In
2022 the track will be opened for auto passionate customers to have a
world-class off-roading experience in a specially curated track.
Mahindra
& Mahindra Ltd. officially opened the doors to the MSPT for Mahindra engineers
to test the SUV products in a variety of terrains and simulations. Inaugurated
by Dr. Anish Shah, MD & CEO, M&M Ltd.
in the presence of Rajesh Jejurikar, Executive Director, Auto & Farm
Sector, Veejay Nakra, CEO, Automotive Division and Velusamy R, Chief of Global
Product Development, Automotive Division, this proving track is arguably one of
the biggest and comprehensive automotive proving grounds owned by an automobile
OEM in India.
The
proving track has been built by L&T and designed by IDIADA (Institut
d'Investigació Aplicada de l'Automòbil - Institute for Applied Automotive
Research).
MSPT
will house the very strategic 4X4 Centre of Excellence where the Mahindra team
will innovate on creating break through solutions. The track is just 55 km away
from the Mahindra Research Valley where all Mahindra SUVs are developed. The
MRV engineers can now extensively test the product and also ready them for
homologation in this custom-made facility.
Veluswamy
R., Chief of Global Product Development said, “The brand-new proving track compliments
and completes MRV where our products are conceived. It is a dream come true for
everyone involved in the product development process within Mahindra. It’s a
driver’s paradise designed to shape powerful and desirable machines.”
MSPT – Fast Facts
The
MSPT has 20 purpose-built tracks which are fully in operational.
•
These include Zero percent slope High Speed test track with a 43.7-degree
parabolic banking for higher neutral speed testing. In the straight high-speed
road, vehicles can reach over 200 kmph.
•
In addition to that an arrow straight 2 km, 11m wide road with zero %
longitudinal slope is built for performance and coast down measurements.
•
The circular dynamic platform that spans 250 meters in diameter is meant for
Vehicle dynamics development and evaluation.
•
What goes fast needs to stop too. A
Braking pad with 6 different surfaces, and dry and wet tracks is are built to
test braking, ABS, ESP and TCS.
•
A General Highway Durability track and a Simulated City track are built for
simulating public road durability.
•
An Accelerated test track which has all imaginable bad road surfaces including
potholes, undulations, Belgian pavement, cobble stone, rumblers and various
kinds of wash board &speed breakers are factored into it.
•
The world out there is unpredictable with storms and floods, MSPT can simulate
rain, water wading and water splash. Also, it can simulate dust storm in a
chamber.
•
MSPT houses a Full Vehicle corrosion test facility with humidity chamber.
•
A 4X4 Adventure track that has over 25 obstacles for testing 4X4 and AWD
vehicles will ensure that the future Mahindra SUVs are capable off-road as well
as on road.
•
Exclusive prototype workshops, health centre and an administration tower that
can house over 200 engineers completes the MSPT facility.
•
And yes, MSPT has its own fuel station. Lest someone run dry!
4x4 customer experience zone
A
4x4 specific off-road track has been built at the MSPT to help enthusiasts and
experts gain experience of adventurous terrains. This exclusive facility has
multiple off-road set ups like up and down hills (slopes 7, 11, 18, and 35
degree), drive thru forest/woods, 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. Customers will be
able to enjoy the drive experience from these off-road tracks from the second
half of 2022.