The vehicle will be manufactured in Ingolstadt, Germany. The prototype is undergoing various tests before its debut, clocking up vital test miles on snow and ice, in the wind tunnel at Audi Technical Development in Ingolstadt, and on public roads.

Cold-weather trials

During winter testing in Lapland, the A2 e-tron performed under extreme conditions, including icy temperatures, snow-covered roads and slippery test tracks on a frozen lake. The validation process at a test site in northern Sweden focused not only on driving dynamics but also on thermal management and battery performance. Engineers have developed the A2 e-tron by continuously adjusting the electric drive, brake control system and suspension by the minute.

Aerodynamic optimization

The distinctive roofline is the reason for the A2 e-tron’s excellent aerodynamics, which are constantly being tested and optimized in the wind tunnel at Audi Technical Development. With wind speeds of up to 300km/h, ultra-precise aeroacoustics measurement and a 235km/h rolling road, the wind tunnel provides ideal conditions for optimizing the airflow characteristics, noise development and thermal stability of the vehicle.

Road testing in Bavaria

The development team used the diverse conditions of the Altmühl Valley region in Bavaria, including inclines, variable road surfaces and tight bends, to test the suspension and assistance systems in real road traffic.

In related news, BMW unveils Vision BMW Alpina design study

The latest tests focused on rigid trucks in the Regional Distribution category, which makes up around 10% of the heavy truck market. These two-axle vehicles, weighing up to 18 metric tons, are typically fitted with curtain-sided or box bodies and are widely used in logistics, operating between urban centers and freeway-linked hubs with high annual mileages. Compared with larger trucks, they generally offer better driver visibility.

Five of the seven trucks tested in the Regional Distribution category achieved Euro NCAP’s maximum 5-star rating – the first time this level of performance has been reached. The results indicate progress among commercial vehicle manufacturers: in 2024, when Euro NCAP began truck testing, only two models attained five stars. That figure has more than doubled within two years.

Each model is tested in three key areas: safe driving (vision, driver monitoring, assistance systems), crash avoidance (active braking for other vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists, lane support) and post-crash safety (rescue information). The models are then awarded an overall star rating. In addition, a CitySafe award is given to every truck that meets a minimum threshold in the assessments most relevant to operation in dense urban environments.

Scania L-Series

Leading Euro NCAP’s independent testing is the Scania L-series, which achieved an overall score of 90%. Designed with a low-entry cab, it was praised for strong direct vision in urban environments and high crash avoidance performance, with its pedestrian and cyclist safety systems scoring 93%. While optimized for city use, its full safety specification delivers strong all-round protection.

5-star performance

Safety is seen as a key selling point, which can only be a good thing for truck operators and other road users.

The Mercedes-Benz Actros and Volvo FM followed the Scania L-series closely with overall scores of 88%, just ahead of the Scania P-series on 87%. Also achieving 5-star status, the MAN TGM scored 80% – a first for the manufacturer. The Actros and FM were highlighted for consistent performance across all categories, while the MAN TGM was praised for strong highway safety, particularly its lane support and autonomous emergency braking systems.

Both the Scania and MAN models have seen their scores climb from three stars to five stars in Euro NCAP tests, reflecting an intensified focus on safety engineering.

Industry response and standardization

The testing highlights differences in how manufacturers offer safety equipment, with some including systems as standard and others offering them as optional extras. The DAF XD was noted for having many safety features fitted as standard, while other manufacturers rely on optional equipment to achieve 5-star ratings. Although these systems typically represent a small share of total vehicle cost, they are considered important for protecting drivers and other road users.

Looking ahead

While the 2026 results for Regional Distribution trucks show continued safety improvements, Euro NCAP is already preparing the next phase of its program. Testing of City Distribution trucks (up to 12 metric tons), which include some of the most common models on European roads, is scheduled for release in November.

Matthew Avery, director of strategic development at Euro NCAP said, “It is positive to see commercial vehicle manufacturers responding to Euro NCAP testing and showing impressive commitment to improving the safety of their new trucks.

“Five 5-star trucks in one round of testing is a very welcome record. And it means fleet operators and their buyers have never had such strong choice of safe trucks in the Regional Distribution sector. But there is a caveat: when ordering a new addition for fleets, buyers need to tick the right boxes for the equipment listed on the datasheet to ensure the best-possible safety. While it might be a slightly more expensive truck initially, it’s a price worth paying to protect your colleagues, other road users and your brand’s reputation. And as we consult with truck manufacturers and partners on how Euro NCAP will revise our testing protocols from 2028, we fully anticipate that this trend toward safer trucks will only continue.”

In related news, Swiss Council for Accident Prevention joins Euro NCAP as affiliate member

McLaren can now explore more of the design space, run complex tests and simulations faster, and tune every component with greater precision. The platform also reduces manual, repetitive tasks through leveraging engineering agents.

Nick Collins, CEO of McLaren Automotive, explained, “This is a genuine strategic transformation for the business. By continuously compounding and optimizing our data, our intelligence and our engineering philosophies at unimaginable speed, we can deliver product developments at pace, while protecting the DNA of our company.”

The Rescale system is trained exclusively on McLaren data and uses Nvidia AI infrastructure, AI physics models and agentic engineering libraries. It connects McLaren’s CAE, systems engineering and design into a unified AI data fabric that continuously learns and optimizes, while adhering to McLaren’s quality standards and performance characteristics. 

“Our foundational platform allows McLaren to leverage the latest agentic engineering technologies powered by Nvidia AI infrastructure, providing a compounding source of competitive advantage for engineers in critical areas of product development, such as carbon materials, structural dynamics, durability and ultimately the programmatic scaling of engineering excellence across every discipline, to deliver world-class products faster,” said Joris Poort, founder and CEO of Rescale.

Tim Costa, VP and GM, computational engineering at Nvidia, said, “The future of automotive engineering is being rewritten by agentic AI and advanced simulation, turning decades of design heritage into a live, generative engine that accelerates every stage of the vehicle lifecycle. By integrating Rescale’s unified control layer with Nvidia’s open models for agentic AI and accelerated physics, McLaren is compressing years of traditional simulation into hours of real-time design exploration.”

The BMW i3 is set for its design premiere on March 18, 2026, and features the company’s sixth-generation eDrive (Gen6). “The BMW i3 applies the sporty sedan’s typical characteristics to a completely new vehicle concept defined by the BMW 3 Series DNA,” said Mike Reichelt, head of Neue Klasse BMW. “At the same time, it pushes the conventional boundaries of electric mobility into new territory, thanks to the potential of our Neue Klasse.”

Cold-weather testing is a key stage in BMW’s development process. Endurance trials in Sweden’s extreme north enable engineers to evaluate drive and suspension systems under low-friction conditions that are difficult to replicate elsewhere. Electronic control systems, in particular, are tested for their responsiveness and precision, providing the foundation for BMW’s characteristic driving dynamics.

Central to the i3’s handling is the Heart of Joy, one of four computing units in the Neue Klasse. Paired with BMW Dynamic Performance Control software, it manages the powertrain, brakes, some steering functions and recuperation.

The Heart of Joy also enhances stability and agility. BMW notes that the i3’s dual electric motors enable lightning-fast processing of control commands, contributing to both a light-footed driving feel and comfort.

Safety and control have been emphasized throughout the testing program. The i3 requires fewer interventions from systems like DSC while maintaining smooth, precise cornering. The model’s Soft-Stop function has been designed to deliver the smoothest braking in BMW 3 Series history, minimizing jerks and noise, and energy recuperation has been optimized, even when cornering, without compromising stability.

Related news, Tire Industry Project releases End-of-Life Tire Toolkit 2.0 to support circularity

“The T.50s is the most engaging car I’ve ever drive,” said Franchitti. “For pure fun factor, it surpasses all other track-only models, my favourite supercars of all time, and even the race cars I drove to multiple world championship wins. Gordon set out to create the greatest on-track driving experience ever. The team has more than delivered. The feedback, responsiveness, performance, sound, visibility, braking, stability … everything … it’s just perfect.”

The Bahrain circuit was chosen for its extreme thermal and mechanical stresses, enabling engineers to evaluate braking performance, tire wear, low-grip handling and high-speed stability. During testing, the T.50s reached 184 mph, experienced 2.7g lateral acceleration in corners and endured 3g longitudinal forces under braking. The lap demonstrated the production-readiness of the car and confirmed that aerodynamic and chassis setups met GMA’s specifications.

Professor Gordon Murray, CBE, executive chairman, Gordon Murray Group, said, “This car was never about setting lap times. We simply designed the lightest, optimally powered, most driver-centric track car possible – with the right formula, speed comes naturally. T.50s is designed from the ground up to deliver the greatest possible on‑track driving experience, without compromise.”

Each T.50s is named in tribute to one of Murray’s first 25 Grand Prix victories, with the Niki Lauda model honoring the three-time Formula 1 World Champion. The car is powered by a bespoke 3.9-liter Cosworth GMA V12 producing 772ps at 11,500rpm, with revs up to 12,100rpm. A six-speed paddle-shift Xtrac gearbox, central driving position and fully adjustable aerodynamic package generating up to 1,200kg of downforce combine with a carbon-fiber monocoque and unique race-optimized systems to deliver an immersive track-focused experience.

“Naming the car after Niki was deeply personal. He was a great friend and a remarkable racing driver, and I believe he would have appreciated the purity, focus and engineering integrity that define the car we named in his honour,” said Professor Murray.

Related news, CamMotive opens high-current battery testing facility in Cambridge

Testing covered a broad range of driving scenarios, spanning 185 categories – 49% beyond regulatory benchmarks – with extreme conditions accounting for 36% of total testing. On average, one complex risk scenario was encountered every 38.9km, demonstrating the system’s ability to operate safely and adaptively within its ODC (operational design conditions).

Changan is one of the first two OEMs to receive Level 3 product access in China. The company says that by leveraging its in-house autonomous driving capabilities and its SDA (software defined architecture) intelligence technology framework, Changan has built experience and implementation know-how spanning system design and development, testing and validation, production and operations, and continuous iteration.

Under the SDA intelligence Level 3 program, Changan emphasizes a full-lifecycle, closed-loop safety system designed to safeguard Level 3 operation from development through real-world use. This safety ‘fortress’ is structured across dedicated integration and development processes, multipillar validation, end-to-end quality management, always-on safety monitoring and coordinated risk and incident response mechanisms – forming a continuous feedback loop to enhance safety performance.

To demonstrate safety at an engineering level, Changan has established an integrated development and validation approach for Level 3 autonomous driving that embeds safety requirements across system design, testing and operation. The framework addresses four core areas – functional safety, SOTIF (safety of the intended functionality), cybersecurity and data security – ensuring that automated driving functions are designed and verified with clearly defined boundaries.

Validation is supported by a combination of large-scale simulation, closed-course testing, real-world road testing, data-driven feedback loops and continuous safety monitoring. These efforts are underpinned by national-level intelligent vehicle safety research facilities and dedicated intelligent driving laboratories, providing comprehensive verification coverage from development to on-road deployment.

For operational safety, Changan operates a monitoring platform that has run stably for 18 months, with reported data accuracy maintained at 100% and a 100% success rate in issuing safety warnings. The platform conducts continuous, 24/7 cloud-based analysis of cybersecurity and vehicle operating risks, enabling real-time monitoring, early risk alerts and coordinated response during on-road operation, ensuring that Level 3 functions remain within their defined operating conditions when deployed.

According to the company, it has invested more than CNY 60 billion in R&D over the past three years. Its global R&D network covering six countries and 10 locations is supported by an R&D team of more than 24,000 professionals from 31 countries, 44 technology research and product development centers, 20 technology companies and 180 laboratories.

The June 2025 edition of ATTI carries a feature on cybersecurity strategies

In June 2024, ATTI explored data security in connected vehicles

The first quarter of 2025 saw a key milestone in the program as the team, together with Mahle Powertrain, fired up Mjølner – the world’s most powerful production V12 engine – for the first time. Since then, technical partnerships with Ricardo and Castrol have been confirmed. The progress across the drivetrain system has seen the integration of the hybrid powertrain, which will eventually deliver up to 1,850hp.

The first validation prototype entered service as summer approached, and global events bookended the biggest brand activations for Zenvo Automotive to-date. The VP0 prototype ran up the hill at Goodwood Festival of Speed. From there, it has been used across the powertrain, electronics, suspension and dynamics testing phases.

The test program has continued at the Præstø factory and at facilities across Europe, with successful crash, dynamics and performance testing completed, both as simulations and real world tests. Further prototypes have also come online as the testing phases spread through different teams and departments, accelerating toward the plans for 2026.

Jens Sverdrup, chairman and CCO of Zenvo Automotive said, “We come to the end of 2025 with the technical and development phases of the Aurora program driving forward with real momentum. It has been a very proud year of firsts, one of real progress, and one which has firmly put Zenvo on the map, with our biggest activations and achievements over Goodwood and Monterey.

“It hasn’t been all plain sailing, by any means – which is expected from a program of this magnitude and when working with the latest advances in technologies and systems that have never been seen or used before. We always set out for Aurora to be something more than had gone before, and we now have the team in place to deliver what we set out to achieve. 2026 will be another year of firsts and of relentless pursuit of improvement as we keep building towards production.”

CTO Jon Gunner said, “It has been a big challenge for every member of the team over this year, working through a long list of firsts. The team is now at its strongest, and Aurora is delivering or overachieving at each phase. We are determined and dedicated to getting the results, and we have put the pieces in place with our team and partners to ensure that Aurora is everything that we have set out for it to be. There is still a job list to be completed, but it is an exciting journey to be on.”

Meet the team behind the Mjølner powertrain in this behind-the-scenes video

Engineers are gathering comprehensive data to ensure the car delivers an iconic G‑Class experience before moving on to winter testing in the the snowy landscapes of Sweden at a later date.

In the November edition of ATTI, Mercedes-Benz explains how it recreates global driving conditions at its Immendingen proving ground – including a new rain simulation unit and technology that reproduces road markings from outside Germany

In related news, Mercedes-Benz recently unveiled its new €10.5m (US$12.3m) light testing tunnel at Immendingen to the media, giving ATTI a chance to explore the facility firsthand

Temperature at the facility can be adjusted from -40°C to +40°C, and snow cannons can produce a variety of snow types. Combined with the wind tunnel’s high-powered fan, this enables the replication of blizzards at speeds of up to 200km/h. 

In each tunnel, a rolling road simulates the road surface. Powerful electric motors drive four rollers each, enabling the OEM’s 4Matic models to be scrutinized under realistic conditions. Both rigs are designed for a total output of up to 780kW, enabling top speeds of up to 265km/h.

Vehicles can also be refueled and charged within the tunnels. In addition to the two test benches, there’s also a control room where technicians can regulate temperature, humidity wind speed and other parameters. Each test can be closely observed through large, fully insulated windows.

The resource also houses a heat chamber, where temperatures from -10°C to +60°C can be generated. A solar simulation system with 32 lamps produces a radiation spectrum equivalent to natural sunlight. Across an 8m × 2.5m area, radiation intensity can be adjusted between 200W/m² and 1,200W/m². The highest level is said to match extremely intense sunlight found only in remote desert locations, such as Death Valley in the USA.

Another development tool in the heat tunnel is the ‘Hot Road’ – a simulated road surface whose temperature can be continuously adjusted between +50°C and +70°C, accurately replicating the thermal conditions of pavement on a scorching summer day.

Engineers are using the climatic wind tunnels to test a range of vehicle components and functions. For example, they are assessing the performance of the windshield wipers to ensure they operate flawlessly in all weather conditions. In the cold tunnel, the engineers are also examining whether swirling snow can block the air intakes – a real-world risk caused by spray from passing trucks.

At frosty temperatures between -15°C and -20°C, the heating system must be able to defrost an icy windshield quickly. During evaluation, a camera records the entire de-icing process – the GLB is said to have performed impressively in these evaluations.

Mercedes‑Benz says that data captured in these facilities is helping to close the gap between simulation and physical testing.

In related news, Mercedes-Benz recently opened its new Light Testing Tunnel in Immendingen

Tyrone Johnson, managing director at Hyundai Motor Europe Technical Center, said, “The investment at Square Campus is a clear sign of our commitment to the region and reflects the importance of Europe in our long-term growth strategy. The extensive new capabilities at HMETC give us more independence and flexibility, while creating exciting new opportunities for collaboration between our brands. Fundamentally, Square Campus will also support us as we continue to grow our market share in Europe, developing new vehicles and technologies designed around the needs of our customers.”

New capabilities

The 25,000m² site is equipped with the largest semi-anechoic chamber within the Hyundai group, enabling unrestricted noise, vibration and harshness (NVH) and drive-by noise testing with complete independence from weather conditions.

Highly advanced dyno facilities at Square Campus play a key role in development, enabling the comprehensive testing of vehicles and individual components, compatible with all-electric, hybrid and internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrain applications. The facility is also equipped with an EV charging laboratory, a state-of-the-art driving simulator and new facilities for extended electronics system development – including over-the-air-updates (OTA), cybersecurity, and advanced driver assistance systems.

In related news, Site visit: Inside Mercedes-Benz’s light testing tunnel