The first riders hopped into Dominic Toretto’s 1970 Dodge Charger and took a spin on the new Fast & Furious coaster along the hillside-hugging track at Universal Studios Hollywood ahead of the grand opening of the first-of-its-kind ride.
Universal Studios Hollywood began “technical rehearsals” of the new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift roller coaster on Monday, July 27.
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Universal has not yet set an official opening date for the highly-anticipated new roller coaster. Technical rehearsals can start and stop at any time prior to the official grand opening of the ride.
First train of public riders aboard Fast and Furious Hollywood Drift!! #UniversalStudiosHollywood pic.twitter.com/nGzKrM3xxY
— LaughingPlace.com (@laughingplace) July 27, 2026
The new Fast & Furious roller coaster features 360-degree rotating coaster vehicles designed to look like drifting race cars from the street racing film franchise that has earned $7 billion at the worldwide box office.
Hollywood Drift riders enter through a red brick auto repair garage before boarding one of four coaster ride vehicles themed to look like an authentic Fast & Furious film car.
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The new ride station replaces the Animal Actors and Special Effects shows on the upper lot.
The coaster track employs a low rumble track filled with pea gravel, half pipe shields and other sound reduction technology to lessen the noise from the coaster for Universal’s residential neighbors.
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Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is the first high-speed outdoor coaster at Universal Studios Hollywood. The park’s two existing coasters include the 2004 Revenge of the Mummy indoor coaster and the 2016 Flight of the Hippogriff outdoor kiddie coaster.
The Hollywood Drift in the coaster name references the 2006 Universal Pictures “Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift” action film. Drift racers intentionally oversteer to the point of losing traction while maintaining control of the car.
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The addition of the new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster forced Universal Studios Hollywood to remove the former Fast & Furious—Supercharged experiential attraction that was part of the park’s signature behind-the-scenes Studio Tour.