Chevrolet Test Track to open at Walt Disney World Dec. 6

Since 1999, car nuts stranded at Walt Disney World knew they could find respite from the Small Worlds and Magic Kingdoms at Epcot's GM Test Track—until it closed its doors this past April, at least.

Fortunately, the attraction won't be shuttered forever. A team of GM designers and Disney Imagineers—that's Disney-speak for the individuals responsible for making the entertainment empire's theme parks a reality—have been laboring to redesign and rebuild the ride as the Chevrolet Test Track.

The result of their 18-month collaborative effort won't face public scrutiny until it launches on Dec. 6, but GM gave us a hint of what guests can expect at a recent media event.

The most outwardly notable alteration to the attraction is the name: Chevrolet gets exclusive billing at the new Test Track. Where the attraction previously made room for GM's entire lineup, only vehicles bearing the bowtie have a spot on the newly renovated floor.

The Test Track's new focus on Chevrolet is accompanied by an increased emphasis on vehicle design, which sets up an interesting hook for the attraction as a whole. Guests will create a virtual concept car that will accompany them for the duration of their time at the attraction.

It begins with a line drawn on a computer console in the “pre-ride” staging area. That line is converted to a streamlined, three-dimensional “speedshape.” Further interaction involves balancing four performance attributes—capability, efficiency, responsiveness and speed—to create a roughly sketched proto-vehicle.

Special software and something project manager and indefatigable Imagineer Melissa Jeselnick referred to as “Disney magic” fill the gaps and turn that guest input into a nifty, polished concept car—with a Chevrolet bow tie on the grille, of course.

Fans of the original GM Test Track will be pleased to hear that the ride portion of the attraction, which hits speeds of up to 65 mph, remains fundamentally unaltered. The scenery, however, has received a substantial makeover. Dated “Incredible Crash Dummies”-style carts have been redone with fluorescent paint and a prominent Chevy logo. Tron-like glowing panels give the track a futuristic, virtual-reality feel.

Once the track portion ends, guests will see how their virtual car performed in a series of equally virtual tests that occurred during the ride. Attendees can pit their concepts against each other on video game-like simulation tables and create digital advertisements for their fantasy rides.

Notably lacking in all this is a nod to Chevrolet heritage, which has been set aside to make room for the brand's current offerings and eye-catching concepts. The Chevrolet Miray hybrid roadster was featured prominently in promotional renderings of the ride, and the 2014 Corvette will likely take center stage once it is publicly unveiled in January.

While this forward-looking spirit will permeate the attraction, its layout was devised with revision in mind. Vehicles can be swapped in and out, and cosmetic changes in the future shouldn't take 18 months to execute. GM design manager Jeff Mylenek added that a “flex space” built into the floor plan may allow for the display of a classic or two down the road.

Both Disney and GM representatives stressed that the attraction was non-commercial at heart. According to Mylenek, the goal was to create a “strong story, great guest experience and a strong image for Chevrolet that would be timeless” rather than to sell cars.

Still, millions of Disney World guests will make a detour though the Chevrolet Test Track every year. While Disney and GM declined to discuss cost, the automaker wouldn't be investing in an amusement park unless it thought at least some of those guests were potential customers.

Those curious about the revamped attraction or eager to try their hand as a car designer will have to wait until the Chevrolet Test Track grand reopening on Dec. 6. Details can be found at the Walt Disney World Web site.

By Graham Kozak