Honda Will Reopen California Proving Grounds

Honda Motor Co. plans to upgrade and reopen its proving grounds in the Mojave Desert near Cantil, Calif., next April. The carmaker last used the 25-year-old facility in 2010.

As part of a new $25 million investment in the 4,300-acre property, Honda says it will completely refurbish the hot-weather center’s 4.5-mile winding road course. It also plans to enhance several test roads and make other unspecified improvements.

In addition to the road course, the site has a 7.5-mile high-speed oval track, gravel roads, motocross tracks and off-road desert terrain.

After closing the California center five years ago, Honda consolidated its vehicle testing in the U.S. at the company’s Marysville, Ohio, operations. Media reports at the time suggested that Honda hoped to sell the California proving grounds for as much as $25 million.