Universal Studios Hollywood has a new ride, and it wants you to feel like you’re driving a car that doesn’t know which way it’s pointing. The Fast & Furious roller coaster, officially named Hollywood Drift, is the park’s newest attraction, and it’s built entirely around the franchise’s signature drifting scenes.
The ride uses four launches and spinning cars to recreate the feeling of losing control at high speed. Riders travel 4,100 feet of track at 72 mph, hitting forces of up to 3.6 Gs, while sitting in car-themed carriages that look like vehicles straight out of the movies.
Four Cars, One Queue
Riders choose from four vehicles modeled after cars from the films:
- The Dodge Charger
- The Mazda RX-7
- The Nissan Skyline GT-R
- The Toyota Supra
Each car has its own audio system and independently programmed movements. That means the drifting experience changes depending on where you sit. If you want to see how the Supra handles a corner compared to the Charger, you might need to go twice.
The Track Runs Through the Park
The coaster makes full use of Universal Studios Hollywood’s hillside location. It carries riders above and beneath sections of the park’s Starway escalator, crossing paths with guests walking the stairs below.
The track includes an inverted dive loop, a twisted pretzel loop, and an inverted stall. Parts of the ride offer panoramic views of the San Fernando Valley and Universal’s movie studio.
A transparent section of track passes directly through the queue, so people waiting in line get a close-up view of the coaster as it passes overhead. Two murals from artist Tristan Eaton can also be found inside, including one based on the final race between Dom’s Dodge Charger and Brian’s Toyota Supra from the original 2001 film.
Queue Full of Movie Memorabilia
The queue itself is packed with Fast & Furious memorabilia. There’s the Ramp Car from Fast & Furious 6, Letty Ortiz’s motorcycle from F9, the rolling bomb from Fast X, and the vault truck from Fast Five.
The Drifting Effect Explained
The spinning cars are the star of the show. They recreate the films’ over-the-top street races, complete with the loss of traction that defines the franchise. The four launches send the cars forward, then let them spin and drift through the air.
At 72 mph, the coaster hits forces of up to 3.6 Gs across 4,100 feet of track.
Waiver Required for Horror Event
Universal also announced a new “extreme horror” event that requires guests to sign a waiver before entering. It’s the kind of thing that pairs well with a day spent pretending to lose control at 72 mph.
What Guests Should Know
The ride is now open at Universal Studios Hollywood. It’s designed for fans who want to feel like they’re part of the action.
Key Facts Box
- Coaster name: Hollywood Drift
- Speed: 72 mph
- Track length: 4,100 feet
- Forces: Up to 3.6 Gs
- Launches: Four
- Cars: Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R, Toyota Supra
The Fast & Furious roller coaster is a genuine attempt to bring the films’ signature drifting scenes to life in a physical space. The spinning cars, the themed vehicles, and the transparent queue section that lets you watch the coaster from the ground all point toward a ride that cares about the details.
Whether you’re terrified of the 72 mph speeds or you’re just happy to drift through the air, Hollywood Drift is worth a second look.
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