Maurer Rides has unveiled a new passenger transport concept that brings roller coaster engineering into the world of mobility.
The Munich-based manufacturer’s Spike PM360 uses a pivoting passenger cabin to negotiate steep, vertical and overhead track sections while keeping riders seated upright. The system is intended for applications ranging from resort transport links to attractions such as theme parks and zoos, with the track itself offering scope for distinctive architectural designs.
Cabin stays level on vertical track
The defining feature of the Spike PM360 is its 360-degree pivoting cabin suspension, which compensates for changes in track inclination. This allows the rail-guided vehicle to travel across horizontal, steep, vertical and overhead sections without changing the cabin’s horizontal alignment.
The arrangement gives designers greater freedom over the shape and layout of a passenger transport route. Rather than being restricted to conventional track configurations, projects could incorporate more unusual structures to navigate differences in elevation or create a visual centrepiece.
The concept is built around Maurer Rides’ Spike technology, which the company already uses in its roller coaster systems. Its rack-and-pinion drive provides what the manufacturer describes as 100% positive transmission of drive force, regardless of gradient, weather conditions or passenger load.
According to Maurer Rides, this enables the system to tackle steep gradients and vertical sections beyond the capabilities of conventional passenger transport systems.
Each vehicle (seen here in AI-enhanced visualisations provided by Maurer) has its own drive and braking system, removing the need for additional drive or braking components along the track. The company says this simplifies infrastructure and maintenance requirements.
The electric drive also operates without local emissions and recovers energy during braking. Maurer Rides describes the system as quiet-running, although no specific noise figures or energy performance data have been provided in the announcement.
From transport to ‘Transportainment’
Maurer Rides is positioning the PM360 around the concept of ‘Transportainment’, combining passenger transportation with entertainment. The aim is for the journey itself to form part of the visitor experience, rather than simply providing a connection between two destinations.
Potential applications include shuttle links within resorts and routes designed around visitor experiences in urban districts. The system could also be developed as a standalone attraction, without serving a conventional transport function.
Track layouts are not limited to circles or ovals. Maurer Rides suggests that designs could include a closed, heart-shaped track or a spearhead-like structure extending into the sky, allowing the route to become a destination’s landmark as well as a means of transport.
Jörg Beutler, CEO of Maurer Rides GmbH, said: “Operators often face the challenge of connecting areas at different elevations, with limited space and high architectural design requirements. With the Spike PM360, we open up new possibilities: the track can even run vertically while passengers remain seated upright. This allows a transport connection to become a standalone attraction in its own right.”
The emphasis on architectural freedom could make the concept relevant to projects where space, elevation changes and visual impact are key considerations. However, the manufacturer has not announced a specific installation or operating project for the PM360.
Spike platform underpins new concept
The Spike PM360 is now available for project enquiries. Like other products in the Spike range, it is based on Maurer Rides’ modular Spike platform, which underpins the company’s roller coaster technology.
Maurer Rides says ten Spike installations worldwide are either operating or under construction, providing an established operational base for the technology. The announcement does not specify how many of these installations use the PM360 configuration.
With its combination of an upright seating position and flexible track geometry, the Spike PM360 extends Maurer Rides’ use of roller coaster technology into passenger transport applications. Whether developed as a resort shuttle, an urban connection or a standalone attraction, the concept places the track design at the centre of both the transport function and the visitor experience.
The company will present the new passenger transport concept at IAAPA Expo 2026 in Orlando, where it will be exhibiting at booth S3467.
