Kia Motors has revealed details of the intensive hot weather development tests for the all-new Kia Sportage - as part of the most extreme and rigorous vehicle testing program ever devised by the company.
The all-new Sportage made its global debut at the 2015 Frankfurt International Motor Show earlier this month, and will go on sale globally in the first quarter of 2016.
Now entering its fourth-generation, Kia's all-new compact SUV is undergoing the final stages of its development, with engineers testing the Sportage in Death Valley - one of the hottest places on Earth, with temperatures rising as high as 56°C (132°F) in the summer months.
This stage of testing means Kia can develop cars designed to operate in the harshest environments. For the all-new Sportage's hot weather test, particular focus has been placed on developing its class-leading heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.
Among the various individual hot weather testing methods, three grueling tests are often employed by Kia's vehicle test engineers, placing huge demand on the HVAC systems and the effects they have on engine transmission cooling when used in the extreme heat.
The first of these tests, the up-hill climb, is designed to ensure that the additional load placed on the engine has minimum impact on the car's ability to cool itself and its occupants. the second test, the sop-and-go drive, is designed to put additional strain on the engine, transmission and HVAC systems and eliminate any possible flaws. The final test devised by Kia's engineering teams for the all-new Sportage allows vehicle engineers to verify - and improve- the capacity of the HVAC systems when there is a dramatically reduced level of airflow to the air conditioning condenser unit.
In addition to the demands placed on the car by the extreme conditions of Death Valley, Kia also carries out a series of hot weather tests at the company's own North American testing facility - the Mojave Proving Ground. Located deep within the Californian Mojave Desert, the Proving Ground demonstrates the lengths to which Kia goes to ensure the quality and durability of every new car it creates, including the all-new Sportage.
All Kia models undergo testing to ensure the highest possible durability in all conditions, with the all-new Sportage undertaking he company's most extensive - and intensive - testing program to date.
- Kia's Vision 21, October Issue 156
Publisher: Tae-Hyun Oh Editor: Michael Choo