18 Jan 2016
Ferrari Land: New details revealed for upcoming park and 112mph vertical coaster
BY Alice Davis
Ferrari Land, the highly anticipated branded zone set to open at PortAventura in 2017, will boast a twin drop tower ride and a Formula 1 race course attraction, as well as its record-breaking race car-themed vertical accelerator.
The vertical accelerator rollercoaster is set to be the star attraction at the new park, launching riders to speeds of 180kmph (112mph) in just five seconds. At a height of 112m (367ft) it will become both the fastest and highest coaster in Europe – taking the latter record from PortAventura’s very own Shambhala (76m, 249ft).
The coaster is designed to recreate a Formula 1 racing experience, with huge acceleration equivalent to 1.35 G. Riders shoot 112m up in the air and then nosedive 90°, plummeting back down to ground level.
The new details were unveiled with the launch of the Spanish resort’s new website today (18 January), which features a special section dedicated to Ferrari Land. Visitors to the website can follow construction progress and keep abreast of the latest developments. A new video featuring previously unseen attractions and designs has also been released online.
The Ferrari-themed park, which is costing €100m (£76m, US$109m), is being built around high-tech adrenaline-focused attractions. In addition, the development will include restaurants, retail areas and a five-star premium hotel with 250 bedrooms.
The newly revealed attractions are double drop towers of 55m (180ft) in height, and a family-friendly circuit ride that recreates the experience of an F1 race on a 570m (1,870ft) track that snakes its way through the park. There will also be eight simulator rides, six for adults and two for children.
Ferrari Land is being built on a 6-hectare (15-acre) site beside PortAventura’s existing parks in Salou, near Barcelona. Construction is expected to complete later this year, which could mean Ferrari Land will open at the beginning of the 2017 season. The park believes Ferrari Land has the potential to boost PortAventura's visitor numbers from 4 million to 5 million.
Global design practice PGAV – in collaboration with Ferrari and PortAventura – is behind the design of Ferrari Land. The site will include buildings styled to that of Maranello, the Italian town Ferrari is based in, tipping its hat to the history of the brand while also staying in theme with the resort’s Mediterranean style.
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