Rolls-Royce opens new test facility for advanced vehicle dynamics and acoustics testing

Rolls-Royce has inaugurated a new testing facility at its Goodwood headquarters, named the Eric Praford test track. The site includes a newly built 'air laboratory' designed to test vehicles at speeds that would typically exceed legal limits in the UK.

The core of this facility is an aerodynamic acoustic laboratory that can simulate wind speeds exceeding the UK's 112 km/h (70 mph) speed limit. Using a movable gantry equipped with high-pressure jets, engineers can test wind noise performance at these simulated high speeds without the vehicle needing to move. This allows for testing conditions representative of unrestricted roads found in markets like Germany, without necessitating illegal speeds on public roads.

Rolls-Royce places a strong emphasis on the refinement of its vehicles' driving dynamics. Factors like wind noise, vibrations, and suspension behavior become more pronounced at higher speeds. The new facility aims to identify and rectify even the slightest imperfections before vehicles are delivered to customers. Despite these advanced capabilities, traditional road testing on selected routes remains an integral part of the final validation process.

Beyond the air laboratory, the test track features a 90-meter stretch with eight different types of road surfaces. These simulate conditions such as cobblestones, railway tracks, concrete waves, and twisted ramps to assess ride quality, chassis performance, and structural integrity. The facility also includes a smooth asphalt section for testing at constant and variable speeds, along with turning areas to simulate roundabout maneuvers.

The test ground is named in honor of Eric Praford, who served as Rolls-Royce's first chief test driver over a century ago. This new infrastructure will aid engineers in the final refinement of the company's hand-built automobiles.