‘Generation,’ a solar-powered car wrapped with Avery Dennison gloss cast vinyl film and overlaminate, is heading from the U.S. to Australia this month to prepare for the 2013 World Solar Challenge.

TKO Graphix digitally printed and applied the wrap to the unusually shaped vehicle earlier this year for the University of Michigan, which unveiled it to the public in mid-June (pictured above). The car completed a mock race in July around Michigan’s perimeter (pictured below) in preparation for the 3,021-km (1,877-mi) Australian race, which is scheduled for October 6 to 13.

“Avery is proud to support the university’s team for the third year in a row,” says Don Nolan, president of the company’s materials group. “The students redesign the car every two years for the biennial World Solar Challenge with the best technology and engineering possible.”

“The wrap is beneficial in many ways,” explains Pavan Naik, senior business development manager for the university’s solar car team. “It hugs the aerodynamic body of the car, allowing us to maintain a very efficient shape, and it allows us to place all of our sponsor logos in a single graphic, which avoids the unnecessary drag that comes with decals.”