Universal Studios Hollywood has begun to open the curtain, or open the garage? – on its new “Fast & Furious”-inspired roller coaster coming to the park this summer.
The roller coaster will feature four highly detailed miniature cars as ride vehicles. These four seats, which mimic a Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-Y, Nissan Skyline GT-R and Toyota Supra, all complete with drop-down lap bars and functional taillights, were unveiled at a media event on Wednesday.
But perhaps the most exciting news from the event is how meaty the Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster looks to be.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will launch this summer at Universal Studios Hollywood and will feature vehicles that are miniatures of real cars. The show building is themed like a warehouse with a vibrant spray-painted mural.
(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)
The attraction, the park's second outdoor roller coaster after the more kid-focused “Harry Potter” attraction, Flight of the Hippogriff, was timed to travel about two minutes around the track, which passes over and under the park's famous hillside escalators. Hollywood Drift will reach a top speed of 72 mph.
While a company representative said the coaster is expected to hit that 72 mph milestone at various points along the ride, it's worth noting that it's still in test mode and final speeds and run time may change. Still, the fact that Universal was able to pack such a powerful experience into a small space should be positive news for roller coaster enthusiasts.
By comparison, the Flight of the Hippogriff family roller coaster lasts only about a minute, while Disney California Adventure's Incredicoaster Roller Coaster lasts over 2 and a half minutes. It is not uncommon today for modern roller coasters, due to their increasing emphasis on speed and thrills, to last only about a minute.
A look at the ride vehicles and interior mural in the passenger loading area of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift.
(Todd Martens / Los Angeles Times)
While including stories in a fast-moving outdoor attraction is always a challenge at a theme park, Universal is doing everything it can to make guests feel like they're sitting in small, authentic cars. Look, for example, at the bright orange Supra or the vintage-style black Charger. Each car will be equipped with onboard audio and will have unique details, right down to the different placement of the odometers on the dashboard.
One question: Do those odometers really work and measure speed? A Universal representative declined to answer, but it doesn't matter, since most visitors will likely focus on the scenery outside the vehicle, such as the golf course next door or the scenic views of the park.
An artist's rendering of Universal Studios Hollywood's Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, the park's first outdoor high-speed roller coaster.
(Universal Studios Hollywood)
The roller coasters will ride two at a time inside the warehouse-themed red brick building, which features spray-painted murals by artist Tristan Eaton. Each mountain train has capacity for four cars. There will be a single row of passengers for guests traveling alone, and the coaster will feature a 360-degree rotation, which aims to create the sensation of a drifting car. The track is 4,100 feet and will take visitors on a hillside trip between the park's upper and lower lots.
The “Fast & Furious” saga spans 11 films and will soon be recognized with an exhibit at the Petersen Automotive Museum. “A Fast & Furious Legacy: 25 Years of Automotive Icons” premieres March 14 and will feature several movie-used vehicles and stunt cars. Among the cars on display will be an early '90s Supra driven by Paul Walker's character Brian O'Conner, one of the vehicles Universal imitated for the coaster.
