Prototype
The prototype class follows the “Mark” naming scheme. This is the original vehicle class that the UBC Supermileage Team participated in. Technical specifications for the UBC Supermileage Team’s prototype vehicles can be found here.
Since 2009/2010 the team has transitioned to the more relevant and practical urban concept car.
2005 – Mark IV
Two years in development. Significant time was spent in the wind tunnel and in CAD programs to design the 2005 vehicle. There was great pain taken to balance the features between smooth transitioning curves and reducing frontal area. The introduction of curved underbody features also helped to improve aerodynamics significantly over the 2003/2004 body.
The chassis was redesigned to fit the new underbody fairing as well as improve durability and increase stiffness.
The reduced displacement engine posed many challenges both in development and integration into the vehicle.
2003/2004 – Mark III
This vehicle marked some advances in body fabrication techniques as well as a shift from using fibre glass to carbon fibre as the base material for the body. The vehicle had an actual underbody versus previous year’s sheet metal body pan.
2004 was the first time the team implemented a fuel injection system on the engine. There was much experience gained during its development.
2002 – Mark II
The team’s first endeavour into a fully enclosed fairing. It was the first step towards advancing the aerodynamics of the vehicle. Windtunnel testing proved useful in showing separation behind the front wheel areas on earlier prototypes.
The chassis was constructed using honeycomb sandwich panels donated by Avcorp.
2001 – Mark I (The Arrow Project)
Salvaged from the remnants of an ancient Shell Fuelathon vehicle, this was UBC’s first entry into the competition. It featured an open-wheeled design with kevlar chassis and fibreglass fairing.
