Contact: Carmen Ramos Chandler, (818) 885-2130
California State University, Northridge, and the University of California at Davis are two of 12 universities nationwide - the only ones west of the Mississippi - selected to take part in the project to develop an 80-mile-per-gallon, fuel-efficient automobile. The FutureCar Challenge is sponsored by the Department of Energy and the United States Council for Automotive Research, a joint venture between the Chrysler Corp., Ford Motor Co. and General Motors Corp.
Cal State Northridge engineering professor Tim Fox and his students, and UC Davis engineering professor Andrew Frank and his students will receive the keys to their automobiles at 1:30 p.m. on Friday in the courtyard of Northridge's School of Engineering near the center of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St.
The objective of the challenge is to explore technologies that will enable the United States to produce a consumer-acceptable family sedan that achieves 80 miles per gallon, carries a minimum of five passengers comfortably and travels at least 250 miles before refueling - all the while appearing no different than any of the other automobiles on the road.
Reporters will have an opportunity to talk to the students who will be developing this wonder car and visit the Cal State Northridge computer lab where much of that university's work will take place.