A concept for a car that transforms into a party venue has been unveiled by students at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR).
The Deep Orange 5 is the fifth entry in a line of concept vehicles created by Clemson’s students, with it being designed firmly with Millennials in mind. According to the university, the planned consumer build that should eventually be taken from these concept models will be targeted towards young adults living in mega cities in 2020, combining mobility with a big social aspect that will be appealing to those living within an urban setting.
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While it evidently doesn’t look like much now, the plans for the Deep Orange line will certainly appeal to younger generation of drivers.
Here are some of the features CU-ICAR revealed that they had already installed in the concept car:
- A reconfigurable seating concept to enable various vehicle usage modes, including driving, working, relaxing and storage.
- A digital cockpit that enables the display of unique content for both the driver and passengers.
- A color display integrated into both front doors facing outwards allowing the driver and occupants to display digital messages to the outside world.
- Double-hinged doors that allow for comfortable egress and ingress of the vehicle in tight urban parking spaces as well as improved vehicle access for users with disabilities.
- A two-piece rear hatch concept that allows for easy access in tight parking spaces.
With sponsorship from both Toyota and BMW, CU-ICAR’s students are already working on the sixth- and seventh-generations of the vehicle, with the cars being developed with youths living in cities in mind as the target demographic.
While its concept is undoubtedly impressive, it remains to be seen whether a consumer build of the Deep Orange would crack the notoriously difficult youth market. While the idea of a vehicle focused upon providing its driver and passengers with a social experience may prove to be appealing, its popularity will only go so far as its aesthetics will take it, and if CU-ICAR is to stick with those horrific horizontal sliding doors, they could be facing an uphill battle if they manage to release a consumer build by 2020.
Still, a vehicle catered specifically to early twenty-somethings and not businessmen/women or families is certainly a unique route for CU-ICAR to take, and its concept certainly suggests that this could be a great vehicle for those with an active social life who want to take a detour from the mundane, and drive a car that could just as easily hold a small party as it could take them to the mall.
Photo Credit: Ken Scar, Clemson University
