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Appendix

Research Car from the Academe

From October, 1979 to September, 1981, about 35 student engineers and instructors at four technical universities in West Germany worked full time to create a research car. They were sponsored in part by a grant from the BMFT. The project was coordinated by Professor Bert Breuer in Darmstadt.

The result is a roomy family car with sedan/wagon profile, diesel power, and front-wheel drive. The project came into being under the same BMFT program in which Audi, Mercedes-Benz, and V olkswagen participated. But in September, 1981 it was announced that only the Uni-Car (University-Car) qualified for continued BMFT funds. Support for the other projects was terminated. This left the car companies to pursue their research an development work independently.

Whether the Uni-Car is better than what the motor industry can com up with or not, it is worth a closer look. A lot of thought has gone into it, and some of the solutions are daring yet realistic. The universities placed greater emphasis on passive safety than the car companies. Throughout the car, its designers have aimed for new solutions in simplified maintenance, easier repairs, and longer life. Suitability for mass production also has been a fundamental requirement.

Foremost among the design objectives was a 25-mpg average fuel

economy for a four seater with 900 pounds payload capacity and a range of 250 miles. Moreover, it should have a top speed of at least 90 mph and be able to accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in no more than 13 seconds. Other goals concerned noise, exhaust emissions, durability, recyclability, and energy use during manufacture. It is not a production prototype, but a carrier of ideas that can help put new solutions into the service of the industry.

The Uni-Car was designed for a 108.3 inch wheelbase with a track of 57 inches in front and 54.3 inches in the rear. Its overall dimensions are 181.1 inches in length, 69 inches in width, and 54 inches in height—running on 175 HR-15 tires.

The weight target was 2756 pounds maximum (anything lighter would have been preferable).But during the construction period, it was found that the target could not be met, and the prototype ended up with a dry weight of 3032 pounds.

The team from the Stuttgart Technical University, led by Professor Ulf Essers, was assigned the body design, aerodynamics, ventilation, and noise control. The wind tunnel work and consequent modifications were carried out by Jurgen Potthoff.

Professor Hermann Appel and Professor Hans-Peter Willumeit of the Technical University of Berlin led the team that concentrated on body structure, ergometrics, occupant protection, interior layout, and