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Universal Studios Hollywood starts construction on Fast & Furious roller coaster

July 12, 2023

A Fast & Furious roller coaster coming to Universal Studios Hollywood is expected to feature a street racing-theme with a jaw-dropping track that hugs the hillside between the upper and lower lots and spinning cars designed to simulate a drifting sensation.

Construction will begin soon on a Fast & Furious coaster with a state-of-the-art ride system featuring “innovative and technological achievements never previously employed,” according to Universal Studios Hollywood.

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The new Fast & Furious coaster will replace the Animal Actors and Special Effects shows that closed in January on the upper lot of the theme park, according to Universal officials. Demolition work on the Animal Actors show venue began in May, according to a video posted by Theme Park Shark.

The Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift launched shuttle coaster with dual stations and spinning cars is expected to open in 2025 at Universal Studios Hollywood, according to Roller Coaster Database. An official opening date has not yet been set for Universal’s newest thrill ride.

Early concept art of the Fast & Furious Hollywood Drift coaster project posted to Screamscape shows a half-loop C-shaped spike track segment hovering over the ride entrance. Early conceptual plans dreamed up during the Blue Sky phase can and often do change throughout the development process.

The sports car-themed multi-launch coaster is expected to feature ride vehicles attached to a controlled spinning system to create a drifting sensation, according to Screamscape.

Screamscape reports the new Fast & Furious coaster is expected to be built by Liechtenstein-based Intamin Amusement Rides – the same ridemaker behind Velocicoaster in 2021 and Hagrid’s Magical Creatures Motorbike Adventure in 2019 at Universal’s Islands of Adventure.

“They are trying to create a terrain-style ride that can offer something along the thrill levels of the Velocicoaster in Florida,” according to Screamscape.

A Los Angeles County government permit filed in November for a geotechnical study described the planned route of the new terrain-hugging coaster coming to Universal Studios Hollywood.

“An outdoor coaster that starts from the upper lot and will descend toward the lower lot along the hillside in front of the Fire Station 51 and back up and loop around the Starway escalator,” according to the permit.

The ParkFans forum that has been studiously tracking development of the Fast & Furious coaster — code named Project 409 — has overlaid the purported track layout onto a satellite image of the Universal hillside.

The $7 billion Fast & Furious saga — which has become Universal Pictures’ most-profitable and longest-running film franchise — apparently is big enough to support two attractions at the Hollywood theme park.

The existing Fast & Furious — Supercharged experiential attraction will remain on the park’s behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, according to Universal officials.

Orange County Register

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Universal Studios Hollywood starts construction on Fast & Furious roller coaster

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