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A '''development mule''' or a '''test mule''' in the [[automotive industry]] is a vehicle equipped with experimental or [[prototype]] components for testing. [[Automaker]]s evaluate aspects of vehicles before a full [[pre-production car]] is built to find problems. Mule cars are drivable, often years ahead of actual production.<ref>{{cite journal| url=http://www.motortrend.com/future/spied_vehicles/112_0712_2010_ford_mustang_spied/index.html |title=Spycam: 2010 Ford Mustang |journal=Motor Trend |month=December |year=2007 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> They may come after [[concept car]]s that sometimes lack critical mechanical components. They may also have advanced chassis and powertrain designs from a future vehicle that need to be tested, but "clothed with the body and interior of some other car about the same size.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2009-04-30-chevrolet-volt-early-look_N.htm |title=Drivers could get a charge out of Chevrolet Volt |first=James R. |last=Healey |newspaper=USA Today |date=2009-08-14 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> |
A '''development mule''' or a '''test mule''' in the [[automotive industry]] is a vehicle equipped with experimental or [[prototype]] components for testing. [[Automaker]]s evaluate aspects of vehicles before a full [[pre-production car]] is built to find problems. Mule cars are drivable, often years ahead of actual production.<ref>{{cite journal| url=http://www.motortrend.com/future/spied_vehicles/112_0712_2010_ford_mustang_spied/index.html |title=Spycam: 2010 Ford Mustang |journal=Motor Trend |month=December |year=2007 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> They may come after [[concept car]]s that sometimes lack critical mechanical components. They may also have advanced chassis and powertrain designs from a future vehicle that need to be tested, but "clothed with the body and interior of some other car about the same size.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/reviews/healey/2009-04-30-chevrolet-volt-early-look_N.htm |title=Drivers could get a charge out of Chevrolet Volt |first=James R. |last=Healey |newspaper=USA Today |date=2009-08-14 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> |
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Engineering mules are often heavily altered [[mass production|current production]] vehicles or as completely different models.<ref>{{cite journal |last=McCraw |first=Jim |title=Sneak Previews of U.S. Cars to Come |journal=Popular Science |pages=68–72 |month=September |year=1992 |volume=241 |issue=3 | url=http://books.google.com/books?id=lwEAAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA69&dq=%22Development+mule%22+auto | accessdate =2011-09-13}}</ref> Mules may also be based on another manufacturer's model if it is if no comparable model is available in-house, or if an external benchmark is being used - for example in the 1970s the first generation [[Ford Fiesta]] was developed using mules based on the [[Fiat 127]] (a car considered the class leader of the period), as Ford had no comparable compact model of similar size at the time. |
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Some noticeable alterations include simple cylindric shapes for the lamps in the taillights, different rims on the front and back without centrecaps, and a severe amount of added plastic and tape to hide the actual shape and design of the vehicle.<ref>{{cite journal |last=Dunne |first=Jim |title=Detroit Spy Report |journal=Popular Mechanics |page=108 |month=December |year=1991 |volume=168 |issue=12 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=puMDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA108&dq=%22Development+mule%22+auto |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> |
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Development mules are most often used very heavily during testing<ref>For example, "...pushed the development mule to {{convert|150.583|mph|3| abbr=on}}..." {{cite journal |last=Schorr | first=Martyn L. |title=Show of Force |journal=Popular Mechanics |page=59 |month=March |year=1993 |volume=180 |issue=3 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=c88DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56&dq=%22Development+mule%22 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> and are [[scrap]]ped. In unusual cases, test mules were acquired by members of the automaker's engineering team.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://photos.imageevent.com/mmm_mag/pdffiles/USA%201967%20AMC%20Rogue%20343%20Musclecar%20Enthusiast.pdf |title=John Goergen's 1966 343 prototype |page=59 |journal=Musclecar Enthusiast |first=Richard |last=Truesdell |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://route66rambler.com/forum/topicview/misc/136/1966_drivable_amx.htm |author=Ohio AMX |title=1966 Drivable AMX Prototype |date=2007-06-07 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> |
Development mules are most often used very heavily during testing<ref>For example, "...pushed the development mule to {{convert|150.583|mph|3| abbr=on}}..." {{cite journal |last=Schorr | first=Martyn L. |title=Show of Force |journal=Popular Mechanics |page=59 |month=March |year=1993 |volume=180 |issue=3 |url=http://books.google.com/books?id=c88DAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA56&dq=%22Development+mule%22 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> and are [[scrap]]ped. In unusual cases, test mules were acquired by members of the automaker's engineering team.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://photos.imageevent.com/mmm_mag/pdffiles/USA%201967%20AMC%20Rogue%20343%20Musclecar%20Enthusiast.pdf |title=John Goergen's 1966 343 prototype |page=59 |journal=Musclecar Enthusiast |first=Richard |last=Truesdell |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://route66rambler.com/forum/topicview/misc/136/1966_drivable_amx.htm |author=Ohio AMX |title=1966 Drivable AMX Prototype |date=2007-06-07 |accessdate=2011-09-13}}</ref> |
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Revision as of 12:25, 15 June 2013
A development mule or a test mule in the automotive industry is a vehicle equipped with experimental or prototype components for testing. Automakers evaluate aspects of vehicles before a full pre-production car is built to find problems. Mule cars are drivable, often years ahead of actual production.[1] They may come after concept cars that sometimes lack critical mechanical components. They may also have advanced chassis and powertrain designs from a future vehicle that need to be tested, but "clothed with the body and interior of some other car about the same size.[2]
Engineering mules are often heavily altered current production vehicles or as completely different models.[3] Mules may also be based on another manufacturer's model if it is if no comparable model is available in-house, or if an external benchmark is being used - for example in the 1970s the first generation Ford Fiesta was developed using mules based on the Fiat 127 (a car considered the class leader of the period), as Ford had no comparable compact model of similar size at the time.
Some noticeable alterations include simple cylindric shapes for the lamps in the taillights, different rims on the front and back without centrecaps, and a severe amount of added plastic and tape to hide the actual shape and design of the vehicle.[4]
Development mules are most often used very heavily during testing[5] and are scrapped. In unusual cases, test mules were acquired by members of the automaker's engineering team.[6][7]
References
- ^ "Spycam: 2010 Ford Mustang". Motor Trend. 2007. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Healey, James R. (2009-08-14). "Drivers could get a charge out of Chevrolet Volt". USA Today. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
- ^ McCraw, Jim (1992). "Sneak Previews of U.S. Cars to Come". Popular Science. 241 (3): 68–72. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Dunne, Jim (1991). "Detroit Spy Report". Popular Mechanics. 168 (12): 108. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ For example, "...pushed the development mule to 150.583 mph (242.340 km/h)..." Schorr, Martyn L. (1993). "Show of Force". Popular Mechanics. 180 (3): 59. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
{{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter|month=ignored (help) - ^ Truesdell, Richard. "John Goergen's 1966 343 prototype" (PDF). Musclecar Enthusiast: 59. Retrieved 2011-09-13.
- ^ Ohio AMX (2007-06-07). "1966 Drivable AMX Prototype". Retrieved 2011-09-13.
See also
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