Fiat Chrysler Automobiles takes the heat in Upington
As part of the second episode of FCA’s What’s Behind testing, a variety of vehicles were put to the test in Upington which is situated in the Northern Cape province.
Upington is one of the hottest towns in South Africa and positioned at an elevation of 835 meters above sea level. In addition to the availability of fuel that meets European standards, there is also a 55 km stretch of road where test vehicles are allowed to legally reach speeds in excess of 200 km/h. This provides ideal conditions for manufacturers to conduct tests to establish a vehicle’s hot temperature performance.
Key areas during the tests are engine cooling and driveability, material performance, vehicle system reaction times and the effectiveness of the air conditioning system. The vehicles are shipped from Turin, fitted with all the necessary testing equipment. The tests are performed by a team of South African technicians who are made up of around 20 members. Because of the lack of testing facilities, the 12 vehicles used during each session are taken to public locations that provide the needed characteristics to obtain accurate results.
