Audi to open new driving experience centre in Neuburg
Audi has just performed groundbreaking ceremony for a new 47-hectare test drive track in Neuberg which will house a 30,000m2 skid pad, a 2.2km handling course, which can be extended by 1.2km with the use of alternative lanes and intersections.
The Driving Experience Centre, as Audi calls it, will simulate a wide range of environments to test a multitude of parameters and conditions. An off-road course provides opportunities for driving over gravel, logs, and to negotiate side slopes. It also has a climbing hill that towers 8 metres above ground.
Deliberate care was taken to minimize the propagation of noise, and measures include the use of low-noise asphalt and the erection of sound-proof walls around the track perimeter.
When operational, the track will be open to visitors, particularly existing or prospective Audi customers. From the reception building, visitors enjoy a view of the entire grounds, and in the building one can find a 200-person auditorium, a restaurant, and a 750m2 presentation area.
“The future driving experience center at the new Audi site in Neuburg will be synonymous with customer delight and driving experiences. Here, existing and prospective Audi customers will soon be able to get to know our models from an entirely new perspective,” explains Michael Dick, who is responsible for Technical Development at AUDI AG.
Audi Sport will also be relocating from Ingolstadt to Neuburg. Engineers and mechanics will be developing and building Audi motorsport vehicles in the Competence Center. From their new base they will be organizing their participation in races around the globe and using the circuit to put new race-car prototypes through functional testing.
Peter Mosch, Chairman of the General Works Council of AUDI AG, emphasizes, “The project is a firm commitment to the Ingolstadt region. The Audi driving experience center will also attract international visitors. Our unique and thrilling events will be delivered by around 300 members of staff, the majority of whom will work in the new Audi Sport Competence Center. This will create attractive jobs at the new site and in the Neuburg-Schrobenhausen district.”
KON
Pictures: Official Audi release.
