Ford Motor Company operates several proving grounds worldwide, for development and validation testing of new vehicles.
For Ford/Mazda Proving Grounds in Japan see Mazda Proving Grounds
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The Arizona Proving Ground opened in 1985. The Proving Ground consists of 1,498 acres (6.06 km²) located less than one hour northwest of the Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport at an elevation of 1,650 feet (500 m). The facility was originally a Volvo facility (VAPG) but was transitioned to the Ford branding in the summer of 2009 and renamed the Arizona Proving Ground (APG).
The Arizona Proving Ground is operated year round. The climate is of a desert type with low annual rainfall and low relative humidity. Daytime temperatures are high throughout the summer months. The winters are mild. Nighttime temperatures frequently drop below freezing during the three coldest months, but the afternoons are usually sunny and warm.
The facility is conveniently located on the outskirts of Phoenix, and offers complete services for vehicle testing to outside companies. Outside parties can have testing conducted by APG personnel or can directly rent the use of the test surfaces for their own staff. Office space, garage areas and event planning is also offered.
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The Ford Michigan Proving Ground (MPG) of Romeo, Michigan sits on 3,880 acres (15.7 km²), and contains a total of over 100 miles (160 km) of roads. These grounds hold events like the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Formula car competition (FSAE). This involves teams from colleges and universities around the world to compete in a competition involving both design and performance.
Major Facilities: High speed track, durability/special surface roads, grades, EMC facility, road simulators, fire resistance facility, vehicle dynamics area
Purpose: Car and truck durability, performance testing
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The Dearborn Development Center was built on the site of Ford Airport in Dearborn, Michigan. The facility, formerly known as Dearborn Proving Ground (DPG), completed major reconstruction and renovations in 2006.
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The facility is located at the nearby airport in Thompson, Manitoba, Canada. The Extreme Cold Weather Test Facility offers vehicle testing in extremely cold weather conditions, and with ice and snow, during the winter months from around November 1 to April 30.
Extreme Cold Weather Test Facility
Stats : 245 acres (1 km²), 5 miles (8 km) of roads
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Major facilities: High speed track, special surface/low speed track, straightaway, handling course, grades, corrosion/salt bath, twin rolls Major testing: Performance, ride, and handling; corrosion testing; emissions certification
Stats: Avg. temps are −30 °F (−34 °C) to +10F during winter months
Major facilities: Cold start positions, snow ingestion building Major testing: Cold weather starting/drives, snow ingestion
Major facilities: High speed track. Park paw test ramp. Cold soak chambers
Stats : 1,200 acres (4.9 km²), 33 miles (53 km) of roads
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Major facilities: High speed track, special surface/low speed track, handling course, grades, salt bath, environmental exposure area Major testing: Performance, ride, and handling; environmental simulation, corrosion testing
Proving ground for Ford UK.
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More information coming soon
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The Lommel Proving Grounds, also known as Ford LPG, were constructed on land rented from the city of Lommel from 1960.
Stats: 796 acres (3.22 km²), 49.7 miles (80.0 km) of roads Major facilities: Humidity chambers, salt water/mud baths, straightaway, high speed track, durability road, special surfaces, side wind facility Major testing: Car and light truck durability; performance, ride, and handling
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Stats: 1,752 acres (7 km²), 24 miles (39 km) of roads
Major facilities include:
Parabolic high speed track (Approximately 5km) Special surfaces (Cobblestones, corrugations, Belgian blocks, etc.), Low speed track, High speed ride and handling course, Sealed and unsealed gradients, Sealed and unsealed skid pans, Salt/mud bath, Environmental exposure area, Crash test site, Climatic test chambers, Anechoic dyno chamber, High speed wind tunnel, Emissions testing laboratory.
Major testing includes:
Performance vehicle development, Vehicle ride and handling refinement, Environmental condition simulation, Vehicle corrosion, Noise vibration and harshness, Emissions control, Vehicle durability.
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Arizona Proving Ground (APG) was sold to Chrysler in 2007.
This is no longer a Ford facility. -- See Chrysler Proving Grounds
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Facility now owned by Smithers Scientific Services
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Stats: 530 acres (2.1 km²), 6.2 miles (10 km) of roads
Major facilities: Straightaway, lane change area, handling course, sound test area Major testing: Warm weather performance and handling
This facility is no longer leased by Ford. Ford vacated the facility in 2004.
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