Photo: Chris Peeters
This winter, you likely experienced your fair share of cold, ice, and snow in the northeast and central part of the U.S. All-wheel drive powertrains and the anti-lock brake systems have been your allies in hazardous road conditions.
As you drove on slippery streets, you probably considered all of the rigorous testing your vehicle went through. More than likely, that was the last thought to cross your mind.
Cold weather car testing capital in the U.S.
Enter Baudette, Minnesota — the home of cold weather performance testing for cars like sedans, crossovers, and trucks.
Related: About the community of White Bear Lake, MN
In this small city of 1,000 people sits the Bosch cold-weather testing facility and over a half-dozen others. Its 625-acre land of ice and snow provides the top automakers with a venue to test their vehicles in the most extreme weather conditions.
The icy hills, courses, and streets test the limits of every truck, SUV, and car. This facility is a major contributor in the development of the safety technologies we use today.
Besides facilities like Bosch, car companies make use of “cold boxes.” Here, they park cars for an extended period of time before starting them up in 30-below-zero temperatures.
Why Baudette
Bosch and car companies test vehicles here for several reasons. For starters, it is always cold in the winter with a sufficient amount of snow. Its isolated location from major cities is good fit, and Lake of the Woods County features no stoplights.
Plus, the local economy benefits from the visiting automaker employees and the hired drivers for testing the vehicles.
Survived Winter?: Congratulations, now get your car ready for springtime
When you drive through Minnesota next, take your vehicle for a spin through Baudette, and do a donut for old time’s sake.
Source: Star Tribune
The News Wheel is a digital auto magazine providing readers with a fresh perspective on the latest car news. We’re located in the heart of America (Dayton, Ohio) and our goal is to deliver an entertaining and informative perspective on what’s trending in the automotive world. See more articles from The News Wheel.
