Holden holding on to top testing facility

The Lang Lang facility will be retained after Holden stops production in Australia.

Holden will retain its impressive testing ground near Melbourne after the company closes its two assembly plants.

The Lang Lang facility, visited by Driven to test an early version of the Volt before its RHD release, is a 44km mix of road types, with a massive multi-lane high-speed bowl and off-road courses.

GM bosses emphasised the facility is vital as a part of the company's global design and engineering programmes.

It opened in 1957 and has been the testbed for most Holdens driven on Kiwi and Aussie roads since. Its chassis-stressing "twist" course is an acid test for tough roads that the cars will have to contend with, and its "noise road" for rattle-proofing machines is like being stuck in a washing machine on spin cycle with a pair of Doc Martin boots.