HOME

NEWS

ROAD TESTS

HOME PAGE


Mazda to Add Second
Vehicle Test Track in Japan

SHOP ON-LINE
SHOP ON-LINE AT
OPTICAL AND HEARING

RHEMA ON THE ROAD 
CLICK FOR DETAILS
HEAR MOTORING
NEWS ON RADIO




NEXT CAR'S
TOP DRIVE
OF 2005


See it
HERE

The new Mazda CX-7
The new Mazda CX-7



To advertise
on this page,
contact us
by e-mail
from here.






18th January, 2006


In early March 2006, Mazda Motor Corporation will establish its second vehicle test track in Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture, to complement its Miyoshi Proving Ground facility. Mazda will acquire the land and buildings from CQ Motors Corporation of Tokyo, which decided to withdraw from the race circuit business and will close its Mine (pronounced 'me-nay') Circuit at the end of February 2006.

To provide its customers with products that have even more Zoom-Zoom qualities, Mazda has opted to acquire this second test track to eventually develop facilities that are currently unavailable at the Miyoshi testing ground, such as a large turn, and a section that resembles a high speed European motorway. The Mine Circuit's existing course will continue to be used by Mazda after it obtains control, with future plans for the staged installation of a large turn, a high speed straight, and a high speed hill climb section added to the circuit's facilities.

The Miyoshi Proving Ground will maintain its current role as the main test track for Mazda's new product performance testing and development. The new facility -- to be named the Mine Proving Ground -- will be used as an R&D centre to complement vehicle development being conducted at Miyoshi, such as vehicle performance testing or quantitative data acquisition for the evaluation of driveability. Additionally, to promote interaction with the local community, there are plans for the Mine facility to be opened to the general public on public holidays for tours, as well as used for 'safe driving' courses.

Seita Kanai, Mazda's managing executive officer in charge of R&D, said, "Paired with the Miyoshi Proving Ground, the new Mine Proving Ground will be a great infrastructure improvement for Mazda, enabling us to develop high quality products more efficiently than ever before. We want to continue offering our customers the kind of Zoom-Zoom products that completely satisfy their driving expectations."

Mazda established Hokkaido's Kenbuchi Proving Ground in January 1990, along with the Nakasatsunai Proving Ground in January 2002, exclusively for cold weather product testing and development.

Overview of the Mine Proving Ground (from March 2006)

Location: 1173-1 Nagao, Nishiatsu-cho, Mine City, Yamaguchi Prefecture
Gross area: 601,683 m˛

Main facilities:
(1) Facilities to be acquired by Mazda:

  
Total floor space: 6,128.91 m˛ (includes office space and other ground structures)
Circuit: circuit course (3.3km), control tower, gymkhana space, pits, paddocks, viewing stands etc.

(2) Planned facilities expansion:
  
Large turn: to evaluate performance limits for rollovers etc.
- High speed flats: to evaluate slalom performance
- Mid-range handling road: to perform tests based on European handling specifications
- High speed hill climb/low friction road: for comprehensive braking assessment



2006 Mazda 6 MPS
2006 Mazda 6 MPS



Other Mazda news: here.





More news:

More Go For Holden's Performance Heroes
17th January, 2006
The most powerful standard engine ever offered by Holden will be installed in all 2006 model year Holden V8 vehicles. A new 6.0-litre alloy engine will deliver 260kW ..... more

Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart’s Sixth Successive Dakar Rally Win
16th January, 2006
Repsol Mitsubishi Ralliart Team driver Luc Alphand and co-driver Gilles Picard clinched victory in the 28th Dakar Rally yesterday (Sunday). The feat marked a record-breaking 11th win for the Japanese automotive manufacturer ..... more

Ford Transit Gets Better
14th January, 2006
The most successful commercial vehicle range in Europe – the Ford Transit – enters a new era in its long and successful life, with a series of extensive improvements to keep it modern and relevant ..... more

Peugeot 207 – The Next Generation
13th January, 2006
Peugeot announces the Peugeot 207, the newest member of the legendary 2 series dynasty. When the Peugeot 206 replaced the legendary Peugeot 205, nobody could have known what a success it was going to be. With over 5.4 million Peugeot 206s produced, it has become the best selling Peugeot ever ..... more

Ford Shelby GT500: Most Powerful Mustang Ever
13th January, 2006
After 40 years, racing legend Carroll Shelby and the Ford Mustang are back together with the introduction of America's 2007 Ford Shelby GT500 ..... more

2005: 10th Successive Record Year for Audi
13th January, 2006
Audi was able to set a new record for vehicle sales in 2005 for the tenth year in succession: 829,100 vehicles (2004: 779,441)* were handed over to customers worldwide ..... more

Chevrolet Camaro Concept Car
13th January, 2006
Combining dramatic design and exciting performance, the Chevrolet Camaro Concept recaptures the spirit of one of the most popular sport coupes of all time and redefines the Camaro for new generations of fans ..... more

Passat "Individual" – Enhanced aesthetics edition
12th January, 2006
Europe's Volkswagen Passat "Individual" combines outstanding design and an exclusive equipment specification. From the outside the special edition already catches the eye with luxury chrome trim and 18-inch alloy wheels ..... more

Mitsubishi Concept CT at NAIAS
12th January, 2006
Mitsubishi has unveiled, at the Detroit Motor Show, the Concept-CT, a groundbreaking concept for a hybrid-powered small car that may influence development of future “Driven to Thrill” Mitsubishi models ..... more

Audi Hits All-Time Record in Australia
12th January, 2006
Audi has recorded an impressive 30 percent growth in sales during 2005, selling more than 4,800 units in Australia ..... more

Morgan 4-seater To Return
11th January, 2006
The Morgan 4-seater is coming back! The new model is due to make its debut at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2006. The new and significantly revised 4-seater ..... more

Audi Reveals New Roadjet Concept
10th January, 2006
Audi has taken the wraps off a brand new study car, called the Audi Roadjet Concept, at the North American International Automobile Show in Detroit ..... more

A Decade Of Holden Commodore Leadership
9th January, 2006
Holden has finished 2005 with Australia’s best selling car for the 10th consecutive year, the most popular passenger car range and most popular light truck range ..... more

Volkswagen GX3 Concept - Car Or Bike?
8th January, 2006
In a world premiere at the Los Angeles Motor Show, Volkswagen presented the GX3 – a completely new type of motorcycle. The GX3 was conceived by the Moonraker team and VW’s Design Centre in California, exclusively with the U.S. in mind ..... more

Volkswagen 'Minivan' For America
8th January, 2006
DaimlerChrysler's Chrysler Group and Volkswagen will develop and produce a new van for the North American market ..... more

New Car Sales Record For 2005
5th January, 2006
Australians bought more cars and trucks in 2005 than ever before to set an all-time annual motor vehicle sales record of 988,269 ..... more

Hummer: Here In A Year
1st January, 2006
The H3 is about a year away from its Australian release. The 5-cylinder SUV will provide Holden with another 4WD model ..... more



Receive an automotive news summary periodically and more by e-mail,
SUBSCRIBE to our free newsletter here.
Simply send a blank e-mail to lodge your subscription.



HOME PAGE
Click the logo for our home page


E-mail Next Car Pty Ltd

Next Car Pty Ltd   (ABN 47106248033)
Copyright © 2006. All rights reserved.