In June 2006, Ford Motor Company unveiled one of the automotive industry's most advanced test tracks. Dubbed the Dearborn Development Center, this $43 million transformation of the Company's historic proving ground represents a key part of Ford's Way Forward turnaround plan. The facility is core to the Company's efforts to streamline product development and shave more than a year off the time it takes to bring new vehicles to market.
At the testing facility, vehicles under development will be driven more than one million miles per year on flooded asphalt, rutted roads and high-banked curves. The site includes a new 43-acre vehicle dynamics area, a 12-acre asphalt wet pad, a 2.5-mile steering and handling course and a 4,000-foot straightaway. The facility's "World Roads" section includes varying types of extreme road conditions. The roads allow engineers to test early vehicle prototypes in a real-world environment – yet in a manner that is safe, controlled and secure from prying eyes and traffic interruptions.
The new investment transforms the 81-year-old Dearborn Proving Ground from a single-purpose facility – used in the past for fuel economy measurement and routine testing – into one of the most advanced automotive testing facilities in the world. It allows Ford engineers to test future vehicles with unparalleled precision and rigor.
The new Dearborn Development Center also has had a positive impact on the environment and the surrounding community. The facility's improvements allowed for the reopening of an oxbow – or bend in the river – on the nearby Rouge River. Reopening the oxbow restores natural wetlands for wildlife and creates a place for recreational use of the river. In addition, the facility was built with recycled crushed concrete from a local road construction project, keeping 500,000 tons of concrete out of local landfills.
