The awaited new version of Test Track is now in soft-opening at Epcot and it looks awesome! With its TRON inspired design and a new pre-show and post-show it's now a totally new attraction that will re-open officially in a few days. Sure, the track itself is still the same and some of the scenes - the heat, cold and painting sequences as well as the crash test scene - have been replaced by others but the industrial theming is also gone forever and, good lord, what a good news!
Although i was impressed by the technology i was among those who hated the theming of the first version, specially considering that they had to get rid of World of Motion and all its animatronics to build Test Track. Now, with the new futuristic theming, at least the attraction belongs totally to Epcot Future World and some scenes have shortly some reminiscences of scenes from Epcot extinct attractions like Horizons... Of course, if you don't like TRON you're going to be disappointed but the truth is that WDI Imagineers did a fantastic job with this new version. Let's thanks too Chevrolet, the new attraction sponsor, who gave the money that WDI Imagineers needed for the new theming. On the picture below you can see WDI Imagineers with people from Chevrolet around the new Test Track model.
Full ride videos already appeared on Youtube and once again it's the good guys from Inside the Magic who did the best one not only showing the full ride but also the pre and post show. It's very important to watch the pre-show so don't miss it on the video below.
One more thing before you launch the video: i wouldn't be surprised if this new Test Track version was the second WDW attraction to open in less than two weeks which will also serve as a technical rehearsal for an upcoming Shanghaî Disneyland ride. I told you recently in my previous article how Disney Hollywood Studios "Legend of Captain Jack Sparrow" could be a rehearsal for some techniques that WDI might use in SDL POTC new version. Here it's different, Shanghaî Disneyland will not have a Test Track ride but a TRON motor bike coaster will apparently replace the usual Space Mountain in SDL Tomorrowland. And i have the feeling that the TRON theming in Epcot Test Track might be a technical rehearsal for WDI Imagineers for the SDL TRON attraction. Keep this in mind when you'll watch the video and you'll see how some of the lighting effects and projection techniques could be used in a TRON ride, of course with different scenes. That said, go ahead and watch the video, of course in full screen mode!
If you want to see how different this new version is from the first one Orlando Attractions Magazine had the good idea to upload a video showing side by side the two versions. But do NOT watch this next video before you've watched the one above.
Finally, here is a series of WDI renderings specially done for the new version. They were released three weeks ago and i still don't know why i missed them as they look great. Click on each to see them in high-res and if you want to see pictures of the ride jump to the Inside the Magic web site.
The first ones below are showing the queue and pre-show areas.
The next artwork shows the pre-show design stations with which you can design your car. Your design will appear on screens placed all along the ride.
The new design of the Test Track vehicles.
Two renderings for ride scenes, but it looks way much better in real.
Some artwork for the post show, the first one showing the Chevrolet showroom also includes a game called “Showroom Showdown”.
All this looks great, doesn't it? Thanks to let me know in the comments what you think of this new Test Track!
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