VI-grade, a provider of human-centric simulation-driven vehicle development technologies, has announced that Alpine Cars, the French sports car manufacturer, has recently invested in VI-grade’s Static Simulator and its newly introduced Compact Full-Spectrum Simulator. The primary focus of this investment by Alpine’s road car division is to accelerate the development of vehicle dynamics for its forthcoming models while still preserving the distinctive features of the brand.
VI-grade’s Static Simulator delivers an immersive and realistic driving experience, useful for developing comprehensive multi-body vehicle models, and with potential expansion to cover NVH and HMI aspects in the future. VI-grade says that the Static Simulator’s capability to be upgraded to a Dynamic Simulator at a later stage and its multi-disciplinary functionalities played a key role in Alpine Cars’ decision to invest in the technology.
Meanwhile Alpine Cars’ second order, the Compact FSS Simulator, provides accurate motion, vibration and sound in a small footprint. This simulator will be used to create virtual prototypes of Alpine’s new Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs).
Leveraging the digital twin of the Alpine Eternity concept car, the Compact FSS Simulator will be used for comprehensive assessment of next-generation Alpine BEVs in terms of motion, vibration and sound. This approach will reduce reliance on physical prototypes, contributing to efficiency in evaluating vehicle parameters, NVH development, and overall performance. The Compact FSS Simulator to be integrated by Alpine Cars also includes both the full VI-NVHSim and the VI-DriveSim software suites.
Philippe Krief, CEO of Alpine Cars, said of the investment: “We are fully aligned with the Zero Prototypes vision of fully validating cars thanks to simulation software, driving simulators, and Hardware-in-the-loop to ensure performance and safety. Putting the driver in the loop is crucial, as some performances are closely tied to driver feeling, but virtual testing before road testing is essential to save time, money, and produce a superior product.”
