Test Tracks and Facilities

High Speed Ring

12,680 m Length

4,000 m Diameter

This test track is a perfect circle with different bankings and in-lane speed ranges. Due to its low parabolic profile, the centrifugal force is compensated, and drivers have the sensation of driving in a straight lane.

The track is equipped with a new guardrail system specially developed and patented. Consisting of two box profiles with three guardrails, deformation elements inside the system facilitate impact absorption at high speeds.

These characteristics of the track enable high-speed testing with enhanced safety.

Low Speed Ring

12,517 m Length

4,000 m Diameter

This multi-lane test tracks allows replication of different set of complex traffic scenarios within highways speed limits and it is suitable for automated and assisted driving systems validation and low speed based endurance testing, both in ordinary use and in exclusive use (maximum speed 140 km/h).

Handling Track

6,222 m Length

12,5 m Width

1,000 m Straight length

15 m Straight width

7 Right-hand bends

9 Right-hand bends

4 SOS emergency area

Consisting of 16 curves with different radii of curvature and speeds and the counterclockwise direction of travel, the track is comparable to an F1 circuit.

The combination of curves and straights allows for durability, reliability and dynamics tests for both cars and motorcycles.

Dynamic Platform A

Dimensions

Circles Radius

Composed of 16 curves with different radii.

Thanks to its platform and two acceleration/deceleration straights, the Dynamic Platform A is ideal for cars and motorcycles that need large spaces for braking, handling and performance tests.

Dynamic Platform B

18 illuminated technical laybys ensure excellent coverage for the area and extend the testing possibilities to 24-hour. Each layby is equipped with:

• Set-up for installing RSU/Wi-Fi/Wireless, including power supply and optical fibre
• Service tower with alternating two-phase and three-phase power
• No. 8 RJ45 Ethernet connections
• No. 8 racks with internal cooling system

Further infrastructure is also available, such as:

• Modular mobile structures for various test scenarios
• Signage systems compliant with European standards
• Signage systems with variable messages
• Modular boxes for use as warehouse or office

The track is completely wired and equipped with infrastructure that allows testing on connectivity, with a focus on ADAS, HAD and testing automation.

Noise Track

2,132 m Total length

4 m Width

The track is ISO 10844-2021 certified, which attests to the design and construction requirements of test tracks used for vehicle and tire noise measurement.

Strada Bianca Off-road O and S

2,130 m Length Off-road S

6 m Width Off-road S

2,135 m Length Off-road O

6 m Width Off-road O

The track offers two alternatives for off-road testing. The two routes differ in shape: the “O” off-road has an oval shape, while the “S” off-road has a more winding shape with sharp turns.

Both have a dusty surface.

Africa Road

10,500 m Length

4 m Width

With a surface of dirt, dust, stones, and rock, the Africa track simulates typical African off-road track conditions. It is the longest off-road track in NTC and has several access and exit points.

Cross-country Road

3,500 m Length

4 m Width

This track is the most challenging off-road at NTC.

It has a very uneven surface with compacted soil, dust, stones, rock and several steep slopes and is designed to perform reliability tests on SUVs, off-road cars and enduro motorcycles.

Dust and Gravel Oval

2,150 m Length

10 m Width

Surfaced with dust and gravel, this is an oval-shaped off-road track that allows reliability testing on the complete vehicle due to its unique surface.

Special Surfaces and Testing Areas

Special surfaces

Special Pavements

Total length: 1,150 m

Overall width: 4m + 4m

Cobbled: 250 m

Twist: 40 m

Heavy cobblestones: 375 m

Holes: (positive, negative, left, and right side) 295 m

Long waves: 100 m

Sleepers: 110 m

Metal sleepers: 43/2 m

On this track, seven different types of special road surfaces allow for multiple testing possibilities.

Low Friction Area

Length: 50 m

Width: 4 m

Surface: Ceramic tiles

Adjacent surface: AC 12

Friction coefficient: 0.1

Composed of ceramic tiles artificially wet by a series of atomizing nozzles, this track can be used for acceleration tests from a standstill and low-speed braking in skid conditions to test vehicle reactions on wet surfaces.

Tire Laceration Road

Length: 650 m

Width: 4 m

Surface: Sharp stones

Stone size: 4-7 cm

The laceration track has a surface made up of large sharp stones and is designed to simulate some extreme conditions that lead to the tearing of the tires.

Rolling Track

Rollers Material: Steel

Rows of rollers: 2

Length per row: 5 m

Two parallel rows of steel rollers mimic a surface with a low coefficient of friction, ideal for simulating driving on an icy surface.

Mud Road

Length: 450 m

Width: 4.5 m

Surface: Mud

An irrigation system creates a muddy surface where customers can perform mud contamination tests at low speed.

Battery Testing Site

The Battery Testing Site offers the possibility to perform abuse tests on lithium-ion batteries in compliance with current Italian environmental regulations.

During the tests, data from temperature, pressure, voltage and current sensors are recorded, as well as video streams from cameras and thermal cameras. It is possible to supplement the test results with chemical analysis on emitted gas samples or thermo-mechanical surveys through the use of fiber-optic technologies.

All tests can be followed remotely by streaming video stat on a specially designed interface.

NTC’s Energy team can also perform detailed post-test and tear-down analysis of batteries in any state, documenting the results in detailed reports.

Noise Lab

A laboratory for noise measurements on vehicles is located close to the Noise Track.

Customers can either connect their own instruments or use NTC equipment with the support of our specialized technicians.

The laboratory position allows the direct tests control (sic) and the related results.

Pergola Water Spray

As part of road durability tests and water infiltration analysis, on the Pergola Water Spray area it is possible to spray fresh or salted water (with different salt concentrations) on vehicles.

This facility is equipped with a water re-circulation and purification system.

Tests can be carried out up to twenty minutes per cycle.

Vapour Locks

Two different type of vapour locks are available in the Proving Ground: fixed vapour locks located on strategic positions, close to the test tracks, as well as moveable vapour locks of different sizes.

Vehicle Scale

A vehicle scale for passenger cars and light commercial vehicles is available in the Proving Ground.

This facility is provided with four scales, each with a maximum capacity of two tonnes.

Truck Scale

A truck scale for lorries and heavy vehicles with a maximum capacity of forty tons is also available in the Proving Ground.