Start Your Engines
Universal Studios Hollywood just hit the gas on its next big thrill: Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, a record-setting spinning launch coaster slated to open in 2026. The new attraction promises top speeds of 72 mph along a 4,100-foot track—fast enough to claim the title of the quickest coaster in the entire Universal Parks lineup.
What Makes This Coaster Different?
- Spinning Seats: Unlike a traditional sit-forward train, riders will drift through turns while freely rotating, simulating the franchise’s famous sideways slides.
- Intamin Engineering: The Swiss coaster powerhouse behind Jurassic World VelociCoaster and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure returns with another high-tech launch system—minus the dragons and raptors.
- Dom’s Dodge Charger Theme: Each four-seat car is modeled after Dominic Toretto’s iconic 1970 Dodge Charger R/T, adding movie authenticity right down to the matte-black hood scoop.
How It Fits Into the Universal Parks Race
Universal Parks & Resorts has been on a turbo-charged expansion streak:
- Epic Universe (Orlando, 2025) – A brand-new park featuring Super Nintendo World and classic monsters.
- Universal Studios Beijing (2021) – Opened with a cutting-edge Jurassic World dark ride.
- Universal Kids Resort (Frisco, TX) – Announced family-focused project aimed at younger guests.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift slides neatly into this growth plan, giving the Hollywood park a headliner to rival Orlando’s VelociCoaster and Beijing’s Decepticoaster. It also helps even out capacity as Super Nintendo World continues to pack in crowds.
Tech Talk: Spinning Launch Coasters 101
Launched spinning coasters are still rare. By combining linear synchronous motors (LSMs) with rotating cars, Intamin creates a ride that feels fresh every time—no two spins are exactly alike. Expect:
- Rapid acceleration without a lift hill.
- Drift-style lateral forces.
- Near-miss scenery as the track weaves through multiple show sets.
Economic Impact on Universal Studios Hollywood
Adding a major E-ticket attraction does more than thrill fans—it keeps locals renewing annual passes and entices tourists who might otherwise pick Disneyland. Analysts predict a healthy bump in attendance when gates open in 2026, similar to the 2023 debut of Super Nintendo World.
What’s Next?
With groundwork already visible from the StarWay escalators, vertical construction should rise throughout 2024. Universal hasn’t revealed the full storyline, but expect cameo appearances from Letty, Roman, and the rest of the “family,” plus plenty of street-racing Easter eggs.
Stay tuned: we’ll keep tracking every twist, turn, and drift as Universal Parks shifts into the next gear of its global expansion.
Source: Wikipedia