep 3 Orange’s hatchback characteristic won’t do much in the way of providing enough space for six individuals.

Interior Dimensions in (mm)

Seating Capacity 6 Effective head room 1st/2nd row 38.2/37.4 (970/950) Should room 1st/2nd row 65.6/65.6 (1,665/1,665) Effective leg room 1st/2nd row 42.7/31.9 (1,085/810) Seat upholstery YES Essentials by Sage Automotive Interiors Cargo volume 10.6 cu-ft (300 liters)

Performance

The Deep 3 Orange has a unique powertrain concept, that much we can say. It was derived based on extensive analysis of the Gen Y market, which, it was determined, is an environmentally conscious generation willing to invest in sustainable powertrain technologies with a similarly significant interest in all-wheel-drive (AWD) technology. Using these points, the students developed a through-the-road parallel hybrid powertrain concept that makes use of a turbocharged four-cylinder front-wheel engine, an electric rear-wheel engine and a hybrid system that puts everything together.

All told, the Deep 3 Orange is capable of producing 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque to go with a 0-to-60 mph time of 7.5 seconds and a top speed of 125 mph.

Engine Specifications

Front Wheel Drive Engine Type 1.5-liter Mazda MZR-ZY turbo inline 4-cylinder, 16-valve DOHC with VVT Displacement 1,498 cc Bore x Stroke 78.0 x 78.8 mm Nominal output 140 horsepower at 1,850 rpm Maximum torque 155 pound-feet of torque at 5,500 rpm Redline 6,300 rpm Compression ratio 10.0:1 Fuel system Electronically-controlled multipart fuel injection Engine block/Cylinder head Aluminum alloy/Auminum alloy Front transmission type Mazda 5-speed manual

Rear Wheel Drive Engine Type TM4 MOTIV MO120 Permanent-magnet brushless AC Electric Motor Inverter Type TM4 MOTIV CO60 Inverter/controller Peak output 107 horsepower Continuous output 50 horsepower at 6,000 rpm Peak torque 125 pound-feet of torque at 0-4,250 rpm Continuous torque 48 pound-feet of torque at 6,000 rpm Operating voltage 346 Vdc Operating speed 0-10,000 rpm Rear transmission type GKN eTransmission, 1-speed

Energy Storage Systems Type Lithium-Ion Polymer battery Number of cells/modules 108 cells total in 3 modules Battery pack nominal capacity 346 Vdc Battery pack nominal voltage 2.4 kWh Battery cell type EIG ePLB F007 performance cells with LiFePO4-based cathode Cell nominal voltage 3.2 Vdc Cell nominal capacity 7 Ah Fuel tank capacity 8 gallons (30 liters)

Performance Acceleration 0-60 mph 7.5 seconds Top speed 125 mph EPA Fuel consumption City/Highway 42/49 mpg Cruising range 350 miles

Pricing

The Mazda Deep 3 Orange isn’t for sale, which is a bummer considering that it looks like its ready to conquer the road in its current form. It may, however, inspire future concepts from Mazda that could, in turn, result in future production models and technology.

Competition

Honda CR-Z

If the Deep 3 Orange had a production future, it would make for a compelling competitor to the Honda CR-Z. Both take similar shape and both have impressive performance credentials — the CR-Z falls in the output department but more than makes up for it with its power and speed of the block.

The 3+3 seating configuration of the Deep 3 Orange could either be a boon or a bane to anybody willing to try that experiment out. We’re of the ilk to try out anything new, so its a plus for us. That being said, others might not look to fondly at it and prefer the more traditional interior seating configuration.

Conclusion

Ultimately, we love the Deep 3 Orange Prototype and everything it represents. As a car, it looks sharp, sporty, and aggressive, three qualities you’d want in any vehicle, let alone on a hatchback. It also has a pretty impressive, albeit highly complicated powertrain setup that doles out copious levels of performance.

But the best part about the Deep 3 Orange Prototype is the fact that it was built and developed exclusively by young students who we have no doubt all have promising futures in the auto industry.

Category Rating Details Driving n/a Performance B Hybrid Powertrain Still Packs Plenty Of Punch Look A Sharp Looks And Aggressive Stance Does Mazda’s KODO Language Justice Value n/a Not Available In The Market Overall A- A Highly Impressive Work By Young Students With Bright Futures In The Industry

Love it Sharp looks Interior seating is new Performance levels are high Built by STUDENTS!

Leave it No production future



Source: Clemson University