Blizzard conditions test FCA's 4WD and AWD vehicles

摘要

With more 4×4 and all-wheel-drive vehicles in its product portfolio than at any other time, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has invested $2.5 million to upgrade a climatic test cell with a 4x4 dynamometer. It is the first FCA test chamber in the U.S. with snow-making capability and a 4x4/AWD dyno. "This is must-have for testing purposes, especially with a large percentage of our Jeeps being 4WD and our large cars having an all-wheel-drive option," said Pete Jonko, Drive Cell Operations Engineer responsible for FCA North America's thermal drive cells. Capability to power all four wheels is available in more than half of FCA's U.S. product lineup, including the 2015 Renegade, Jeep's first compact SUV, and the 500X, Fiat's first AWD vehicle since the brand's U.S. relaunch in MY2012. Jonko and other technical specialists spoke with Automotive Engineering at the recent opening of the new facility, part of FCA's 5.4 million ft~2 Auburn Hills, Ml, Chrysler Technology Center (CTC).