Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift has entered a new construction phase at Universal Studios Florida. Crews are now pulling a test vehicle through sections of the track. The black test car, styled after Dominic Toretto’s 1970 Dodge Charger, carries a wire frame extending out from its body. Crews are using it to check push/pull clearance, confirming that nothing in the ride’s structure or scenery will be within reach of riders. Here’s what we’re seeing so far.
Push/Pull Envelope Testing Begins for Hollywood Drift
IN THIS ARTICLE:
- A test vehicle is being pulled through sections of Hollywood Drift’s track to check rider clearance
- The wire “envelope” frame confirms safe distance between the vehicle and surrounding structure
- Universal Studios Hollywood’s version of the coaster has already opened, while Florida’s remains under construction
Testing Track
New photos from Bioreconstruct show a black vehicle positioned along Hollywood Drift’s track near the coaster’s second launch hill. The car is shaped like Dominic Toretto’s 1970 Dodge Charger, one of the four confirmed ride vehicle designs. A cable runs from the front of the car to a green winch mounted further along the track. Crews use it to pull the vehicle forward, carefully inching the coaster along the track.
Straps and rigging visible around the car anchor it to the track as it’s guided through. This stage is commonly known as pull testing. It’s distinct from the powered laps that will come later, once crews activate the ride’s launch and braking systems.
Attached to the test vehicle is an arched metal frame extending out from the car’s body. It’s often called a rider reach envelope. The frame represents the farthest a rider could plausibly reach with their arms or head while seated in the vehicle. As the car moves through each section of track, the frame lets crews confirm there’s enough clearance between the vehicle and the surrounding structure, support beams, and scenery.
One photo shows the test car and its frame near the top of an overbanked section, with blue support structure. Another shows the coaster’s structure rising above the Universal Studios Florida Music Plaza bandshell. A roller coaster zipping by the bandshell is a familiar sight for Universal fans.
Florida’s Version Remains Under Construction
Universal is building Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift at Universal Studios Florida on the site of the former Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit, as we reported when Universal first announced the Florida attraction and the closure of Fast & Furious: Supercharged. Supercharged’s last day of operation ended up moving up by more than five months, to August 16th, as Universal accelerated the IP switchover. Track installation across the full footprint wrapped up earlier this summer, as we reported when crews finished the coaster’s track. Universal has continued targeting a 2027 opening for the Florida version.
Universal Studios Hollywood’s take on Hollywood Drift opened to the public on September 16th, as we reported when the opening date was announced. It shares a name and ride vehicle lineup with the Florida coaster, but not an identical layout. Florida’s edition is a separate build with its own track design, most notably a 170-foot vertical spike near the CityWalk lagoon that isn’t part of the Hollywood layout.
Story So Far
- Universal confirmed the Florida version of Hollywood Drift and the closure of Fast & Furious: Supercharged, as we reported in January’s announcement.
- Universal Orlando moved up Supercharged’s closing date to August 16th, as we reported in July’s closing date update.
- Track installation across the full Florida layout wrapped up in August, as we reported in our track installation update.
- Universal Studios Hollywood’s version of Hollywood Drift opened to the public on September 16th, as we reported when its opening date was revealed.
As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com for not only the latest Disney Parks news, but also news, photos, and info from great offerings Outside the Bubble!