“The updates are part of a previously announced investment of an all-new 5.5-mile oval track that was constructed inside the existing 10-mile oval and uses part of its south straightaway. The new oval is available for vehicle mileage accumulation, stop-and-go testing, and various dynamics and higher speed evaluations. The north straightaway of the original oval has been rebuilt into a new dog bone straight course for various vehicle and advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) evaluations, while also incorporating a 1.75-mile coast down surface to evaluate vehicle efficiency and fuel economy. Significant new off-road test facilities offer greater development area for body-on-frame and off-road capable vehicles while an all-new noise pass-by area allows for testing and evaluation of vehicle sound emissions to help meet global regulations,” Toyota said in a release.**

Other changes include an improved 1.5-mile ride and handling track used for engineering vehicle performance, tire evaluation and wet testing, and an upcoming repaving of the vehicle dynamics pad.

“TAPG is an important asset for our North American R&D team, and we are planning continued investment here as vehicle development needs change and evolve for new technology. Opening our facility to the industry has allowed us to offset the cost of improvements and make an ever-better facility both for ourselves and for the automotive and mobility industry overall” said Stefan Young, vice president at Toyota Motor North America’s Research and Development. “These improvements are also important to attract other companies to the region.”