As South Carolina’s advanced manufacturing industry continues to grow, so does the state’s research and development activity. A perfect example of this is the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR).
Established in 2007 to create a venue for innovative research and development with regard to South Carolina’s thriving automotive industry, CU-ICAR is home to the nation’s only graduate Department of Automotive Engineering.
Last weekend, students at CU-ICAR unveiled the latest Deep Orange concept vehicle at the BMW Zentrum in Greer, S.C. Produced by an 18-student team, Deep Orange 7 is a re-envisioned MINI, one of the German automaker’s most iconic brands.
For the seventh generation of Deep Orange, students were challenged to reimagine a MINI vehicle for the premium U.S. market for 2025 and beyond. Students were in charge of determining which innovative features would fit the MINI brand, as well as how these innovations would be integrated into the vehicle.
“Deep Orange gives our students invaluable hands-on experience and exposure to all phases of the vehicle development process starting with identifying the project’s grand challenge — understanding MINI’s history alongside a deep dive into potential customers — all the way through the engineering and fabrication process,” said Johnell Brooks, associate professor of automotive engineering at Clemson University and project lead.
As this type of innovative activity continues, Team South Carolina will transform from a state that makes things into one that designs and makes things. And, as a result, the sky will be the limit for South Carolina and its highly-skilled workforce.