UPDATED: Universal Studios Hollywood has begun extended testing of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, the park’s first-ever, high-speed outdoor roller coaster slated to open in 2026.
The track has been under construction for months, and now loops across several levels of the backlot. Earlier this summer, individual cars were being tested on limited portions of the track. Now, trains of four ride vehicles are being launched and tested together.
The first launch of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Hollywood
The train containing the four ride vehicles, including the Dodge Charger, will be concealed during this initial test phase — though a version of the Charger chassis was revealed to media this summer. See story below for a look at that. The remaining ride vehicles will be revealed at a later date.
The first launch of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Hollywood
“Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift” will feature 360-degree rotation of the individual ride vehicles as guests travel along 4,100 feet of elaborate track — the equivalent of nearly 12 football fields — constructed with sound reduction technology.
The first launch of Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Hollywood
PREVIOUSLY on June 12: What’s a theme park to do when it wants to expand and innovate, but is perched on a hilly lot in the middle of urban sprawl? Answer: Go with the flow.
Universal Studios Hollywood today revealed new details about its in-the-works Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster. It’s the park’s first-ever, high-speed outdoor roller coaster, and when it launches in 2026, it will be the fastest roller coaster in the Universal Destinations & Experiences portfolio, topping out at 72 mph. Dominic Toretto would be proud.
The coaster will also be the largest in the L.A. park, by far.
In a lemons-to-lemonade decision, construction on the ride looks like it will take advantage of the steep terrain in the park to achieve the hair-on-fire speeds appropriate to Universal’s Fast film franchise.
Take a look in the first-look animatic video below.
The innovative roller coaster features a groundbreaking 360-degree rotation of the individual ride vehicles, which was previously announced but now can be seen (illustrated) in the video above. The ride will achieve its 72 mph by using 4,100 feet of elaborate track that begins in the upper level of the park across from the entrance to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter in the area that previously hosted Universal Hollywood’s special effects and animal shows. Riders will queue up in an expansive (and thankfully shady) warehouse structure that resembles garages seen in the films.
Universal Studios Hollywood reveals a first look rendering of “Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift,” the destination’s first high-speed outdoor roller coaster opening in 2026
The fully-rotational ride vehicles will create a seamless sensation of drifting cars as guests spin in motion at furiously fast speeds while being catapulted along an aerial track that picks up speed as it accelerates downhill toward a huge loop, which sits down below the new and improved Jurassic World attraction.
“Watching the progress of this incredible roller coaster come to life is truly spectacular,” said Scott Strobl, Executive Vice President & General Manager, Universal Studios Hollywood. “2026 is just around the corner and we are equally as excited as our guests to introduce such an inspiring new ride to our theme park portfolio. ‘Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift’ will be a powerful game changer for Universal Studios Hollywood that will not only transform the topography of our destination but will infuse an entirely new level of adrenaline to our already dynamic theme park. We look forward to riding it ourselves and to welcoming guests to experience it in the very near future.”
Universal Hollywood also unveiled one of the four ride vehicles designed to look like the iconic cars from the films. The vehicle shown to media today is modeled after Toretto’s 1970 Dodge Charger and is now on display at Universal Studios Hollywood as part of its Mega Movie Summer event.
Universal Mega Movie Summer is an all-new seasonal event debuting Friday and continuing daily through Sunday, August 10. It includes a cool refresh of Jurassic World: The Ride with more Mosasaurus roars, four new Spitter dinosaurs will join the melee and water geysers as well as a greatly enhanced splash at the end.
Additionally, there will be DJ performances, 50th Anniversary Jaws merchandise, food and photo ops, and photo ops tied to Back to the Future 40th Anniversary, Wicked and How to Train Your Dragon.
