Most Affordable Dream Car

Students from Cranfield University, one of Western Europe's largest academic centres for strategic and applied research development and design, have been awarded the innovation prize at The Société des Ingénieurs de l'Automobile's (SIA), Styling and Technical competition for designing ‘The Most Affordable Dream Car'. The Dscar has four wheels positioned in a diamond shape around the car's chassis and apparently it handles like a go-kart. Designed primarily for extreme sports lovers and for weekend or track day use only, the car provides a very different ride – it's very light, just 500kg, and powered by a Toyota 3 cylinder 68bhp engine. The DScar is made from mass produced car parts, so can be manufactured very easily and economically. A panel of international experts recognised DScar for its radically different diamond shaped design, unique style and unusual driving experience.

Every year, the SIA, the French equivalent of the SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers), invite Design and Engineering students internationally to compete in the Styling & Technical competition. This year students were tasked with designing ‘the most affordable dream car' and writing a report about the technical and style aspects of the car. In addition to being a ‘dream car' it could cost no more than £5000, had to carry 3 people, be fuel-efficient and was strictly ruled on emissions.