Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Mechatronics Systems Ltd.
Today's passenger vehicles require running stability, the improvement of fuel efficiency and
comfort. In order to develop the level of performance necessary to achieve these goals, wind tunnel
test facilities are normally used. Recently, as emission controls and fuel economy regulations have
become increasingly stricter around the world every year for the preservation of the global
environment, expectations for a reduction in the air resistance of vehicles have increased further,
and the deployment of wind tunnels certified for related testing has advanced at a fast pace. In the
background of this are the global unification of the test cycle and the test method of exhaust
emissions and fuel consumption of passenger vehicles (commonly called WLTP).
Under such circumstances, the latest wind tunnel test facilities are required to have stable air
flow quality as specified by WLTP, be able to reproduce air flow under the floor and around the
tires of a running vehicle, and attain quietness in order to allow the evaluation of wind noise.
We delivered the latest automotive wind tunnel with the world's top class aerodynamic and
low-noise performance to Toyota Motor Corporation in March 2013. This paper presents an outline
of the wind tunnel.
