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NEWS
Hyundai opens Euro test centre
$9 million facility ready for action at NurburgringHyundai's new test centre in the very heartland of high-speed evaluation – Germany's Nurburgring – is now officially operational.
Construction of the "purpose-built" facility, which measures 3622 square metres, began in June 2012 and required less than 15 months to complete. Workshops, offices and hospitality areas are enclosed within the glass and steel building, over four storeys.
Effectively an annex of Hyundai's R&D centre in Russelsheim, the new test centre provides Hyundai engineers with a base close to the track for the purposes of running consistent test scenarios in wet or dry conditions. Each vehicle circulates the Nordschleife ('northern loop') circuit 480 times in a program equating to 160,000km of high-load motoring in under six weeks. Parameters assessed include steering and suspension (for both ride and handling).
Engineers at the test centre can make adjustments to the test car's underpinnings and then send it out for another run to compare the different configurations.
"The Nürburgring is a unique challenge for any vehicle, so it is the perfect location for our new facility," Senior Vice President and COO of Hyundai Motor Europe, Allan Rushforth, was quoted saying in a press release.
"The new European Test Centre is a natural extension of our Technical Centre in Rüsselsheim, and enables Hyundai to more quickly and more accurately test the reliability and drivability of our vehicles. The emotional appeal of being 'tested at Nürburgring' will also help to further build the brand's reputation across Europe."
Long known as a test base for German manufacturers, the Nordschleife is latterly attracting companies from outside Germany – and indeed, as in this case, outside – to crack European markets with cars that can compete dynamically. A demanding track, the Nordschleife features 170 corners around its 20.8km length, with 300m of fall over the course.
It is probably remembered most by younger enthusiasts for Sabine Schmidt's attempt to lap the circuit in a diesel-powered Ford Transit in under 10 minutes, for TV program Top Gear UK.
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