BRANDING TOGETHER : GM, DISNEY BOOST ALLIANCE.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

Corporate giants General Motors Corp. and Walt Disney Co. announced on Friday an expanded partnership designed to boost each other's brand name.

GM disclosed the alliance as part of providing details about its previously announced investment in a ``Test Track'' thrill ride at Disney World's Epcot Center in Orlando, Fla.

``GM's commitment to its brands and the people who buy them demands business partners who bring a similar passion and focus to the table,'' said Ronald L. Zarrella, GM vice president and group executive in charge of GM's North American Operations Sales, Service and Marketing Group.

Zarrella, speaking at the Chicago Auto Show, noted that the companies first teamed in 1982 to create Epcot's ``World of Motion'' pavilion.

``Test Track at Epcot is a cornerstone of GM's relationship with Disney from which much more can be expected in the years to come,'' said Zarrella. ``Our corporate alliance is in a position to deliver in incomparable consumer experience with great flair and sophistication. Consumers expect nothing less from GM and Disney.''

Zarrella gave few details of the alliance, which could include GM promoting Disney's travel and hotel packages at its theme parks and Disney placing and promoting GM vehicles in its movies.

The marketing initiative already includes product tie-ins between the forthcoming Disney animated film ``Hercules'' and the Chevrolet Venture mini-van. GM's Chevrolet division is sponsoring a five-month tour of U.S. malls promoting ``Hercules'' that includes a live stage show and animation demonstrations.

The mall tour will visit 20 cities beginning in Atlanta this month and run through June. Chevrolet is giving away 20 Venture mini-vans, one in each city. ``Hercules'' is scheduled to be released June 27.

The expanded initiative will include more GM models, according to an individual familiar with the company's plans.

The automaker has begun an advertising and marketing push to introduce 14 new car and truck models, including the Venture mini-van, that have begun to arrive at GM dealerships this year.

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Photo: (Color) Former football great Dick Butkus, left, feigns terror as he breaks through a barrier with a driver looking like a crash test dummy at the Chicago Auto Show on Friday that unveiled ``Test Track.'' The attraction, due to open later this year at Disney World's Epcot Center, was a result of the partnership between General Motors and Disney that is aimed at boosting each other's brand names.