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.July
14, 2004
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This Week:
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Nissan to Begin Construction of High-Speed Circuit in Hokkaido
New 8.1-km circuit to be
completed by 2006
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TOKYO, Japan - Nissan Motor
Co., Ltd., announced that it would begin construction of an 8.1-kilometer
high-speed circuit at its Hokkaido Proving Ground in Rikubetsu, Hokkaido.
The addition of the new high-speed circuit will create Nissan's longest
test-track facility in the world.
The new circuit, which is
modeled after a normal expressway consisting of continuous variable slopes
and curves, will be completed in August 2006. It will enable Nissan to
conduct comprehensive product testing, ranging from ordinary road driving
to ultra high-speed driving.
The circuit will also be used
to conduct research on driving behaviour, driver support systems and ITS
(intelligent transport systems) technology. |
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The Hokkaido proving ground
opened in 1991 and already possesses a 7.2-km track that emulates driving
conditions on suburban roads and circuit courses in Europe. Combined with
the new high-speed circuit, the proving ground will total approximately 16
km.
Nissan's two other proving
grounds in Japan are located on the main island of Honshu. The Tochigi
Proving Ground in Tochigi Prefecture is 6.5 km long, while the Oppama
Proving Ground in Kanagawa Prefecture is 2.4 km long. Nissan's Arizona
Testing Center in the U.S., its only overseas proving ground, is 9.2 km
long.
Rikubetsu in Hokkaido,
Japan's northern most island, is the coldest municipality in Japan. In
winter, temperatures drop to minus 15 degrees centigrade, making it ideal
for cold-weather vehicle testing.
Details of the Hokkaido
Proving Ground:
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Location: 48-1 Aza-Rinnai,
Rikubetsu, Ashoro, Hokkaido
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Site size: 7.08 million
square meters (150 times the size of Tokyo Dome)
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Major facilities: Country
road; up & downhill road; straight road; dirt circuit track;
off-road test track
(July 6, 2004)
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