Subaru Corporation is betting big on advanced driver assist technologies that the company has completed new test tracks designed specifically for its testing. Located in Hokkaido, Japan, the Bifuka Proving Ground in the Subaru R&E Center, the new test tracks have commenced operations.

Established in 1995, the Bifuka Proving Ground is a development facility for conducting performance evaluations in cold climates and driving tests on snow. The 361-hectare site includes a variety of test courses and handling courses, and was expanded to include a high-speed circuit in 2003. Designed to simulate actual public roads, the test tracks are used to conduct a variety of tests throughout the year.



Now, the existing test tracks at Bifuka have been upgraded to bring the conditions closer to that of actual public roads. This was done with the development of advanced driver assist technologies such as EyeSight in mind. The new track contains:

• A high-speed circuit with a total length of 4.2-kilometers. The existing high-speed course is upgraded to bring it closer to actual road conditions with new gentle curves simulating those on intercity expressways; new merging and diverging lanes simulating interchanges and service areas on intercity expressways; new multi-lane track simulating a four-lane road; and new concrete paved road simulating North American freeway surfaces.
• An urban road course with a new course simulating two-way traffic on roads with one lane each way; road forms designed to resemble actual road conditions, including intersections with and without turning lanes, guiding zones (zebra zones); and a roundabout intersection like those found in Europe and other countries.