iSpeed is the launch coaster that gives Mirabilandia its Formula 1 moment: a magnetic-launch sprint from a dead stop to highway speed in about two seconds, straight into a 180-foot top hat. Since opening in 2009, it’s held the title of Italy’s tallest and fastest launched roller coaster.
This guide covers everything riders actually search for before getting in line: exact speed and height stats, what the launch and layout feel like, the minimum height and age guidance, where to find it in the park, and how it compares to the Intamin Blitz Coaster it’s related to.
Quick Answer
iSpeed is an Intamin LSM launch coaster at Mirabilandia in Savio, Italy, that opened May 20, 2009. It launches riders from 0 to about 68 mph in 2.2 seconds, reaches a top speed near 74.6 mph (120 km/h), and climbs a 180-foot top hat before running through a corkscrew, an inline twist, and airtime hills — Italy’s tallest and fastest launched coaster.
Stats at a Glance
Park: Mirabilandia (Savio, Emilia-Romagna, Italy) | Manufacturer: Intamin (Blitz Coaster model) | Designer: Werner Stengel’s engineering firm | Opened: May 20, 2009 | Height: about 180 ft (55 m) | Top speed: about 74.6 mph (120 km/h) | Launch speed: 0 to roughly 68 mph in 2.2 seconds | Length: about 3,215 ft (980 m) | Inversions: 2 (Corkscrew, Inline Twist) | Ride duration: roughly 1 minute | Trains: 2 trains of 3 cars, seated 2-across in 2 rows for 12 riders per train | Minimum height: about 140 cm (55 in), with a maximum height around 195 cm | Recommended minimum age: around 12 | Construction cost: about €15 million.
The Ride Experience
The ride opens with an LSM (linear synchronous motor) launch that hurls the train from a standstill to roughly 68 mph in about 2.2 seconds — no chain lift, no anticipation, just an immediate shove of acceleration. Riders are fired directly into the 180-foot top hat, climbing almost straight up before tipping over the crest and dropping back toward the ground at a near-vertical angle, which is where the ride picks up its higher top speed of around 74.6 mph.
After the top hat, the layout tightens into a corkscrew and an inline twist, threaded between airtime-filled hills and a couple of banked helixes. Because the whole course is packed into a compact footprint, transitions come quickly — the ride is over in about a minute, but it’s a dense minute with almost no downtime between elements.
Height and Age Requirements: Who Can Ride
iSpeed’s intensity — a rapid launch, a tall top hat, and two inversions — puts it in Mirabilandia’s teen-and-adult category rather than a family coaster. The park lists a minimum height of about 140 cm (roughly 55 in) and a maximum height around 195 cm, with a recommended minimum age of about 12.
These figures can be adjusted by the park, so riders planning a visit around this specific coaster should confirm current height and age requirements on the official Mirabilandia iSpeed attraction page before arriving.
Theme and Location: Formula 1 Speed in the Route 66 Area
iSpeed sits inside Mirabilandia’s Route 66 themed area, the section of the park built around the imagery of America’s classic cross-country highway. Despite that setting, the ride’s own theme leans hard into motorsport — Mirabilandia markets iSpeed as the closest a coaster gets to a Formula 1 launch, built around the sensation of being shot off the line by a race car’s acceleration rather than dragged up a lift hill.
That framing is more than marketing color: the LSM launch genuinely mimics the instant, seatback-pressing acceleration of a race car leaving the grid, which is the core selling point that separates iSpeed from Mirabilandia’s other coasters.
Engineering and Legacy
iSpeed was only the second Blitz Coaster model Intamin ever built, following Maverick at Cedar Point in Ohio. The track uses copper alloy fins mounted along the layout that interact with magnets on the train to help regulate speed and provide additional braking through the course, on top of the LSM launch system itself.
Built for about €15 million, iSpeed replaced the wooden coaster Sierra Tonante on the same plot of land and became a signature attraction for the park. It runs two trains, each made of three cars seated two-across in two rows for 12 riders per train, and has held the title of Italy’s tallest and fastest launched roller coaster since its May 2009 debut.
Visiting iSpeed at Mirabilandia
iSpeed is included with standard Mirabilandia park admission — there’s no separate charge to ride, though the park does sell optional Flash Pass products that let guests skip the regular queue for faster access to attractions like iSpeed. Ticket tiers and pricing change with the season, so it’s worth checking current options before a visit.
Mirabilandia typically operates on a seasonal schedule that shifts through spring, summer, and into early autumn, with hours varying by day and time of year, and the park can change ride availability without notice. For current opening hours, ticket prices, and Flash Pass options, check the official Mirabilandia website directly before you go.
iSpeed roller coaster Mirabilandia FAQs
How fast does iSpeed go?
iSpeed’s LSM launch accelerates trains to about 68 mph in 2.2 seconds, and the ride reaches a top speed of around 74.6 mph (120 km/h) coming down from the top hat, making it Italy’s fastest launch coaster.
How tall do you have to be to ride iSpeed?
Mirabilandia lists a minimum height of about 140 cm (roughly 55 in) and a maximum height around 195 cm for iSpeed, with a recommended minimum age of about 12. Always confirm current requirements on the official park site before visiting.
Where is iSpeed located in Mirabilandia?
iSpeed is located in the Route 66 themed area of Mirabilandia, the section of the park designed around the imagery of America’s historic cross-country highway.
Who manufactured iSpeed?
iSpeed was built by Intamin as the company’s second Blitz Coaster model, following Maverick at Cedar Point in the United States, and was designed by Werner Stengel’s engineering firm.
How tall is iSpeed’s top hat?
After launching, the train climbs a top hat element that reaches about 180 feet (55 m) before dropping back down, making it Italy’s tallest launch coaster element.
How long is the iSpeed ride?
The full ride, from launch through the corkscrew, inline twist, and final hills, lasts roughly one minute.
Does iSpeed have inversions?
Yes, iSpeed has two inversions: a corkscrew and an inline twist, encountered after the initial launch and top hat.
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