The Aeon 420³ vehicle spent several weeks with MIRA Ltd in Nuneaton Warwickshire.

MIRA is a leading independent provider of product engineering, research, testing and certification to the worldwide automotive industry.

MIRA was not used to prove the durability or performance of the Aeon 420³ vehicle nor are they endorsing the vehicle in anyway. However they did use the Aeon 420³ vehicle for one of their many internal research and development projects entitled Integrated Durability Engineering (IDE). The vehicle was instrumented to measure Road Load Data on the MIRA Proving Ground whilst driving over all of their special durability surfaces. These include Belgian Block Pave and their dedicated Ride and Handling Circuit.

Computer models of the vehicle were then constructed so that a virtual Aeon 420³ vehicle could be manipulated and analysed on screen. A components rig was also set up to replicate the suspension loads into the vehicle. The aim of the programme was to prove MIRA’s capabilities in using state of the art computer modelling techniques alongside traditional proving ground and rig test methods to predict vehicle durability performance.

Results from the project are not yet available so no quantitative comments can be made on durability performance. However this project has helped Aeon Sportscars to gain a better understanding of the important issue of durability and vehicle testing. It has also given us the opportunity to make design changes at an early stage based on this knowledge.

Visit the MIRA website >