Chrysler Proving Grounds
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Chrysler LLC operates proving grounds around North America, for development and validation testing of new vehicles.
Contents |
[edit] North America
[edit] Arizona Proving Ground - Yucca, Arizona
Latitude and Longitude:
The Arizona Proving Ground is a vehicle test facility established in 1955 in Yucca, Arizona. It was owned and operated by Ford Motor Company based in Dearborn, Michigan, USA until Chrysler LLC announced on November 2, 2007 that it had purchased the facility for $34.9 Million. APG is located at the foot of the Hualapai Mountains near Yucca, Arizona, 120 miles (200 km) southeast of Las Vegas, situated between Lake Havasu and Kingman, Arizona.
The facility was originally Yucca Army Airfield, an Army Air Corps training base, used during World War II. The field was declared surplus land by 1946 and the ownership was turned over to Ford in 1954.
Features
Arizona Proving Ground has more than 50 miles (80 km) of concrete and earthen surfaces on 3,840 acres (15.5 km²) that are continuously maintained. It includes a five-mile high speed banked oval track, with a myriad of other road testing surfaces. With extended operations in the nearby mountain range, at elevations ranging from 500 to 6500 feet (150 to 2000 m) above sea level, and varied terrain and annual temperatures ranging from 30 to 120 °F (0 to 50 °C)), APG provides a wide spectrum of vehicle testing conditions.
The facility also includes:
An 18 acre (73,000 m²) vehicle dynamics area
A water ingestion test area
Vehicle corrosion test chambers
Special test roads/surfaces for vehicle durability testing
A water leak test facility
A low friction facility suitable for ABS system testing
Light truck structural durability
Accelerated vehicle corrosion testing
Car and truck thermal management
Hot fuel and octane testing
Splash testing/water ingestion testing
FMVSS and IAO brake certification for car and light truck
Tire traction testing for car and light truck
Elevation - 1,950 feet (590 m)
Average maximum summer temperature - 103 °F (39 °C)
Average minimum winter temperature - 59 °F (15 °C)
Average annual precipitation - 6.4 inches (160 mm)
[edit] Chrysler's Arizona Proving Ground - Wittmann, Arizoria
5,555 acres, of which 3,836 acres are fenced.
The facility also includes an area to test sun exposure on vehicles and components, a city traffic course, a corrosion-preparation facility and access to mountain grades.
<more information coming soon>
[edit] Chelsea Proving Grounds - Chelsea, Michigan
3,850 acres. Includes facilities
The Facility has:
a sled-impact testing site
a covered crash barrier
skid traction area
mileage accumulators
emissions certification Center
a wind tunnel
corrosion testing facility
<more information coming soon>
[edit] References
- Jim Seckler (2008). Chrysler takes over Yucca. Business News. Mohave Daily News. Retrieved on 2008-03-24.
