The Tech Behind Voltron Nevera — Europa-Park’s Multi-Launch Marvel

When Voltron Nevera powered by Rimac opened at Europa-Park in 2024, it wasn’t just the park’s biggest coaster investment to date — it was a showcase of modern roller coaster technology. Combining storytelling inspired by Croatian inventor Nikola Tesla with innovative engineering from Mack Rides, Voltron represents one of the most complex and ambitious multi-launch roller coasters ever built.

Let’s take a deeper look at the technology and systems that make this groundbreaking ride possible.

Warning: There will be spoilers!

Voltron POV

Take a ride and get to know Voltron by watching the POV below:

Voltron Technology

Voltron incorporates not one but two motion-based track segments — a rare feature on a non-dark ride coaster. The first one happens right out of the station. The Bounce Track is a short section of track that moves vertically a short distance. It simulates a sudden jolt or “bounce,” enhancing the ride’s narrative by mimicking a burst of unstable energy, in line with the Nikola Tesla storyline.

Next, Voltron hits you with its first launch, a relatively straightforward launch — if you can call a 105-degree vertical incline straightforward. Riders are rocketed upward into the skyline, immediately hurtled upside down.

To have the highest throughput possible, modern roller coasters operate more than one train at a time. A sophisticated monitoring and control system is required to run multiple trains on the same track safely and efficiently. This protective system, which prevents any two trains from getting too close to one another, is called a “block system” and is composed of a series of “blocks.”

A block is a section of track with a controllable start and stop point. Two trains should never ever occupy the same block at the same time. If a train were to not clear a block for whatever reason, the following train needs to be stopped before it has a chance to plow into the back of the unsuspecting passengers.

Voltron’s block zones by ElToroRyan

Voltron can operate with up to seven trains cycling simultaneously — an unusually high number for a multi-launch coaster. To manage this, Mack Rides designed an intricate block zone system, carefully hiding many of the block sections within the ride’s layout to maintain immersion. Traditional coasters use mid-course brakes with flat stretches high in the air. If stopped on the brakes, once the block ahead clears the train uses gravity to continue on its way. But these types of block brakes are boring for passengers and interrupt the flow of the ride, especially on roller coasters with short trains and multiple blocks (see Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit).

A elevated block brake on Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Jeremy Thompson. https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hollywood_Rip_Ride_Rockit_35.jpg

Instead of a flat track on a hill, Voltron cleverly hides one of the blocks in valley between elements. Known as a flying launch or boost, this mid-course launch is cleverly integrated into the layout as both a thrill moment and a block zone, maintaining high throughput without sacrificing excitement. If the block ahead isn’t clear, the boost launch doesn’t engage and the train valleys between the elements. Once the zone is clear, it uses a back-and-forth swing launch to make it over the next element.

It’s much more thrilling whether you make it through the block or have to wait. This sleight of hand ensures that the pacing feels relentless and uninterrupted, even as it carefully spaces out the seven trains for safety.

The boost block is at a low point rather than a high point.

The second motion base track element on Voltron is a turntable. This rotating track section does more than provide a breather or novelty moment for guests. It functions as a crucial piece of ride logistics, redirecting trains to and from the maintenance barn while integrating flawlessly into the ride path. Unlike most coasters, Voltron’s station is centrally located within Europa-Park’s new Croatia area, while the maintenance barn sits on the other side of the ride, connected via the turntable track segment that serves dual purposes — both as part of the show experience and as an operational switch track.

After the turntable, Voltron surprises riders with a halfpipe launch, also called a swing launch, sending the train backward, then forward. This multi-pass launch adds pacing variety while functioning as an operational block to juggle the seven-train operation.

Due to the short intervals between trains (the dispatch goal is 36 seconds!) and the high number of launches per hour, the ride’s Linear Synchronous Motor (LSM) launches are used more frequently than typical multi-launch coasters. To handle this, Mack Rides employed a clever technical fix: four stator rows instead of the traditional two. This increased surface area allows for better heat dissipation and more consistent performance, even with frequent rapid-fire launches.

Voltron uses four rows of stators.

Between its multi-launch configuration, motion-base track pieces, advanced block management, and high-capacity LSM technology, Voltron Nevera represents a masterclass in modern roller coaster engineering. It’s not just a ride — it’s a living, moving machine optimized for capacity, pacing, and storytelling in equal measure.

By blending cutting-edge hardware with creative narrative design, Voltron has set a new benchmark for what multi-launch roller coasters can be — and given us a glimpse of the operational innovations likely to shape the next generation of thrill rides.