Wheelies: The Going Forward Edition

General Motors Test Track presented by Chevrolet is scheduled to open at Epcot on Dec. 6

In which we bring you motoring news from around the Web:

- The revamped Test Track at Epcot Center in Orlando, Fla., is scheduled to reopen on Dec. 6, and General Motors and Walt Disney World are promising that visitors will have an opportunity to design their own vehicles, using computers similar to those used by G.M. designers, according to The Orlando Business Journal. Then visitors will get a chance to test their vehicle designs during the ride. “The reimagined Test Track portrays an optimistic view of the future and reflects the deep collaboration between Disney and Chevrolet on both the design and the overall experience,” Eric Jacobson, senior vice president, Walt Disney Imagineering, said in a statement. “It's a thrilling attraction supported by rich exhibit displays and interactive elements that bring guests directly into the design process â€" with a few surprises thrown in.” (Orlando Business Journal)

- Chrysler‘s iconic 2011 Super Bowl commercial that featured Eminem in a tribute to Detroit was the beginning of a beautiful friendship between Chrysler and Selected of God, a Detroit gospel choir that appeared in the ad, according to The Detroit Free Press. The choir, which is releasing its third album, has maintained a relationship with the automaker since the commercial was produced. The choir has performed at Chrysler-sponsored events, and the company paid to produce a video, “Lose Yourself,” that is available on YouTube but will not be used in an advertisement. Meanwhile, the choir has seen its appea rances grow from about six a year to 60. (The Detroit Free Press)

- At the Volkswagen Group of America headquarters in Herndon, Va., the employee parking lot is filled with Volkswagens and Audis, and that's no accident, The Washington Post reports. Volkswagen offers its employees a deal on leasing new vehicles that is hard to pass up. Every six to 12 months, employees and their families can lease a new Volkswagen or Audi vehicle for a cost equal to 1.5 percent of the retail price. The company pays for the vehicle registration, maintenance expenses and car insurance. And lease payments are deducted from the employees' paycheck, making it a cinch to keep up with the bills. Each worker and family - spouse, children, parents and spouse's parents - can lease up to four cars at a time through the program. (The Washington Post)

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