Mahindra opens 454-acre proving grounds alongside XUV700 unveil
Alongside the global debut of the Mahindra XUV700, Mahindra has also inaugurated the Mahindra SUV Proving Track. The firm says this is the largest of its kind set up by any automaker in India and will conduct all further testing of its upcoming SUV offerings through a centre of excellence.
The 454-acre has been developed with the help of L and T and the designed by IDIADA, (Institut d'Investigació Aplicada de l'Automòbil - Institute for Applied Automotive Research). Mahindra has spent Rs 510 crore towards this facility situated in the Cheyyar SIPCOT Industrial Area near Kanchipuram in Tamil Nadu. The facility took three years to complete and will house the new Mahindra 4x4 centre of excellence. This location is also close to the Mahindra Research Valley hub located 55 km away.
The Mahindra SUV Proving Track consists of 20 tracks and labs to test and prepare Mahindra SUVs. There is a high-speed track with a 43.7-degree parabolic banking that allows speeds of up to 200 kmph. Also present is a 2 km long and 11m wide flat straight and a 250m diameter skidpad for dynamic testing. A braking test area has 6 dry and wet tracks to test braking, ABS, ESP and TCS. Durability tracks include a simulated track each for highway and city driving along with an accelerated wear track. This wear track simulates potholes, undulations, Belgian pavement, cobblestone, rumblers, washboard and speed breakers. The MSPT accommodates various labs to simulate rain, water wading and water splash. Further, there are chambers to mimic dust storms and high humidity.
Alongside the testing facilities, a dedicated 4x4 off-road track has been built for customers. This will open in the second half of 2022 and will allow enthusiasts and Mahindra owners access to multiple off-road setups like up and down hills slopes (7, 11, 18, and 35 degree), wooded trails, riverbeds (0.9m and 1.2m deep), mud, slush, sand, rock beds, sea saw, wooden bridge over river pass, hard and soft articulation, wood logs, railway sleepers, a dead drop etc.
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