Radiator Springs Racers top speed, more details, artwork revealed on new Cars Land page at Disneyland web site

in Disney, Entertainment, Theme Parks

The 12-acre Cars Land addition to the Disney California Adventure theme park is scheduled to open at the Disneyland Resort this summer, themed to the world of Disney/Pixar’s “Cars” film franchise. In anticipation of its debut, Disney has launched a new section of the Disneyland web site devoted to the massive expansion.

Calling Cars Land the “largest at Disneyland Resort,” the page adds a few details and pieces of concept art for the rides, shops, and dining locations that will be part of Radiator Springs. Not all the artwork is new. In fact, it may have all been shown off at one time or another in the past, but it’s helpful to see it all in high-resolution and in one place (reproduced below) to get a good sense of what Cars Land is all about, such as in the overview map that’s been on display in the park for quite a few months:

The biggest new detail that’s been confirmed by the new Cars Land page is the top speed of Radiator Springs Racers, the area’s E-ticket headline attraction. Previously suggested to be around 35mph, Disney has now revealed that the ride will feature “thrills up to 40 miles per hour.” While still more than 20 mph slower than its Test Track cousin at Epcot in Orlando, when combined with the extraordinarily large rock work and scenery forming Ornament Valley and racing alongside another vehicle, this ride should feel a whole lot faster than it sounds.

Cars Land’s two other main rides are spotlighted on the site, Luigi’s Flying Tires and Maters’ Junkyard Jamboree, the latter shown off via “aerial” artwork giving an overview of the whole attraction.

Also featured on the site are the various shopping and dining opportunities that will be part of the real-life recreation of Radiator Springs. Shown off in nighttime artwork, dining includes the Cozy Cone Motel, Flo’s V8 Cafe and Fillmore’s Taste-in. Shopping opportunities include Ramone’s House of Body Art and Radiator Springs Curios.

It all opens at the Disneyland Resort in Summer 2012, with a specific date likely (but not yet announced to be) in early June.

Visit the new Cars Land web page for more details and a video featuring “Cars” creator John Lasseter discussing the new land.

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