Lingotto Test Track (Fiat rooftop test track)

Normalaatsra · Jan 21, 2014

Lingotto is district in Torino, Italia, that is home to the Lingotto building in the town of Via Nizza. The building was formerly a factory for Fiat automobiles. What makes the building unique is that the roof top of the building hosts a test track, a simple oval figure with banked corners, wide enough to line up 3 cars wide. The building becomes more special as the entire building layout was designed to build a car that becomes built as the car rises to the top of the track, where a driver will test it on the circuit to prove it's road worthiness. When approved, a driver will deliver the car through a spiral helix to the bottom of the factory where the car will then be sent to Fiat dealerships.

The factory site closed due to a decline in the car industry of Italy. Fortunately the building has been revitalized into a modern city complex to the public, which includes a shopping mall, multipurpose halls, a hotel, and an university. The test track still exists and is open to the public to view the fantastic sights of the Italian alps and the city of Turin, with the place even open to car meets.

Pictured: The flowing layout the cars climb as it is being produced.

Amac500 · Jan 21, 2014

Holy ****, how did I never know this existed?

Normalaatsra · Jan 21, 2014

This is the scene of the Lingotto test track used in the classic film The Italian Job.

Humungus · Feb 8, 2014

Most awesome track ever

JCH8r · Feb 16, 2014

Here is an architectural essay on the Lingotto building & test track. The building inspired modern architects like LeCorbusier, but it is the only building known to have been designed by the architect.

The writer of the article is dismissive of the track, but I think a 500 yard straight that demands good brakes is interesting in itself. Rationally, the idea of testing on a circuit on a rooftop should be no more daunting than at ground level. But it is.

And what a great Photo Mode location.

GiovyLM · Feb 18, 2014

If i'm not mistaken , Fiat doesn't use this test track anymore (since '70s) ....

Normalaatsra · Feb 19, 2014

GiovyLM
If i'm not mistaken , Fiat doesn't use this test track anymore (since '70s) ....

You don't say?

Like I said in the description, Fiat closed the factory in an economical decline. The building still hosts the old test track and the pass of the factory car as it climbs to the top of the factory. The test track may be inactive to testing but car meets still occur here and the building has already found a new use. With PD magic they can model it.

GiovyLM · Feb 19, 2014

I didn't saw that :confused:

, i'm sorry :dunce:

meravigliato · Feb 28, 2014

In the nineties, during the Turin Auto Shows, Fiat used a few Fiat Coupé Turbo for promotional laps on the track. Of course the drivers were official Fiat. The queue to take a ride as passenger was very long. They started from the square on the ground floor and climbed the ramp giving a lot of gas.

Normalaatsra · Mar 5, 2014

meravigliato
In the nineties, during the Turin Auto Shows, Fiat used a few Fiat Coupé Turbo for promotional laps on the track. Of course the drivers were official Fiat. The queue to take a ride as passenger was very long. They started from the square on the ground floor and climbed the ramp giving a lot of gas.

That's amazing! The manufacuturing layout can still be used in the building! If PD would even try that, that would make GT many times better. Haha! Thanks for sharing. :cheers:

Tails · Mar 5, 2014

This would be awesome both as a circuit or as a Photo Travel location

Normalaatsra · Apr 3, 2014

Here's a video of a muscle car meet, they climb the building in the reverse direction instead the intended way FIAT designed as this route allows a complete car to reach to the top and bottom. Gives you an idea of the lighting set up for Photo Travel and also for any online session with car meets.