Honda is Investing Millions to Improve Aerodynamics

Jason Siu
by Jason Siu

Honda has announced a $124-million investment to build a wind tunnel facility in Ohio.

The multifunctional aeroacoustic wind tunnel facility will be used to advance vehicle innovation and enhance the testing facilities at the Transportation Research Center (TRC) in East Liberty, Ohio. The groundbreaking is currently scheduled for late summer of 2017.

According to Honda, the wind tunnel will utilize a unique interchangeable belt system that is capable of testing both production vehicles and race cars. It features a five-belt rolling road system primarily designed for the development of production vehicles. But a second, single/wide belt system can be used to test high-performance sports cars and purpose-built race vehicles. Wind speeds up to 192 mph can be produced in the tunnel.

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“This new facility will further enhance our ability to efficiently create products of the highest quality for our customers,” said Frank Paluch, president of Honda R&D Americas, Inc. “It will be integral to our aerodynamic and aeroacoustic R&D activity, which spans from advanced research and computer simulation, through scale-model and full vehicle development, to production vehicle performance assurance. And all of this is being done right here in the U.S.”

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Jason Siu
Jason Siu

Jason Siu began his career in automotive journalism in 2003 with Modified Magazine, a property previously held by VerticalScope. As the West Coast Editor, he played a pivotal role while also extending his expertise to Modified Luxury & Exotics and Modified Mustangs. Beyond his editorial work, Jason authored two notable Cartech books. His tenure at AutoGuide.com saw him immersed in the daily news cycle, yet his passion for hands-on evaluation led him to focus on testing and product reviews, offering well-rounded recommendations to AutoGuide readers. Currently, as the Content Director for VerticalScope, Jason spearheads the content strategy for an array of online publications, a role that has him at the helm of ensuring quality and consistency across the board.

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