Los Angeles, Friday, 17 October 2025.
Universal Studios Hollywood moved Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift into on-track testing last Thursday, signaling a shift from construction to systems commissioning and imminent operational planning. The outdoor coaster will run along roughly 1,250 m of track, reach about 116 km/h and use individually 360-degree‑rotating vehicles—features that will dictate braking profiles, cycle times and maintenance regimes. Initial tests (images and video surfaced this month) will focus on launches, vehicle alignment, throughput calibration and noise‑mitigation systems already built into the design. For retail and merchandising teams this confirms a near-term IP asset to drive post-opening demand; for operations it sets firm timelines for staff training, spare‑parts stocking and capacity modelling. Strategically, the project underscores Universal’s franchise-led investment approach and alters competitive positioning in Southern California. With a public opening set for 2026, planners should finalise merchandise assortments, reveal schedules for remaining cars and lock in timed-entry and cross-promotional playbooks during this testing window.