Imagine the landscape. An expanse of ice at the borders of which the green of a forest breaks the monochromaticity of the situation. And then the silence, interrupted every now and then by the rush of a wind capable of freezing even thoughts. It is in this setting, in the heart of Lapland, that Lucas Di Grassi, driver of the ABT Cupra Formula E team, wanted to test the capabilities of the Tavascan, a full electric SUV that the Spanish company presented for the first time as a concept car at 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show.
“I have driven all over the world for many years, but this is the first time in such extreme cold conditions” says the driver. His involvement as an expert was an added value for the winter tests, not only because he competed at the highest levels with electric cars, but also because “in the past I was a test driver, contributing to the development of single-seaters and racing tyres”.
Development below zero
Cupra Tavascan was exposed to temperatures below -35ºC. Absurd conditions that allowed the engineers to test how far the brand's first 100% electric SUV can go. Di Grassi assisted them in completing some tests, starting with the braking test, which was carried out on a surface that combines ice and asphalt to test grip and control. “These conditions allow us to understand very well how the car behaves. By generating front load you can see how much grip you get and how reactive the car is,” says Di Grassi. He also put the car through its paces on acceleration and handling tracks, as well as on a frozen lake set up for engineers and test drivers. “I was impressed by the oversteer management ability. Since it is an all-wheel drive vehicle, it is possible to apply the necessary power to control skidding.”
A collective impulse
More than 100 engineers from the Cupra research and development center passed through this confidential facility, completing almost 1,100 days of testing in the period between November and March. Among these Werner Tietz, Vice President of Research and Development at Cupra, who followed the development of the Tavascan firsthand. “It's important to us that the car delivers enough torque and power to make it fun to drive. These tests are very useful, among other things, for fine-tuning and adjusting aspects such as stability control (ESC) in low-friction conditions.” The car was subjected to hundreds of tests, one of the most demanding was the duration test in which it had to travel 30,000 kilometres, day and night, to monitor its behavior on different surfaces and to optimize its performance. An exhaustive work which also allowed us to collect data and information useful for the final fine-tuning of the vehicle.
#Cupra #Tavascan #Lapland #pocket #Formulapassion.it
