From the Arctic to the Sahara, Extremes Put New Vehicles to the Test

BATTLE TESTED Mercedes-Benz GLB undergoes extreme conditions testing in Germany.

- BY EILEEN FALKENBERG-HULL

From the farthest reaches of the unforgiving Arctic to the heat of the Sahara, vehicle engineering is being put to the test for cars under development. At research and development hubs closer to home, massive wind tunnels and strategically created tracks push vehicles even further.

Testing the vehicles of tomorrow requires special scrutiny today. Teams of experts—hundreds, if not thousands, per automaker—put in long days and nights ensuring that aerodynamics, sound, power, ride, handling, lighting, in-car technology and comfort are optimized.