Gallery: Disney 'Test Track' Overhaul Lets Visitors Design Their Own Race Cars
01test-track
*Disney and Chevrolet teamed up to give Test Track, a ride that opened originally in 1999, a fresh coat of paint.*
02designs
*The high-speed thrills remain from the original model, but the new and improved Test Track makes design and customization the main attraction.*
03lines
*Like sketches on paper, each design starts with a simple sketch. Luckily, Disney created some great software that lets aspiring designers skip art school.*
04mileage
*Your mileage may vary — both in terms of how your virtual car performs and the quality of the design.*
05ride
*RFID tags let visitors carry their designs from one station to the next, and see periodic updates on how the theoretical design would have performed during the in-car element of the ride.*
06race
*After the ride is over, each rider can take the car they designed and drop it onto a videogame system the size of a pool table. The design of each person's car impacts its competitiveness in the videogame.*
07photo-studio
*Designers can take photos next to a virtual version of their car in a faux photo studio.*
08designers
*From start to finish, the project took just 18 months and involved the efforts of designers from Disney and GM. Pictured left to right: Tony Warren, Sung Paik, Carrie Crawley, Tom Speedwell, Jeffrey Mylenek, Chris Webb, Adam Scenna, Rodney Jurban, Matthew Pussehl, Kevin Wilson.*
‘Darth Vader’ Wants You to Know He Definitely Supports Flock Surveillance
Anthony Ralphs was frustrated by the San Diego City Council's support for Flock. He decided it would take something more than reasoned argument to get their attention.
Vittoria Elliott
The Best Early Labor Day Kitchen Deals for Busy Fall Days
With school and sports starting again, these discounts on Instant Pots, cookware, and coffee gear arrive right on time.
Kat Merck
Google’s Pixel 11 Pro Fold Is Better, but Not the Best
A polished update to Google’s foldable brings real improvements, but the price bump and rampant competition make it a tough sell.
Simon Hill
The US Just Recorded Its First 2 Measles Deaths This Year
The fatalities come amid declining vaccination rates and calls from President Donald Trump to split up the MMR vaccine.
Emily Mullin
The Supreme Court’s Mail-In Ballot Ruling Is a Step Toward Chaos in the Midterms
The Supreme Court has removed one roadblock from the Trump administration’s attempts to impose severe restrictions on voting.
David Gilbert
Apple Refreshes the Mac Mini and Mac Studio, Both With New AI-Ready Chips
Apple’s Mac Mini and Mac Studio have been tough to buy for months, but updated versions have arrived. Both include new chips optimized for AI, with the M6 Mac Mini getting a $200 price bump.
Luke Larsen
I Tested the Best Kitchen Composters and Food Recyclers—and Yes, Some of Them Stink
After years of smells, strange noises, and “tea,” these are the composters and food recyclers I’d actually recommend.
Kat Merck
The Best Car Phone Mounts Are Magnetic. Change My Mind
The best car phone holders keep your phone firmly in place while never getting in your line of sight. I took a dozen on road trips this summer to find the best.
Matthew Korfhage
The County Prosecutors Who Became ICE Informants
Illinois prosecutors shared defendants’ personal data with federal immigration agents without criminal warrants, public disclosure, or legislative oversight.
Aura Bogado
This Projector Is a Hole-in-One as a Golf Simulator, but Subpar for Anything Else
The Optoma GT2400HDR laser projector is great for setting up a driving range in your living room, but mediocre video quality makes it less appealing for home entertainment.
John Brandon
Border Wall Construction Threatens 6,000 Years of History on Private Lands
Archeologists are confronting an “unfathomable” loss as border wall construction is set to cut across ranches that are home to unique historical sites, many of which haven’t been fully studied.
Gabrielle Saulsbery
It Should Be Harder to Apply for a Job. No, Really
Thanks to a dwindling supply of open roles, “one-click” applications, and the rise of artificial intelligence, it’s easier than ever to apply for a job. We’re all paying the price.
Kate Taylor