TU Students Compete In National Vehicle Design Competition

Thursday, June 7th 2007, 10:04 am

By: News On 6

You hear a lot of people talking about the need to reduce our dependence on foreign oil. Well, some students from TU aren't just talking, they're doing something about it. A group from the engineering department has been competing in the third Challenge X competition in Michigan.

Teams from 17 Universities have spent the past three years redesigning a Chevy Equinox to increase the fuel efficiency and reduce its emissions. Other tests included off-road performance, towing capacity, and acceleration. The team's leader says this isn't just a competition, itâ€™s about the future of automotive design.

"You now have the engineers that have graduated and are going into the workforce to apply the current skillset that they have to make the vehicles now instead of later, so you're working toward the future and toward now," said TU team leader Josh Buck.

On Thursday, Mississippi State University was awarded first place in the Challenge X competition.