Test Track Mania!

     As part of the more than 1 Million square feet of exhibit space at the Auto Show, there are several interactive areas, ranging from DJ booths, to simulators, to the test tracks. There are three of them at this year's show, put on by Toyota, Chrysler, and Ford. The first one we'll discuss is the Toyota track. To answer your first question, no they're not giving rides in the FT-1. The track is branded as the Camry Experience, with Toyota Ambassadors taking you around a track showing off some of the features of the new Toyota Camry. After being driven around, they even give you Fluff Ice(think of it as Ice Cream with he consistency of cotton candy).

     Going over to the Chrysler track, you can choose from either a Chrysler, Dodge, or Fiat to ride along in. After choosing, you wait in line. I chose the Fiat, because it was the shortest wait(and life's too short to wait in lines, man). The ride-along involved some driving around, before an acceleration test at the very end. I'll tell you something about those cars though: they may not look like it, but Fiats can MOVE. After the ride, I went through and got a bag from the Ambassadors(I swear I've gotten like 10 different bags so far at this thing).

     Then it was on to the Jeep tracks. These featured several different Jeep models being put through 5 different tests that determine how their vehicles get "Trail Rated". First, they tested out the suspension system on each vehicle. Then the trucks rode over a series of boulders to test out their maneuverability. Then each Jeep was judged on it's ground clearance, before a promotional video demonstrating the Jeep's fording capability. After that, there was the final test, the one that can be seen from any other point in the show: the Steep Incline. What this involves is taking the vehicles up a 35-degree hill, stopping at the top, and then going back down. There are a lot more things to do and see at the 2015 Chicago Auto Show, but the Test Tracks are a steady and reliable draw year in and year out, not to mention being a fan favorite.