VI-grade and HBK are transforming product development through Smart Testing.
The question is no longer “Should we simulate or test?” but “How do we combine them intelligently?”
Smart Testing connects virtual and physical testing through data, AI-powered analytics and integrated workflows. Simulation validates and optimizes physical tests, whereas physical data strengthens and refines virtual twins.
The result: faster decisions, shorter development cycles and smarter products.
Following the success of the global Smart Prototypes Summit in Italy in May 2026, the Smart Prototypes Summit 2026 – North American Edition brings the Smart Testing experience to North America – connecting engineers working across simulation, testing, durability, and reliability to share how these challenges are being addressed in practice. Across two focused days, attendees will see how leading organizations are connecting simulation and physical testing workflows to accelerate development, reduce iteration cycles, and improve confidence in engineering decisions.
Following the global Smart Prototypes Summit in Italy, the 2026 Japan Smart Prototypes Summit brings the Smart Testing experience to Japan - connecting engineers across simulation, physical testing, durability, reliability and data-driven workflows. Taking place at the Nagoya International Center, the one-day event will feature customer, partner and HBK/VI-grade presentations, demo displays and networking opportunities focused on how virtual and physical testing can accelerate development, reduce iteration cycles and improve confidence in engineering decisions.
On May 19–22, 2026, SPS2026 brought together 320+ in-person attendees from 100+ automotive companies worldwide, including industry leaders, innovators, and technology partners. The event showcased the future of Smart Testing and full-spectrum vehicle development, covering immersive simulation, HiL validation, and data-driven workflows across Ride & Handling, NVH, Durability & Reliability.
It’s all about fine tuning your chassis, developing the right balance, selecting the right tires, tuning the transmission, setting up seamless control systems, to achieve the best driver experience.
Design and engineer the sound of your vehicle to meet brand and customer expectations, before building the first prototype.
Test your algorithms and automatic systems in a safe and collaborative environment, to validate ADAS functions integrating software and hardware sensors.
Evaluate your HMI criteria with a real car cockpit and dashboard and develop new interfaces, in a controlled and easy-to-modify environment.
VI-grade driving simulators help put the driver in front of the toughest conditions, in the most realistic and safest way.
These are the entry-level driving simulators by VI-grade. They enable to test-drive your vehicle directly from your desk, validating their basic R&H and NVH behavior.
All main features of our driving simulators in a simple cockpit. A simulator for engineers to subjectively and quickly understand handling, ADAS and NVH vehicle behavior.
Built from a real car, our STATIC Simulators allows engineers and test drivers to work together in the development of new vehicle concepts. These simulators are suitable for ADAS, HMI and NVH evaluation.
Our actuator-driven family of dynamic simulators aimed to help virtually develop new cars in the lab. These multi-disciplinary tools ensure early, high-quality system integration in the development process.
The newest addition to the DiM family, it enables to go beyond the mechanical barriers of other simulator architectures. These simulators guarantee high adaptability and top-class performances.
Combining Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL), Software-in-the-Loop (SiL) and Model-in-the-Loop (MiL) testing with driving simulator technology accelerates getting to Zero Prototypes.
These are the entry-level driving simulators by VI-grade. They enable to test-drive your vehicle directly from your desk, validating their basic R&H and NVH behavior.
All main features of our driving simulators in a simple cockpit. A simulator for engineers to subjectively and quickly understand handling, ADAS and NVH vehicle behavior.
Built from a real car, our STATIC Simulators allows engineers and test drivers to work together in the development of new vehicle concepts. These simulators are suitable for ADAS, HMI and NVH evaluation.
Our actuator-driven family of dynamic simulators aimed to help virtually develop new cars in the lab. These multi-disciplinary tools ensure early, high-quality system integration in the development process.
The newest addition to the DiM family, it enables to go beyond the mechanical barriers of other simulator architectures. These simulators guarantee high adaptability and top-class performances.
Combining Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL), Software-in-the-Loop (SiL) and Model-in-the-Loop (MiL) testing with driving simulator technology accelerates getting to Zero Prototypes.
Case studies
Mattia Giustiniano
R&D Senior Vice President
Bridgestone West
“The simulator’s introduction marks a significant step in enhancing the efficiency and sustainability of our R&D processes, while unlocking unprecedented opportunities to foster innovation."
Emilio Tiberio
Chief Technology Officer
Bridgestone West
"This investment in our Driver-in-the-Loop simulation capabilities is a major milestone as we build a comprehensive ecosystem for accurately predicting tire performance in the virtual world."
"We strive for a development process that allows us to assess reliability before manufacturing. We believe this is digital development using a driving simulator and we hope to lower the barriers so that not only automotive OEMs, but also suppliers can use it."
Renaud Hantz
Customer Attributes Performance Director
Alpine Cars
"We position ourselves as the high-tech laboratory of the Renault group and digital is a fundamental pillar of our strategy. Our investment in this direction continues and accelerates with the acquisition of a DiM250 driving simulator."
Charlie Smith
Virtual Vehicle Engineer
Bentley Motors
“The COMPACT FSS is viewed as a strategic step towards accelerating our development cycle, minimizing reliance on physical prototypes, and enhancing simulation capabilities in our DiL hub Crewe, UK.”
"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. Virtual testing before road testing is essential to save time, money, and produce a superior product.“
Jonas Grötzinger
Senior Expert – Vehicle Motion
EDAG Group
"The integration of VI-grade's state-of-the-art simulator technology into our new Zero Prototype Lab exemplifies our shared commitment to innovation, set to make a substantial impact on the future of engineering services worldwide."
"Our strongest reason for choosing VI-grade as a supplier is the possibility of sharing know-how within the VW Group. VI-grade has proven to be a performing and reliable partner for NVH advanced applications."
"This new facility is an enabler of our attribute-led development methodology, while also being a critical tool supporting complex engineering developments across ADAS, HMI and XiL.”
“With this new simulator and other testing capabilities, CICV testing company led by the national think tank is forging a service platform with an innovation ecosystem that supports advanced technology development and technology transfer.”
“The Driving Simulator not only allows us to refine conventional automobile driving skills such as running, stopping, and turning, but also to safely perform functional verification of automatic driving systems and advanced safety control systems."
"The availability of optimum Driver-in-the-Loop solutions combined with our proving ground provides unique development methods that minimize the use of prototypes, thus reducing the critical development path and overall costs."
"This investment is a crucial part of our toolbox to develop mobility solutions for a different tomorrow. Our ambition with the simulator is to replicate the real world to provide our engineers with an alternative to real world tests."
The possibility to have a driver-in-the-loop in our STATIC Simulator, allowing us to include the driver’s perception when testing our systems, as well as the ability of testing the performance before prototyping it, is of great value for our organization."
"The installation of the simulator contributes in making the Politecnico di Milano competitive on an international scale and turns the Bovisa area into an ecosystem of innovation."
"This level of simulation sophistication allows us to drive breakthroughs
in future tire creation, leading to an enhanced customer and driver experience."
"The DiM250 Driving Simulator is the perfect tool for us. We can get our test drivers in there, who will be driving the real cars later or we can drive ourselves or have our management drive, establishing a target for
where we want to be with the final product."
"This facility is very important for the electrification processes we are developing. In the future, we will have Maseratis fitted with an electric engine, so we will have the ability to put it on this testbed."
"The NVH Simulator has significantly improved our development efficiency by facilitating alignment on hardware and targets early in the vehicle development process and reducing reliance on physical vehicle testing."
Discusses Software-Defined Vehicles, focusing on hardware-software decoupling for rapid updates, digital twins for virtual testing, faster innovation, fewer prototypes, enhanced precision, and early feedback for customer satisfaction.
Examines the evolving role of Human-Machine Interface (HMI) in automotive, addressing definitions, challenges, and trends, with a focus on simulation for enhancing the driving experience.
Modern vehicles with advanced electronics and sensors face development challenges due to third-party "black boxes" and CASE trends. Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) testing improves synchronization, ensuring integrated, faultless system performance.
Examines evolving NVH challenges in electric vehicles, highlighting unique noise issues and the role of driving simulators in meeting brand and customer expectations during early design stages.
Discusses how Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) mitigate driver distractions, explores ADAS complexity and engineering challenges, and emphasizes driving simulators' benefits in developing these technologies.
The white paper discusses how electric vehicles are reshaping car brand DNA, highlighting the need for updated Ride & Handling development processes, and the role of driving simulators in overcoming new challenges.
Discusses Software-Defined Vehicles, focusing on hardware-software decoupling for rapid updates, digital twins for virtual testing, faster innovation, fewer prototypes, enhanced precision, and early feedback for customer satisfaction.
Examines the evolving role of Human-Machine Interface (HMI) in automotive, addressing definitions, challenges, and trends, with a focus on simulation for enhancing the driving experience.
Modern vehicles with advanced electronics and sensors face development challenges due to third-party "black boxes" and CASE trends. Hardware-in-the-Loop (HiL) testing improves synchronization, ensuring integrated, faultless system performance.
Examines evolving NVH challenges in electric vehicles, highlighting unique noise issues and the role of driving simulators in meeting brand and customer expectations during early design stages.
Discusses how Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) mitigate driver distractions, explores ADAS complexity and engineering challenges, and emphasizes driving simulators' benefits in developing these technologies.
The white paper discusses how electric vehicles are reshaping car brand DNA, highlighting the need for updated Ride & Handling development processes, and the role of driving simulators in overcoming new challenges.
02/09/2026The art of orchestrationSource: Automotive Testing Technology International
02/09/2026AI Increases Scenario Generation Efficiency Source: Automotive Testing Technology International
26/06/2026Go Ahead, Lean Into AI and Smart TestingSource: SAE Automotive Engineering
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