One of the biggest talking points during our visit to Universal Studios Hollywood this summer was their brand new ride, Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift. I was really hoping it might soft-open while we were there as we could see it being tested – with the cars flying around the hillside at incredible speed. Sadly it wasn’t open when we visited.
Having watched it being tested in person though, I could immediately see why there has been so much excitement around it. This will be the first high-speed outdoor coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood and reaching speeds of up to 72mph, will be the fastest coaster found at any Universal park including Orlando.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will open at Universal Studios Hollywood on 16 September 2026, becoming the park’s first high-speed outdoor roller coaster and at up to 72mph, the fastest coaster in Universal’s theme-park line-up.
What makes Fast and Furious: Hollywood Drift particularly striking is the way it has been built into the hillside. The 4,100-foot track weaves its way around the steep terrain, passing over and under sections of the escalator and incorporating an inverted dive loop, a twisted pretzel loop and an inverted stall. From where we were standing, watching the empty cars hurtle around the track, it looked every bit as intense as VelociCoaster at Islands of Adventure in Orlando and is actually faster (it’s 72mph to VelociCoaster‘s 70mph).
This is the first proper coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood and is based on the Fast & Furious film franchise, but it isn’t simply a traditional coaster with a movie theme attached. Riders will sit in one of four vehicles inspired by cars from the films – Dom Toretto’s Dodge Charger, the Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R or Brian O’Conner’s Toyota Supra. Each vehicle can rotate independently through 360 degrees, with its own engine and sound effects designed to make the ride feel more like a high-speed street race.
Even the queue looks set to be part of the experience. The ride has a garage-style setting filled with props from the Fast & Furious films, including the Vault Truck from Fast Five, Letty’s motorcycle from F9 and the Ramp Car from Fast & Furious 6. There is also a giant mural by artist Tristan Eaton depicting the street-racing finale from the original 2001 film.
One detail I particularly like is that part of the coaster track will run through a transparent section of the queue, so you’ll be able to watch the cars racing past while you wait for your own turn. The ride will also offer some spectacular views across the San Fernando Valley, the Universal Studios movie studio and the theme park itself.
For us, seeing the coaster being tested was almost as frustrating as it was exciting. We could see exactly what we were missing as the cars disappeared around the hillside at speed, but it has given us another very good reason to return to Universal Studios Hollywood.
And there is an Orlando connection too. Universal Orlando is due to get its own Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift in 2027, so it will be fascinating to compare the two once both are open.
For now, Hollywood gets there first. Having watched it being tested from the Lower Lot, I have a feeling this is going to be one of the rides that brings us back to Universal Studios Hollywood sooner rather than later.