FCA US LLC showed off its $2.5 million upgrades at its Chrysler Technology Center in Auburn Hills today, including its updated climate test chamber capable of creating temperatures of 40 below zero and wind speeds up to 100 mph.
“With more 4×4 and all-wheel drive vehicles in our fleet than ever, this investment will go a long way to providing the durable cars and trucks our customers expect from us,” says John Nigro, vice president of product development at FCA – North America.
The weather chamber, known as the Climatic Test Facilities, is outfitted with a snow machine and wind tunnel, giving engineers the opportunity to understand how vehicles react to extreme weather conditions.
“The Renegade Trail Hawk started as a two-wheel drive that was only capable of 200 horsepower, but through using the weather chamber we have upped our game to match the horsepower in some of the new vehicles we have been developing,” says Pete Jonko, an operations specialist for FCA US.
FCA US has also updated its workspaces, creating more open space designed for employee collaboration and adding an “innovation station” with a 3-D printer. The Chrysler Technical Center, which has 5.4 million square feet of floor space, produces no landfill waste. The 24-year old center is home to more than 14,000 employees. ​
