Toyota has strengthened its European R&D capabilities by opening a new proving ground at its technical centre in Zaventem, Belgium.

The £42m Zaventem Proving Ground took two and a half years to complete and will play a vital role in Toyota's strategy for developing new models for  European small and compact car segments.

The new proving ground incorporates a 1.4 kilometre (0.8-mile) oval test track, 90m-diameter skid pad, test roads to monitor noise and harshness and a brake test facility.

"The European automotive market is one of the most competitive in the world and our technical centre is already a key facility in Toyota's global R&D organisation," said Didier Leroy, president and CEO of Toyota Motor Europe. "Thanks to the new proving ground, we will make use of our unique positioning and our facilities as a laboratory for innovations in a faster and more efficient way, so that we can develop the right car for our European customers, right here, in the heart of Europe."

The Zaventem proving ground and accompanying facilities covers an area of 65,000m² within the 187,000m² technical centre site. Toyota employs 770 people at Zaventem, 430 of them in research and development.