Daimler has started operations at its new testing centre in Immendingen, near Tuttlingen, Germany with the Unimog U 430 carrier.
The vehicle is used for snow-ploughing, cutting or cleaning and it has a sprayer system at the front of the U 430 which is designed to level the surface of the Immendingen test course.
The Unimog U 430 carrier is capable of producing 300 hp and 1200 Nm of torque and it features a 4200-litre tank on its platform, which allows the water to be fed to the front sprayer of the vehicle.
It uses the sprayer if the weather conditions does not supply the level of moisture or if the chemical constituency of the surface material is incorrect.
Daimler is planning to test new cars, prototypes and test vehicles at the new centre, where they vehicles will be put on rough surfaces consisting of gravel, sand or other materials.
According to Daimler, for the 1.2 km course to provide consistent, reproducible results, the track has to be regularly maintained.
The Immendingen Testing and Technology Centre will consist of a large number of modules when completed.
Some of its key elements include the three-lane oval circuit, urban and extra-urban roads which together will give a condensed impression of the motorist's normal driving experience.
According to Daimler the Unimog U 430 will be one of the important factors that will help the automaker to take vehicle testing off the public highway and into a self-contained area.
