New Fast & Furious roller coaster soft opens amid noise concerns

By the Editorial Team · Friday, August 28, 2026

Universal Studios Hollywood has launched the soft opening of its Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster, featuring a 4,100-foot track with spins and high speeds that simulate iconic driving scenes from the film series. While the ride offers a highly immersive experience with detailed vehicle designs, it remains in testing, may close unexpectedly, and the park is working to reduce noise concerns from nearby residents before the official opening.

Universal Studios Hollywood has begun the soft opening of its new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster, offering guests an immersive experience inspired by the popular film franchise. The attraction marks the first time fans can simulate the high-speed, adrenaline-pumping driving scenes made famous by the movies.

The coaster features an Intamin design with 4,100 feet of track, incorporating 360-degree spins, multiple inversions, and speeds reaching up to 72 miles per hour. The layout weaves along a hillside between the park’s upper and lower lots, providing riders with panoramic views of the surrounding valley. Unlike traditional spinning coasters where rotation depends on rider weight distribution, the cars on Hollywood Drift are programmed to spin at specific moments along the track, synchronized with onboard audio.

Jon Corfino, vice president of Creative at Universal Studios Hollywood, described the ride as replicating the sensation of drifting and swaying in a car, enhancing the sense of immersion without overwhelming riders physically. “You’re going to have gone really fast, you will spin out and you will be drifting, but you’re going to get out and you’re going to be OK,” he said.

The coaster features four trains modeled after iconic vehicles from the Fast & Furious film series. The lead car replicates Dominic Toretto’s black 1970 Dodge Charger R/T. Two additional cars are based on Brian O’Conner’s blue 2002 Nissan Skyline GT-R R34 and orange 1994 Toyota Supra MK IV, while a fourth represents Han Seoul-oh’s orange 1997 Mazda RX-7. Corfino emphasized the attention to detail in the vehicle designs, noting authentic features such as engine appearance, tire width, seams, gas caps, and taillights. The ride’s queue area also showcases film props and QR codes linking to behind-the-scenes content, underscoring Universal Studios Hollywood’s identity as a functioning movie studio.

Despite the excitement surrounding the soft opening, the ride is not yet fully operational and may close without notice as staff finalize testing. Universal Studios is also addressing noise complaints from neighboring residents attributed to the sounds of riders’ screams. Although initial testing indicates the noise level complies with local ordinances, the park is implementing additional sound-reduction measures.

Among enthusiasts following the attraction is Los Angeles-based annual passholder Doug Perry, who has ridden the coaster multiple times and praised its unique and thrilling experience. However, Perry advised potential visitors not to expect the ride to be consistently available during this phase, cautioning that hours may vary before the official grand opening is announced.

Meanwhile, Universal Orlando Resort is developing its own Fast & Furious roller coaster, which remains under construction and will feature a different track design from the Hollywood version.

This article was reported by synthesizing coverage from multiple independent news outlets to present a balanced, unbiased account. Read about our editorial standards. Spotted an error? Let us know.