New Details: Universal Studios' 'fast & Furious' Coaster Is Almost Ready To Ride

Universal Studios Hollywood has begun peeling backmost nan curtain — aliases opening nan garage? — connected its caller “Fast & Furious”-inspired coaster coming to nan parkland this summer.

The coaster will characteristic 4 heavy elaborate miniature cars arsenic thrust vehicles. These four-seaters — mimicking a Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-Y, Nissan Skyline GT-R and Toyota Supra, each complete pinch pull-down lap-bars and moving taillights — were unveiled astatine a media arena Wednesday.

But possibly nan astir breathtaking news retired of nan arena is conscionable really meaty of a coaster Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift looks to be.

Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will motorboat this summertime astatine Universal Studios Hollywood and boast thrust vehicles that are miniatures of existent cars. The show building is themed for illustration a storage pinch a vibrant, spray-painted mural.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

The attraction, nan 2nd outdoor coaster astatine nan parkland aft nan much kid-focused “Harry Potter” thrust Flight of nan Hippogriff, was timed astatine moving astir 2 minutes astir nan track, which goes complete and nether nan park’s famed hillside escalators. Hollywood Drift will scope a apical velocity of 72 mph.

While a typical for nan institution said nan coaster is intended to scope that 72-mph milestone astatine various points connected nan ride, it’s worthy noting that it’s still successful testing mode and nan last speeds and run-time whitethorn change. Still, nan truth that Universal has been capable to battalion specified a mighty acquisition into a tight portion of existent property should beryllium affirmative news for coaster enthusiasts.

By comparison, nan family coaster Flight of nan Hippogriff is only astir a minute, whereas Disney California Adventure’s Incredicoaster comes successful astatine much than 2 and a half minutes. It’s not uncommon for modern coasters today, owed to their expanding accent connected velocity and thrills, to past only astir a minute.

A look astatine nan thrust vehicles and wrong mural successful nan rider load area of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.

(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)

Though packing storytelling into a fast-moving outdoor thrust is ever a taxable parkland challenge, Universal is doing what it tin to make guests consciousness arsenic if they’re sitting successful existent tiny, authentic cars. Check, for instance, nan brightly orangish Supra, aliases nan black, vintage-style Charger. Each car will beryllium equipped pinch onboard audio and has unsocial details, correct down to nan different placement of nan odometers connected nan dashboard.

One question: Do those odometers really activity and measurement speed? A Universal rep declined to answer, but nary matter, arsenic astir impermanent will apt beryllium focused connected nan scenery extracurricular nan vehicle, specified arsenic nan next-door play people aliases bird’s-eye views of nan park.

An creator rendering of Universal Studios Hollywood’s Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, nan park’s first high-speed outdoor coaster.

(Universal Studios Hollywood)

The coasters will committee 2 astatine a clip wrong nan reddish brick, warehouse-themed show building, which features spray-painted murals from creator Tristan Eaton. Each coaster train holds 4 cars. There will beryllium a azygous rider statement for solo guests, and nan coaster will boast 360-degree rotation, which is meant to create nan sensation of a car drifting. The way is 4,100 feet and will return guests connected a hillside travel betwixt nan park’s precocious and little lots.

The “Fast & Furious” saga spans 11 films, and will soon beryllium recognized pinch an grounds astatine nan Petersen Automotive Museum. “A Fast & Furious Legacy: 25 Years of Automotive Icons” opens March 14 and will characteristic various movie-used vehicles and stunt cars. Among nan cars connected show will beryllium an early ‘90s Supra driven by Paul Walker’s characteristic Brian O’Conner, 1 of nan vehicles Universal mimicked for nan roller coaster.