Imagine this: you’re sitting there in your engineering class and the professor walks in and says, “You’re getting a little project this semester. I’d like you to design an SUV. But not just any SUV, one that takes into account the environment and population of the Arabian Gulf. 20% of your grade is riding on [...]
Imagine this: you’re sitting there in your engineering class and the professor walks in and says, “You’re getting a little project this semester. I’d like you to design an SUV. But not just any SUV, one that takes into account the environment and population of the Arabian Gulf. 20% of your grade is riding on it.”
That’s right, King Saud University (KSU) students in Saudi Arabia were asked to create a new SUV called the Gazal-1. If you’re wondering, Gazal means “gazelle” in Arabic. Why you would name a hulking, International Truck-looking off-roader after a lithe, speedy and athletic mammal is anyone’s guess. Still, you must admit, for a bunch of college kids, they did a fine job.
The big green truck here at the Geneva Motor Show is actually just a model, a styling exercise if you will. However, the Gazal-1 is more than just an engineering project. A business plan has been part of the Gazal-1 since the get-go. Are we saying that the KSU kids’ truck will one day make it to production? Mostly likely no. However, KSU’s reason for such an ambitious project is to “Promote the culture of automotive industry, to train young engineers who can participate in research and development.” Those are some educational goals we can get behind.
Now comes the fun part. The KSU students didn’t start with a totally blank slate. In fact, they were given an existing SUV to start with. They were then told to keep the original vehicle’s wheelbase, track, mechanical bits and interior hard points. Obviously, the entire body was redesigned. So redesigned in fact that when asked what SUV underpins the Gazal-1, five out of five members of the Autoblog Geneva crew got it wrong.Make the jump to see if you’re smarter than us. Warning: Don’t make the jump until you’ve guessed what truck!
3 Responses
Good job KSU, I hope that these vehicles will kick-ass motor’s industry soon will be available in Middle East market; and looking forward to it. Cheers!
Wow… I feel so proud reading about this. It is amazing the steps that King of KAS is taking towards making Saudi Arabia one of the world leading economies. It seems like every time I Google Saudi Arabia, here it is.. a new university, a new economic complex, a new highway, and now, car production. It makes you proud to be an Arab.
Now, back to the car, what price point is being targeted here? What are the echo-friendly features that are making this car so special? What is the marketing strategies for the local, the regional and the international markets? What kind of mileage? Does it meet the US emission standards?
I can’t wait to find out the details about this great project.
Great project, and hopefully the Kingdom will start getting into more heavy equipments manufacturing.
Waleed
This is a good start for the latest development done by the saudi government in terms of car manufacturing in the kingdom i think not only this kind of industry that they will achieve in the future there be many more because saudi government can afford in terms of financial aspects. CONGRATULATIONS AND GOOD JOB!