Nearly three years after its predecessor World of Motion closed in January 1996, Test Track officially opened to guests on March 17, 1999, following an extended period of soft openings and technical delays. The attraction marked a dramatic shift in tone—from whimsical transportation history to high-speed industrial realism.
Housed in a completely gutted and rebuilt Transportation Pavilion, Test Track simulated the rigorous testing procedures used by General Motors to evaluate prototype vehicles. Guests boarded six-passenger ride vehicles, each equipped with more onboard computing power than the Space Shuttle, and traveled through a series of test environments:
- Road surface tests (cobblestone, potholes, etc.)
- Braking and anti-lock systems
- Environmental chambers simulating heat and cold
- Incline and handling tests
- A final speed test, where vehicles burst through a wall and accelerated to 65 mph on a banked outdoor track
Each vehicle traveled over 50,000 miles per year, making Test Track not only EPCOT’s fastest attraction, but also one of its most mechanically demanding.
On April 15, 2012, the original Test Track (often called 1.0) closed for a major refurbishment. When it reopened on December 6, 2012, it had been reimagined as Test Track Presented by Chevrolet:
- Guests used RFID-enabled cards to design their own virtual concept cars in the Chevrolet Design Studio
- The ride vehicles, now called SimCars, followed the same physical track but through a new digital testing environment
- Tests focused on Capability, Efficiency, Responsiveness, and Power, with guests’ designs scored at each stage
- The aesthetic shifted to a sleek, neon-blue Tron-like glow, emphasizing futuristic branding over realism
While the track layout remained unchanged, the experience became more interactive and stylized, reflecting Chevrolet’s design-forward identity.
On June 17, 2024, Test Track 2.0 closed to make way for a third iteration: Test Track 3.0, inspired by the spirit of World of Motion. Imagineers, in collaboration with General Motors (returning as the sponsor), are reimagining the attraction to celebrate:
- The joy of driving and human ingenuity
- Technological advances in mobility and personalization
- A renewed focus on optimism, connection, and exploration
The updated queue will feature six distinct exhibits, showcasing vehicles and innovators who’ve pushed the boundaries of motion. New show scenes will highlight onboard tech, scenic drives, and the emotional resonance of travel. The high-speed loop remains, but the SimCar concept has been retired, and the ride vehicles are receiving aesthetic updates.
Test Track 3.0 is scheduled to open in late summer 2025, with vehicle testing already underway
