A long-awaited "revolutionary" new ride opened Wednesday (24 June) at Universal Studios Hollywood, billed as the grand finale to the park's Fast & Furious Studio Tour.
Fast & Furious: Supercharged is a hydraulic motion thrill ride inspired by the popular Universal Pictures franchise. The ride features original content and the well-known cast, which includes Vin Diesel, Michelle Rodriguez, Tyrese Gibson and Jason Statham.
Behind-the-scenes teasers have been released during the run-up to the ride launch.
Cast members and filmmakers Neal H Moritz and Chris Morgan attended a launch party on Tuesday at Universal Studios Hollywood in California.
Diesel was one of the actors who tried the ride, giving Fast & Furious: Supercharged a glowing review. "It's incredible, it's really remarkable. It's not like anything I've ever seen," he said. "It's super cool!”
The hi-tech attraction sends riders into the world of street racing at perceived speeds of 120mph (193kph). The ride boasts cutting-edge special effects, a state-of-the-art 3D audio system and 3D-HD imagery projected onto the world's longest and most expansive 360-degree screen. Thirty-four 4K projectors immerse visitors in a world of "unprecedented realism".
The thrill ride and wider Fast & Furious tour are part of Universal Studios Hollywood's 50th anniversary celebrations, which comprise
a refurbishment and new additions representing a total investment of US$1.6bn (€1.4bn, £1bn). This includes the
Wizarding World of Harry Potter land opening in 2016.
"We've perfected an exciting new form of immersive entertainment that combines over-the-top hyper-realistic action adventure with exhilarating custom-made special effects that will transport guests into the thrilling world of Fast & Furious," Mark Woodbury, president of Universal Creative, said at the launch.
"Our collaboration with Universal Pictures to create an authentic experience through epic storytelling and technological breakthroughs continues to be a hallmark of Universal Studios Hollywood," Woodbury said.
