atlaw4u
05-15-2008, 08:26 AM
Ford to universities: Design viable automobile that costs under $7,000. (http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/AUTO01/805130356/1148)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Ford_Model_T.jpgScott Burgess - The Detroit News - May 13, 2008
The Model T turns 100 this year, and Ford Motor Co. wants a modern-day version of the Tin Lizzie for the 21st century.
During Monday's kickoff of National Transportation Week at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Paul Mascarenas, vice president of engineering at Ford, announced the Blue Oval will sponsor an international campaign with five universities to develop a car that is simple, lightweight, practical and priced below $7,000.
Each university will receive $75,000 to create a concept of the future Model T; two winners will be announced on Oct. 1, the date the original Model T officially celebrates its 100th birthday.
"We're still brainstorming ideas," said Jennifer Ng, an engineering graduate student at the University of Michigan, Dearborn. "The idea is to create a vehicle that provides the maximum value for the price."
While each group faces harsh limitations because of the vehicle's low cost, said Ananth Kota, a U-M Dearborn graduate student in automotive engineering, there is no shortage of ideas.
"We're still looking at even solar or wind power to drive it," he said.
The U-M students do not receive any class credit for their work, added Aiyappa Mandepanda, a computer engineering graduate student. "But it should be good to put on the resume."
The program, which will award an additional $25,000 to the winning university in the fall, is more than an academic exercise, Mascarenas said...http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/AUTO01/805130356/1148
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/Ford_Model_T.jpgScott Burgess - The Detroit News - May 13, 2008
The Model T turns 100 this year, and Ford Motor Co. wants a modern-day version of the Tin Lizzie for the 21st century.
During Monday's kickoff of National Transportation Week at the Automotive Hall of Fame in Dearborn, Paul Mascarenas, vice president of engineering at Ford, announced the Blue Oval will sponsor an international campaign with five universities to develop a car that is simple, lightweight, practical and priced below $7,000.
Each university will receive $75,000 to create a concept of the future Model T; two winners will be announced on Oct. 1, the date the original Model T officially celebrates its 100th birthday.
"We're still brainstorming ideas," said Jennifer Ng, an engineering graduate student at the University of Michigan, Dearborn. "The idea is to create a vehicle that provides the maximum value for the price."
While each group faces harsh limitations because of the vehicle's low cost, said Ananth Kota, a U-M Dearborn graduate student in automotive engineering, there is no shortage of ideas.
"We're still looking at even solar or wind power to drive it," he said.
The U-M students do not receive any class credit for their work, added Aiyappa Mandepanda, a computer engineering graduate student. "But it should be good to put on the resume."
The program, which will award an additional $25,000 to the winning university in the fall, is more than an academic exercise, Mascarenas said...http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080513/AUTO01/805130356/1148