New Volkswagen Climate Test Center Now in Service

"direct solar radiation, humidities up to 95 percent"

or they could let it sit in the sun, and then let it sit in the rain!

Very cool.

They should take advantage of this facility and use it for all of VW's subsidiaries.

I think that Audi has a similar one that was recently completed. Good for VW.

Very nice move, VW! Peachnutjob is out of the job. Bring up the quality and save face in near future.

It's not really their quality that's down (they have great interiors), it's their reliability.

And please- don't hold Audi in the same regard. Their reliability was still below average, but they were above BMW and Mercedes, among others, and well above Volkswagen. VW was second to last in the JD Power survey. I've also had nary a single problem with my S4, and the worst thing to happen in any of my Audis was the headlight washer caps flying off on the highway in my old A6.

What VW needs is better electrical engineers, and Audi needs better marketers.

Yes, I'm very fully aware of the reliability problems w/VW and you stand correct, I meant Reliability.

However, to counter argue with ya, when a headlight washer caps fly off while driving your A6...sounds more of quality problem, ratherthan a reliability problem. Anyhow, I have to disagree with your comment on "great" interior you tend to bolster on an VW. I drove VW passat in the past..and when I jump back inside IS250..its a world of difference. To start off..VW's gauges and buttons were too small. I'm not bashing VW but its the truth. The dinky buttons and dials are almost humerous and lack other attributes that Japanes offer even in their lowest priced cars..ergonomics is where in the past Germans were rated high but at the begining of the late 80's..They've lost it out to the Japanese IMO.

If TOYOTA had done it, you'd be drooling over how innovative it is...

Give me a break.

Don't you realize that you don't get all these conditions at the same time, but in this facility, with a flip of a few switches, you can go from L.A. in the summer to Chicago in the winter?

You both have receive kudos on your comments. I think its best to use technology but have the real world driving testing as will has stated. And, it is true..all automakers gets the reality check from the real invironment ratherthan inside of a expensive hangerbay...eitherway, I'm not too familiar in this area so I'll shut up.

They should a real cold test like Toyota did on the Landcruiser in antarctica..Man I remember seeing those Landcruiser in a blizzard and snow about 3 feet high,those Landcruisers were unstoppable!!