France’s Parc Asterix is to add a US$26m roller coaster to its new Egyptian-themed zone.

Debuting on April 7, the OzIris roller coaster will dive underwater in front of a sorcerer’s temple in the centre of the new Egypt Land, which also includes an obelisk monument, pictogram carvings and sphinx statues that maintain the characteristic humour of Asterix.

Manufactured by Bolliger and Mabillard, the inverted coater ascends to the top of a 131ft-tall hill, reaches speeds of 55mph and features a dive loop, a corkscrew and a zero-G roll.

The ride will serve as the anchor attraction for a new Egyptian themed land, joining lands based on Roman, Gallic, Greek and Viking subjects.

Taking inspiration from the themed Black Mamba inverted coaster at Germany’s Phantasialand, the ride designers for OzIris created a nearly mile-long track layout that dives through artificial rock-work tunnels and underwater chasms.