Universal Studios Hollywood is preparing to debut its first outdoor, high-speed roller coaster when Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift opens on September 16. Inspired by the long-running Fast & Furious film franchise, the new attraction brings large-scale coaster technology and movie-themed storytelling to the park’s Upper Lot.
Designed around the action and street racing elements of the Fast & Furious series, the coaster marks a notable addition to Universal Studios Hollywood’s lineup of attractions. The ride arrives as the film franchise celebrates its 25th anniversary and ahead of the next installment, Fast Forever, which is scheduled to reach theaters in March 2028.
Guests will enter the attraction through a garage-inspired setting featuring replica vehicles from the films before making their way through a queue filled with props and displays tied to the Fast Saga. Select exhibits include QR codes that connect visitors to Universal’s Backlot Club platform, offering behind-the-scenes information about featured items.
One of the coaster’s technical highlights is a transparent section of track that passes directly through the queue area, giving guests a preview of the ride experience before boarding. The attraction uses a dual-launch, split-track system that alternates trains and sends riders across more than 4,100 feet of track at speeds reaching 72 miles per hour.
The ride experience includes four launches, multiple inversions and a unique drifting system that rotates individual ride vehicles up to 360 degrees during the course. Riders can board one of four vehicles modeled after recognizable cars from the films, including the Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R and Toyota Supra. Each vehicle features its own audio package with engine sounds and effects designed to match the car.
Highlights of the props include:
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- Car Cannon, featuring the car driven by Brian O’Conner in Fast & Furious 6
- Roll Cage and Winch, featuring the 2010 Dodge Charger SRT8, driven by Dom Toretto, in Fast 5
- Vault Truck, as featured in Fast 5
- Motorcycle, as featured in F9, driven by Letty Ortiz
- NOS System and Dodge Charger Engine, a recreation of the internal NOS operating system for the modified Fast & Furious ride vehicles in the films
- Ramp Car, driven by Owen Shaw in Fast & Furious 6
- Rolling Bomb, as featured in Fast X
- Rollover Stunt Rig, a recreation of the rollover stunt rigging system used in the Fast & Furious films
The attraction also incorporates artwork by artist Tristan Eaton, including a large mural inspired by the original 2001 The Fast and the Furious. Additional murals within the queue celebrate the history of the franchise and its characters.
Built into the natural hillside terrain of Universal Studios Hollywood, the coaster also offers views of the San Fernando Valley, the Universal backlot and the surrounding theme park. Guests will be required to store loose items in complimentary lockers and pass through metal detection before boarding.
With Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, Universal Studios Hollywood is expanding its attraction lineup with a coaster that combines film-inspired storytelling, ride technology and high-speed action. The new experience opens September 16 and adds another major destination for fans of the Fast Saga and theme park enthusiasts alike.
