A top-priority strategic objective of the Department of Vehicle Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Debrecen is to continuously align its theoretical curriculum and research directions with the latest trends and technological standards of the global automotive industry. In the spirit of this objective, Timotei Erdei Assistant Professor, Department of Vehicle Engineering, Attila Szántó Assistant Professor, Department of Basic Technical Studies, Péter Puskás Department Engineer, Department of Basic Technical Studies and Tibor Péter Kapusi Assistant Professor, Department of Data Science and Visualization, Faculty of Informatics paid a professional visit to Italy’s legendary automotive centers in the heart of what is called Motor Valley.
Situated between Parma, Modena, Bologna and Rimini in the Emilia-Romagna region, the region known as Motor Valley is home to world-renowned automotive and motorcycle brands, including Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Ducati, Pagani and Dallara. Apart from vehicle manufacturing plants, this area also features a number of automotive museums and racetracks.
The primary objective of this study tour was to conduct an in-depth, engineering-focused examination of the unique design, materials science, aerodynamics, and powertrain technology solutions in premium motorcycles, super-sports cars and Formula 1 race cars.
- The practical experience gained in vehicle manufacturing plants is essential for the students of our department to acquire the most recent knowledge coming from a relevant industrial environment as part of their regular university studies- said Timotei Erdei, Assistant Professor at the Department of Vehicle Engineering.
The first part of the professional program was conducted at Ducati’s headquarters in Borgo Panigale, Bologna. During the course of their visit, the experts from the University of Debrecen observed the unique engineering and design details of the premium motorcycles, paying particular attention to technologies originally developed for racing that were subsequently successfully applied in mass production.
Next, at the Lamborghini headquarters, our researchers could study the development and manufacturing processes of premium super sports cars from an engineering perspective. The visit shed light on the specific design characteristics of low-volume and bespoke vehicles, laying particular emphasis on modern environmental and performance requirements.
The exploration of the Ferrari brand was carried out at two separate locations. The first leg of this phase was implemented at the Modena facility, where the focus was on the structural, bodywork and design details of premium super-sports cars and high-performance GT models. The Debrecen delegation conducted an in-depth examination of the development processes for forward-looking concept cars and design studies, advanced lightweight chassis structures (of aluminum and carbon fiber) and modern plug-in hybrid powertrains.
The second location of the Ferrari visit, which focused specifically on motorsports, was the Maranello headquarters, where the group gained insight into the cutting-edge engineering, materials science and aerodynamic design solutions used in Formula 1 cars.
- This study tour is invaluable to the Department of Vehicle Engineering from a professional viewpoint, as vehicle engineering education plays a crucial part in the development of the Debrecen region, and the experience gained at world-leading manufacturers is directly and systematically integrated into the teaching and research portfolio of our department- said Assistant Professor Timotei Erdei.
Press Center - OCs