A group of 19 students from Clemson University in
South Carolina have built a potent Honda Civic that could give current
Rallycross cars a run for their money. Work on the project started two
years ago with an ordinary Civic sedan and two main goals in mind: to build a
vehicle offering exceptional performance while also reducing the emissions
produced by the Japanese sedan. The finished vehicle is dubbed Deep Orange 9
and Honda was kind enough to provide sponsorship to help bring it to life.
To achieve their goals, the students opted for a
mid-mounted 2.0-liter supercharged four-cylinder engine sending power to the
rear wheels. This engine delivers 400 hp and is joined by a 200 hp electric
motor that drives the front wheels. This hybrid powertrains allows the Civic to
reach 96 km/h in just 2 seconds and also incorporates advanced
regenerative braking to help keep the battery topped up.
The implementation of a hybrid powertrain also means
fuel consumption was reduced by 30 per cent. Making the car all the more
capable is semi-active suspension that can easily adapt to changing surfaces,
and a bespoke all-wheel drive system.
Visually, the Civic has also been made to look much
more race-oriented than a regular Civic. Consequently, there’s distinctive
bodykit with flared front and rear wheel arches, black brake calipers, a
prominent front splitter, and a huge fixed rear wing.
