Universal Studios Hollywood has finally set an opening date for Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift, with the coaster due to open on 16 September. MyNewsLA.com first reported the date, ending the long wait for a firm launch window.
For Bedford readers, this is a separate Hollywood project rather than a confirmed change to the Universal United Kingdom Resort plans near Bedford. It does, however, show that Universal is still investing heavily in the Fast & Furious brand across its theme park business.
What Universal has confirmed
The ride itself is being positioned as a headline attraction. Universal says the coaster will reach 72 mph, which would make it the fastest in the company’s portfolio, while MyNewsLA.com says the layout includes four launches across 4,100 feet of track and forces of up to 3.6Gs.
The ride vehicles rotate 360 degrees to recreate the feel of drifting, and the design takes cues from four film cars: the Dodge Charger, Mazda RX-7, Nissan Skyline GT-R and Toyota Supra. Universal’s own Hollywood page also describes Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift as the park’s first high-speed outdoor roller coaster.
Noise complaints pushed the timeline
The opening date lands after a noisy run-up. During testing earlier this summer, Universal began allowing passengers aboard and nearby Toluca Lake residents complained about persistent screams from the ride, prompting the park to plan additional sound barriers. Los Angeles City Councilman Adrin Nazarian said those extra barriers were expected to be completed by early September.
Universal has also said the coaster was built with sound-reduction measures, including a low-rumble track filled with pea gravel, more than 900 feet of sound walls and two half-pipe shields around parts of the route. The queue will include recreated props from the films, murals by artist Tristan Eaton and a transparent enclosure where a section of track passes overhead.
What happens next
The key date now is 16 September. Until then, Universal still has time to finish any final operational adjustments before the coaster moves from testing into a full public opening. For Bedford readers, the significance is mainly that this remains a Hollywood development, not a confirmed update to the Universal United Kingdom Resort scheme.
