Cool running: how ice-driving is helping shape tomorrow's vehicles

Every December, in the far north of Sweden, just a few miles from the edge of the Arctic Circle, one of engineering’s more unusual phenomena takes place.

As winter’s icy grip takes hold and temperatures drop as low as -30°C, fleets of satellite-guided vehicles take to the frozen lakes that dot this sparsely populated region and begin meticulously etching out strange patterns in the ice.

From the air, this complex tapestry of circles and wiggly lines – weirdly reminiscent of the UK crop-circle hoaxes of the 1990s – adds mystery to an already otherworldly landscape.

On the ground, thanks to the omnipresent automotive advertising hoardings, its more practical purpose quickly becomes apparent. And, for the next three months, car makers from all over the world flock to the region to test their technology on the unique low-friction (mue) surfaces of these icy test tracks. It’s the ultimate proving ground for traction-control systems and drivetrain innovations that are making our vehicles safer, efficient and easier to drive.