Toutatis — Intamin’s Newest Launched Coaster Opens at Park Astérix

Photo: Sammy Debbabi. View full-sized image.

Fans of Intamin launched coasters will be pleased to see another new installation. Park Astérix (Plailly, France) looks to have a true winner on its hands with Toutatis.

Even though named after an ancient Celtic god, Toutatis still takes on the sense of whimsy that so many attractions at Park Astérix can boast.

At first glance, it is easy to mistake it as a copy of Pantheon at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (Virginia). And while there are definitely common attributes to make them cousins, they are by no means duplicates.

This plunge from the top hat is taken at 101 degrees.
Photos: Karl Wagner. View full-sized image.

Riders dive through many themed elements.
View full-sized image.

While each coaster stands as its own signature ride for its respective park, a comparison of stats will show that the rides are unique.

Toutatis is the longer of the two. Its track length of 3,527 feet is slightly longer than Pantheon’s 3,328 feet, but it should be noted that both rides have a multipass run that continuously launches riders faster with each launch back and forth, which adds additional length by traversing over the same stretch three times.

Photo: Courtesy of Parc Astérix. View full-sized image.

Pantheon is the taller and faster of the two. Its numbers are 178 feet tall and 73 mph, while Toutatis has slightly smaller stats at 176 feet and 66 mph. Both rides feature a top hat element, and the French installation is notably steeper at 101 degrees (Pantheon is 95), but Toutatis curiously has a trim brake going down the drop. (Why not just design it to launch at the speed you want?) Perhaps the design intended to feature some steep hang time.

Photo: Sammy Debbabi. View full-sized image.

Toutatis features three inversions: two zero-G stalls and a barrel roll. Pantheon has only one pair: a zero-G stall and what RCDB.com terms a zero-G winder.

Toutatis illustrates the intricate theming that’s become a hallmark of Parc Astérix attractions.
Photo: Courtesy of Parc Astérix. View full-sized image.

What really sets Toutatis apart is the theming. As fun as the Virginia counterpart is, all the action takes place in an open field, and the theming is sparse. At Park Astérix, the visuals are in abundance, both during the ride and prior to boarding. Engraved monolithic stones, wooden structures and fun statues grace the queue. Inside the station, intricate carvings on the walls and ceiling are accented by LED lighting in the crevices to add dramatic zing to the entire experience. While riders are flying along, they are diving through, over and under many structural elements. It’s a fantastic installation, one that combines great coaster hardware with immersive storytelling.

See the onboard experience here:

According to Intamin, there are 23 moments of airtime on Toutatis.

Toutatis is placed adjacent to the park’s bobsled coaster from Mack Rides.
Photo: Karl Wagner. View full-sized image.

There is also a point to be made here, and ACE is the perfect source to bring it to light. If one turns back the clock to the first decade of this millennium, so many of the maneuvers seen today (zero-G stalls, outward-banked turns, etc.) didn’t exist. When Alan Shilke and Rocky Mountain Construction (RMC) introduced such outlandish elements a decade ago, they were astonishing. So much so that other ride manufacturers have taken notice. Did RMC pioneer them? Absolutely. Does it own them? Well, obviously not. For instance, picture the loop. Everyone makes loops. In the case of Toutatis, many of the wacky things that have become so beloved over the past years are infused into this new incredible creation. Intamin has done a stellar job in making a magnificent ride with spectacular thrills.

Toutatis brings the coaster count to eight at Park Astérix. The park already boasts some impressive signature rides. This is one more high-profile attraction on the list to lure coaster fans from around the world.

— Tim Baldwin, ACE News