The Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) has introduced two electric vehicle concepts that cover the opposite ends of the automotive spectrum – a convertible sports car not dissimilar to a McLaren Elva and an off-road SUV. What makes these concept vehicles special, you ask? Well, they’re both fully functional and were made by students from the university’s top-ranked degree programs within a year.
Called the Aether and Tyr, both EV concepts were made under strict guidelines, including time constraints, which means they were created like real products for real people. Apart from showcasing their talents, the EV concepts are also focused on Gen Zs – an age group which, according to SCAD, doesn’t look forward to driving anymore, with 75% of them not wanting to get their driver’s licenses.
“These new electric vehicle concepts answer an essential question for the automotive industry as more and more young people are choosing not to drive at all, using rideshare and public transportation instead. SCAD’s Aether and Tyr reverse that shift in spectacular ways – because we do our research!”
– Paula Wallace, SCAD president and founder
The Aether Convertible Sports Car
The convertible sports car is called the Aether. Made by SCAD students from its Savannah location, its design was made to appeal to the Gen Z demographic, while paying homage to classic race cars like the Ferrari 312 and iconic Porsche 917. Its open-top design obviously harkens to its motorsports inspiration, as well as the centralized driver position and open-wheel access at the back that reveal the mechanical components. It also comes with an AI companion that curates music based on driving style.
Add CarBuzz to your Google News feed.
Related
R35 GT-R Designer’s EV Concept Reaches Prototype Status
The LSR-05 EV makes its debut at the Paris Auto Show.
Beyond the styling, SCAD also touts that the Aether was entirely 3D-printed. The students – who came from the university’s top-ranked degree programs, including interior design, fibers, motion media design, graphic design, user experience (UX) design, and interactive design and game development – incorporated acrylic gel into the car, photocured with UV lights. The Aether is claimed to be the first car ever built using this technology.
The Tyr Overlander
Meanwhile, the Tyr concept was made by students from SCAD’s Atlanta campus, consciously made in line with narratives and causes of Gen Zs. The car was made from sustainable materials, albeit specifics weren’t mentioned, while the colors, designs, and features were intentionally styled to scream “green.” According to SCAD’s research, the top priorities of the Gen Z demographics are fuel efficiency, environmental impact, and technological features.
Related
Hyundai Is Building Another Wacky N Vision Concept
Hyundai is teasing something very special for the next N Day.
The students of both additive manufactured projects worked with faculty and mentors, but notably, SCAD said that they engaged “pros in the automotive industry, as well as others in fashion, luxury marketing, and ‘fringe tech’ or technology that extends into science fiction, such as controlling a car with eye tracking and hand gestures.”