Furius Baco is a steel wing coaster at PortAventura Park in Salou, Catalonia, Spain, built by Intamin and designed by Werner Stengel’s engineering firm. It opened on June 5, 2007, and made an immediate splash as the fastest roller coaster in Europe at the time, a title it held until Ferrari Land’s Red Force later surpassed it at the same resort.
What sets Furius Baco apart is its hydraulic launch, which rockets riders from a standstill to 83.9 mph in just 3.5 seconds. Riders sit four across in a single row using Intamin’s wing rider seating, with nothing but open air on either side, before racing through 2,788 feet of low-to-the-ground turns and a single inline twist inversion.
Stats at a Glance
- Park: PortAventura Park, Salou, Spain
- Manufacturer: Intamin
- Opened: June 5, 2007
- Height: 46 feet (14 m)
- Top speed: 83.9 mph (135 km/h)
- Length: 2,789 feet (850 m)
- Inversions: 1 (inline twist)
The Ride Experience
Furius Baco’s signature moment comes right at the start: a hydraulic launch system fires the train from 0 to 83.9 mph in about 3.5 seconds, generating roughly 4.7 g of force. From there, riders stay low to the ground through a course of sweeping turns designed to maximize the sensation of speed, since the layout rarely climbs high, it leans on rapid direction changes instead of drops.
The ride’s single inversion, an inline twist, comes mid-course, while the finale sends the train arcing over PortAventura’s lake before returning to the station. The whole experience lasts about 55 seconds, with three trains of six cars each keeping the line moving at up to 1,500 riders per hour.
Setting a European Speed Record
When Furius Baco debuted in 2007, its 83.9 mph launch made it the fastest roller coaster in Europe, a record celebrated with a grand-opening event featuring motorcycle racer Valentino Rossi. The coaster cost around €15 million to build and used Intamin’s wing rider train design, which had only recently been introduced on other launch coasters.
Furius Baco held its speed title for over a decade until PortAventura World added Ferrari Land next door, home to Red Force, which now claims the record. Furius Baco remains one of the resort’s marquee attractions and a standout example of Intamin’s hydraulic launch technology.
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Furius Baco FAQs
How fast does Furius Baco go?
Furius Baco reaches a top speed of 83.9 mph (135 km/h), hitting that speed in about 3.5 seconds thanks to its hydraulic launch.
Where is Furius Baco located?
Furius Baco is located at PortAventura Park in Salou, Catalonia, Spain, part of the larger PortAventura World resort.
Who manufactured Furius Baco?
Furius Baco was built by Intamin, with the layout designed by Werner Stengel’s engineering firm, and it opened on June 5, 2007.
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Photo: Rapha222 / CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons.