Vauxhall Astra L - Dudenhofen Test Centre: Torture, on and off the test track
Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2021 10:16 am
Performance of a different kind was evaluated at the Dudenhofen Test Centre in Germany. Engineers from the competence centre for “ADAS” (Automated Driver Assistance Systems) in Rüsselsheim used the proving ground’s high speed oval and long straight to calibrate the new Astra’s advanced technologies, including; Adaptive Cruise Control and Emergency Braking, to Forward Collision Alert and Rear Cross Traffic Assist.
The pre-production cars used for these tests also had to meet high standards for high speed driving, with the All-New Astra required to remain controllable at speeds well above 80mph and stable under hard braking. The high-speed driving was also used to evaluate components such as the bonnet and windscreen wipers for noises and vibrations.
To ensure the All-New Astra can deal with the worst possible weather, it was also pushed to drive through a 25cm water trough to ensure the powertrain and electrical components are completely sealed and protected from water.
Further insulation tests were conducted at the Dudenhofen climactic chamber, with the new Astra subjected to sand and dust testing, while engineers were even able to simulate how swirling snow in front of the air intakes would affect cooling.
Electro-magnetic immunity: Prerequisite for type approval
Electromagnetic immunity ensures the All-New Vauxhall Astra’s electronic systems do not suffer from interference, with the test car exposed to various frequencies to determine how special absorbers built inside the Astra can ‘soak up’ the transmission without reflecting them back into the electronic systems. The new model only gets the “green light” – and finally receives type approval – when all its systems have demonstrated their immunity to electro-magnetic emissions.
The pre-production cars used for these tests also had to meet high standards for high speed driving, with the All-New Astra required to remain controllable at speeds well above 80mph and stable under hard braking. The high-speed driving was also used to evaluate components such as the bonnet and windscreen wipers for noises and vibrations.
To ensure the All-New Astra can deal with the worst possible weather, it was also pushed to drive through a 25cm water trough to ensure the powertrain and electrical components are completely sealed and protected from water.
Further insulation tests were conducted at the Dudenhofen climactic chamber, with the new Astra subjected to sand and dust testing, while engineers were even able to simulate how swirling snow in front of the air intakes would affect cooling.
Electro-magnetic immunity: Prerequisite for type approval
Electromagnetic immunity ensures the All-New Vauxhall Astra’s electronic systems do not suffer from interference, with the test car exposed to various frequencies to determine how special absorbers built inside the Astra can ‘soak up’ the transmission without reflecting them back into the electronic systems. The new model only gets the “green light” – and finally receives type approval – when all its systems have demonstrated their immunity to electro-magnetic emissions.