Swedish amusement park Liseberg has announced a new attraction for 2005.

The brainchild of Intamin of Switzerland and costing about SEK50m, Kanonen – the Swedish for cannon – is a Rocket Coaster and will debut in April, providing a white-knuckle ride of just over 1,640ft.

Using a 20,000hp hydraulic launch to fire them to 75kmh in under three seconds, each train – of which there are two, carrying 16 passengers seated two abreast – will fly across a stretch of water before encountering a 90? ascent to a 78ft high ‘top hat’, followed by a similar drop back to earth.

Crossing back over the water, they will speed through a 67ft loop – the first vertical loop on a rocket coaster – ahead of a series of 180? curves and a 360? roll before arriving back at the start.

Intamin was also responsible for manufacturing Balder, another of Liseberg’s attractions and which in 2003 was voted the world’s best wooden roller coaster.

leisure-kit keyword: Intamin