Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is beginning to make a dramatic statement on the Universal Studios Florida skyline as construction crews continue work on the park’s next major roller coaster.
Recent construction activity has revealed the first large support structures for the attraction’s signature spike element, one of the coaster’s most anticipated features. Several towering steel supports have now been installed, giving guests and fans their clearest indication yet of the ride’s eventual scale. A section of track has also been added, allowing the overall layout to start emerging from the construction site.
The spike is expected to become the defining visual centrepiece of the attraction. Universal previously announced that riders will be launched into a 170-foot vertical spike, sending them nearly 17 storeys into the air above the edge of Universal CityWalk before plunging back into the ride experience.
Construction has accelerated significantly since the first coaster supports were installed in April. At that time, only a handful of blue support columns had appeared near the future entrance area. The addition of the spike structure marks the first major vertical element to rise above the surrounding construction walls and provides a glimpse of the attraction’s final profile.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift will replace Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit and is scheduled to open in 2027. The attraction will bring the popular film franchise back to the forefront of Universal Studios Florida with a high-speed outdoor coaster featuring rotating ride vehicles designed to simulate the sensation of drifting through corners at extreme speeds. Riders will experience 360-degree vehicle rotation combined with a series of launches, twists and large-scale elements inspired by the street-racing world of the films.
While Universal has not revealed the complete layout for the Florida version, industry observers have noted that it differs from the Hollywood installation, which features more than 4,000 feet of track and similar drifting technology. The Orlando attraction appears to place greater emphasis on the massive spike element, which has already become a focal point among coaster enthusiasts following recent aerial construction photos.
As more track and support structures arrive throughout 2026, the coaster’s full layout should become increasingly visible. For now, the rising spike serves as a clear reminder that Universal Studios Florida’s next major thrill ride is rapidly taking shape.
Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift is currently scheduled to debut in 2027.