| How does it feel to test cars in the hottest place | | | | that's something else Kia can advertise," |
| in California - Death Valley? Some say it is torture! | | | | Powertrain Evaluation Engineer David Peterson |
| One has to endure not just the scorching heat of | | | | noted. |
| the sun but the persistent spies who are thirsty | | | | Kia team included four members from South |
| for details. | | | | Korea. Also part of the team was Tony Vespa, a |
| Lee Foster was leading a team of engineers from | | | | former top cooling engineer at Chrysler. "This is |
| South Korean automaker Kia putting disguised | | | | fun. I never got to turn wrenches at my other |
| cars through the most grueling tests imaginable. All | | | | company," he said. |
| the while, they had to fend off a legion of car | | | | Whatever the tests, secrecy was an obsession. |
| paparazzi intent on grabbing shots of vehicles that | | | | The vehicles were camouflaged by yards of black |
| had not yet been shown publicly, reported the | | | | vinyl with foam inserts over the hoods, sides and |
| Free Press. | | | | rear to shroud design details. The secrecy policy is |
| The cat-and-mouse game plays out all summer in | | | | to preclude both competitors and the paparazzi |
| Death Valley National Park, where the | | | | from getting information about the vehicle before |
| temperature was the highest in the United States | | | | the automaker is ready to launch them. |
| on all but three days last month. The destination's | | | | Every hint of what a new car looks like can |
| scorching conditions draw automotive teams from | | | | prove helpful to the spy photographers, who |
| around the world to see whether their latest | | | | come from all over the world to trail the teams |
| engines, transmissions and air conditioners can | | | | around Death Valley. "That's the secret of Death |
| take the heat, the report continued. | | | | Valley," stressed Foster. "It's not just the heat: It's |
| "Death Valley is the mecca for car testers," | | | | the hills." Engineers pay attention to temperatures |
| Foster said. | | | | of transmission fluid and engine oil all the way up. |
| In August, USA Today was vested rare access | | | | For the Kia team, protecting the test cars is a |
| to a Death Valley Kia testing excursion on a | | | | little like being a lame jack rabbit stalked by a |
| typical 117-degree day to witness what the cars | | | | hungry coyote, because they often return to |
| and engineers endure to finish the activity. | | | | Stovepipe to regroup. Still, they do their best. |
| According to the correspondents, the engineers' | | | | Vespa said the day before a photographer |
| work is sweaty and tedious. | | | | swerved dangerously in front of the Kia convoy, |
| What does it take to be a testing engineer? The | | | | apparently because they tried to block his view of |
| report said: "Unrelenting heat takes its toll on | | | | the crossover. He said that the photographer |
| team members, who stay at a $51-a-night hotel, | | | | shook his fist at them. "They do their tricks. We |
| catch lunch on the run, and put in 12-hour | | | | do ours," Vespa added. |
| workdays for four or five days at a stretch. | | | | "You are a complete idiot when you act like that," |
| From nearly dawn to dusk, Kia's engineers and | | | | said Robert Sandseth, on assignment from Bodo, |
| contractors tinkered with engines, recorded data | | | | Norway. He denied making any wild turns himself. |
| and gained insight on improving performance. The | | | | All told, the car companies and photographers are |
| test data can prove invaluable. Any breakthrough | | | | reasonably well-behaved, said U.S. Park Service |
| to enhance performance or endurance can be an | | | | spokesman Terry Baldino. |
| edge in the car business." | | | | Now you know the rigors of testing Bilstein |
| "From our perspective, if we can beat the goal, | | | | shocks and other auto parts as well as new cars. |