The seventh solar car made by ISU students, PrISUm Spectrum, is in the design process.

The name “Spectrum” was chosen for the car from feedback on the team’s Web site, said Valerie Sandefur, director of Team PrISUm.

More than 80 entries were submitted, which the team members narrowed down to nine selections. The final decision was voted on by all of the team members.

Fischer said the new name is a play on words. Spectrum refers to the light spectrum, which solar cars depend on for fuel.

The concept for Spectrum will design the car smaller, faster, more efficient and more reliable than other cars, said James C. Hill, adviser to the team.

Last summer team PrISUm competed in the American Solar Challenge 2001 with its sixth car, the Odyssey. The team placed 14th of 30. The team will compete in the race again in 2003.

Each car has a new team of students behind it; membership on the team is open to students from all majors. The newest team, which is currently working on Spectrum, includes about 40 people, said Hill, university professor of chemical engineering.

“With a new team come new ideas,” said Ross Fischer, assistant director of the team and senior in computer engineering. “Our goal is to use these new ideas to conjunction with methods and ideas that have worked in the past to build a car capable of winning the American Solar Challenge 2003.”

Hill said the design of Spectrum began last fall and is nearly half complete.

“Construction is planned to start late this spring or early summer,” Hill said.

“The car should be finished early 2003.”