The Milford Proving Ground os where GM puts vehicles through a range of tests, from full-throttle acceleration on straightaways to slamming on brakes in simulated, inclement weather.
DETROIT, MI – Out in Milford, Mich., General Motors has more than 140 miles of land covering two counties.
It's the Milford Proving Ground, where the Detroit automaker puts vehicles through a range of tests, from full-throttle acceleration on straightaways to slamming on brakes in simulated, inclement weather.
This year, the massive site is celebrating 90 years of vehicle wear-and-tear for the sake of weeding out any potential issues.
As part of paying homage to the Milford Proving Ground, GM has released a video of a couple of a Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 and Chevrolet Impala tearing through some of its tracks there.
"Because of our Proving Ground, we can put the vehicle through the paces that a customer purchasing the car will put it through and then some," Dick Knoll, Chevrolet Camaro lead development engineer, said in a release.
Here's the video, followed by some info on the tracks out in Milford:
The North South Straight Away
This is a three-lane, 3-mile-long road that, as the name implies, has no turns except for a high-speed turnaround at either end. Built in 1955, it is meant for sending a vehicle to its maximum speed.
The Milford Road Course
This 2.9-mile course has 17 turns, each designed to test specific performance requirements. With different elevations, the course also examines vehicles' suspension and its performance in aerodynamic-load conditions. A straight-away allows vehicles to reach speeds of 150 miles per hour.
The Milford Road Course was developed in 2003 under the leadership of former GM vice chairman Bob Lutz.
"I lobbied for it, all of a sudden it was approved," Lutz said in the release. "Look what's happened to the ride, handling, steering, braking... everything of GM cars. We're better than the best of competition and part of the reason is we have that facility. The lessons learned on steering, tire grip, braking, etc. that are learned on very high performance vehicles, some of that translates all across the line."
Black Lake
Black Lake is a 67-acre asphalt surface built in 1968. It allows engineers to test traction control, as well as electronic stability and brake performance. The track is also moistened with a water truck to replicate a wet road.
Other roads
There are also ride-and-handling and noise-and-vibrations roads at the 140-mile Milford Pproving Ground, including the Fenn Holden area, the Oval track, and the Ride & Handling/Noise & Vibration loop.
All the testing out on these tracks in Milford comprises just 1 percent of overall vehicle testing, according to GM. The company also does road trips and test trials with engineering teams, for example.
GM also has proving grounds in Yuma, Ariz.; Lang Lang, Australia and Shanghai, China.
David Muller is the automotive and business reporter for MLive Media Group in Detroit. Email him at dmuller@mlive.com or follow him on Twitter