GM test cars

[94BULLITT]

A few times I have mentioned that GM test cars travel through my area. I don't think anyone believes me so I finally got some proof.





Check out the Nurburgring decal on the back. I wonder if this cars has been there?

 

[DT86]

Are those different from the current model or ??

 

[94BULLITT]

Are those different from the current model or ??

It didn't look like it. The only way I could tell it was a test car other than the plate was it was real dirty(most of the test cars are filthy) and had black wheels. I saw a Canyon or Colorado running with it earlier this week.

 

[HHR]

Spotted this Tundra with a manufacturer plate and dual exhaust. Not sure what they are doing in Northern MN.

 

[ruffdog]

Probably not "test" vehicles...just company driven vehicles.

 

[dodge man]

Several years ago I saw a bunch of Dodge trucks that were preproduction. I think it was the generation of Dodges that were sold as model year 94's. I would have seen them during the 1992-1993 winter. I saw a fleet of them, maybe 4 or 5 of them, being driven either in Minnesota or the Dakota in the middle of winter. Some duallys and regular cab trucks. They were the new unique design that was coming out so I know they were test vehicles, there was also one current production truck mixed in with them.

 

[300UGUY]

Probably not "test" vehicles...just company driven vehicles.

The company does road testing on all models. I live a few miles from the GM proving grounds, and the cars are common here, usually in groups. Notice the Michigan plates, with the m in the center - manufacturer's plate. I have friends that have driven company cars coast to coast, as part of their job. The passenger's seat is usually full of instrumentation stuff, recording everything the car does. Unless there is a factory nearby, I doubt they are company employees running errands.

 

[94BULLITT]

Probably not "test" vehicles...just company driven vehicles.

Sometimes they won't have bumpers on them, some will have a bunch of antennas or they will be covered with vinyl. There has been an Aveo sized vehicle that is wrapped going through recently. It looks like a zebra. I also saw the Colorado's wrapped. I have seen some Corvette's. I got behind a Holden Commodore (Pontiac G8) at a stop sign. I tried to get a picture of it but I think the guy saw me and he hurried through the intersection.

 

[94BULLITT]

The company does road testing on all models. I live a few miles from the GM proving grounds, and the cars are common here, usually in groups. Notice the Michigan plates, with the m in the center - manufacturer's plate. I have friends that have driven company cars coast to coast, as part of their job. The passenger's seat is usually full of instrumentation stuff, recording everything the car does. Unless there is a factory nearby, I doubt they are company employees running errands.

That would be a fun job.

 

[ruffdog]

Yes, some employee's are given a company vehicle to drive like the plant manager. They turn it in after they put on so many miles and other people can purchase "company driven" vehicles with a added discount.

 

[ruffdog]

If you are near where they handle the "test" vehicles, yes you will see test vehicles. If you are near an assembly plant, you will see very few "test" vehicles but will see many more company driven vehicles with manufacturer plates on them.

 

[Diamondpilot]

For the last year I have been seeing a lot of Cummins powered Nissan Titans. I work about 25 miles from Cummins Headquarters in Columbus Indiana.

Chris

 

[Wayne64SS]

Sweet rig!

 

[Scooby074]

Pretty cool.

Sort of on topic. Ford apparently entered a 2015 f150 in the 2014 Baja. Then they drove it to Detroit on public highways! It was all 2015 underneath,and they went as far as to stamp the old style 2014 body panels in Aluminum. Pretty cool. Talk about hiding in plain sight.

2015 Ford F-150 Baja 1000 Prototype - 2014 NAIAS in Detroit - Road & Track

 

[94BULLITT]

Sweet rig!

Yes, that was a a nice truck.

Pretty cool.

Sort of on topic. Ford apparently entered a 2015 f150 in the 2014 Baja. Then they drove it to Detroit on public highways! It was all 2015 underneath,and they went as far as to stamp the old style 2014 body panels in Aluminum. Pretty cool. Talk about hiding in plain sight.

2015 Ford F-150 Baja 1000 Prototype - 2014 NAIAS in Detroit - Road & Track

Now that would be fun to drive on the street. If a left lane driver got in my way I would pass them in the median with that truck

 

[The Fred]

Here's another test rig running hot.

:licking:Fred

 

[Paystar]

They come through here all the time too. We have a couple cold weather proving grounds around my area.
I saw the new 1500 pickups, the Volt, Camaro and the new Corvette in bras and camouflage before they were released.

I like how they try to disguise them.....then stop at the Tim Hortons for coffee where crowds gather around these zebra striped and bra'd vehicles, LOL.

 

[zzvyb6]

I worked at the GM Milford Proving Grounds for almost 40 years as a Test and Development engineer. I drove company cars as part of my job for evaluation, mileage accumulation and durability needs and also as a benefit. In the OP's picture, the key identifier is seen on the dash. It's a form of a decelerometer used by the test driver to put a controlled amount of braking force into the vehicle. This is done for durability and brake wear tests. It's heat, pad life, traction and ABS control stuff (stability control algorithm etc.). It is not uncommon to have GM owned competitive produced vehicles on test, too. (Toyotas, Hondas, Nissans, Fords and Chrysler, etc. This is done for performance evaluation baselines and comparisons.

The M plated cars are licensed for on=public highway test operations. The driver must fill out a log book entry to account for ever mile showing on the odometer. A non-test PEP car (Product Evaluation Program) has a civilian plate and a special sticker on the front windshield identifying it as a GM owned vehicle with a GM Fleet Operations. Blue is usually Engineering Staff. White is Divisional or supplier staff.

The purpose of the bras, covers, Tupperware, checkered decals is not necessarily to hide underneath new styling parts. Its to discourage the auto press from distorting the images that they want to publish as 'spy shots'. They stretch, patch, shrink, narrow, lower and modify their lunch-time photos to present their incredible secret discoveries as exclusive magazine lures.

Good example is the recent Lincoln ad comparing it to a Cadillac. The Caddy images have more Adobe botox in them than a 12 foot snake in order to make the car look more unattractive.

If this particular car was a CTS-V, then its possible that it was run on the 'Ring. But heck, you can pay $5 and run a bicycle and get a sticker. Sorta like going to an amusement park. A Corvette on the 'ring gets a lot of respect from the BMW's, Audis and Ferraris. We often teased a motorcycle on that road and left it in the weeds. The bikers always were amazed that it was just a production car and not a specially prepared one of a kind. Even a CTS-V rental car can smoke just about any car over there. Yes, it takes a driver with some nads...

 

[Garandman]

//If this particular car was a CTS-V, then its possible that it was run on the 'Ring. But heck, you can pay $5 and run a bicycle and get a sticker. Sorta like going to an amusement park. A Corvette on the 'ring gets a lot of respect from the BMW's, Audis and Ferraris. We often teased a motorcycle on that road and left it in the weeds. The bikers always were amazed that it was just a production car and not a specially prepared one of a kind. Even a CTS-V rental car can smoke just about any car over there. Yes, it takes a driver with some nads...

The inimitable Sabine Schmitz: Nads Not Found. :laughing:

 

[varmint]

I liked the Caddy with the 'Ring decal... notice the dirty exhaust stains around the tailpipes: it's either a diesel (?) nah, or run hard!