[avisidhu]

Originally Posted by fine69

Was this to promote Volvo trucks or JCVD?

Can someone enlighten me on what's so special about the steering & stability that's been mentioned in this ad?

Ask JCVD to pull this one on Tata trucks and you'll get the answer

[fine69]

Originally Posted by jeeva

Imagine the same split on one of these, if you know what I am saying :-)

Originally Posted by avisidhu

Ask JCVD to pull this one on Tata trucks and you'll get the answer

You guys have got it all wrong. I meant I was interested to know the technology that only exists in these trucks and not others which makes them so stable & smooth.

[deetjohn]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

Also, i have a feeling it was shot going forward and then played in reverse. Not had the time to really look into this hunch as yet.

Won't it be very difficult to rise from a split like that? I know its JCVD, but still! His shirt also seems to be flapping forward.

[Gannu_1]

Originally Posted by fine69

You guys have got it all wrong. I meant I was interested to know the technology that only exists in these trucks and not others which makes them so stable & smooth.

1. Stability at high speeds.
2. Control at low speeds.
3. Reduced strain on the driver and stability during reversing.

Volvo Dynamic Steering

[Vid6639]

Originally Posted by Rehaan

I really wouldn't call this "no special effects"!!

Also, i have a feeling it was shot going forward and then played in reverse. Not had the time to really look into this hunch as yet.

cya
R

Confirmed it was done while going backwards and there was a small plank on top of the mirror's.

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/...n-damme-video/

[satishv1987]

Let's not forget the role of the truck drivers here.It takes a great amount of skill(irrespective of whether the Steering was computer assisted or not) to drive a humongous truck backwards, as straight as a bullet. Yes, you can see a spotter seated in each cabin, aiding the driver.But nevertheless, they need to be incredibly good.

[nishsingh]

Apart from noticing the awesome Van Damme, and deciding to rewatch his epic movies (Bloodsport, Universal Soldier, Hard Target) this weekend, I also noticed the Volvo Trucks.

They seem to have a really low ground clearance (would they manage on our Indian roads?), and look pretty awesome too. I for one yearn to own a Volvo vehicle (and not a Merc, BMW) someday... though I am still curiously awaiting an official conclusion on the Volvo Bus fires that have happened recently.

Kudos to the advert. though. Such adverts. do create a halo effect around the Volvo brand!

[honeybee]

You guys need to watch the trucks' braking videos. Sends shivers down one's spine. The van dumme stunt is actually only to grab your attention, methinks.

[bejoy]

Originally Posted by jeeva

I've read somewhere that a wooden plank was placed between the trucks and he stood on it. Risky proposition, nevertheless.

Well, assuming that no "special effects" was used and JCVD actually performed the split, if those trucks moved out a couple of inches more or not steered exactly parallel, the man would have been torn into half.

Imagine the same split on one of these, if you know what I am saying :-)

I also read a comment on the video from someone who "witnessed" the shoot that a cable was tied between the trucks to limit the split distance.

[rrsteer]

Fake or not, it drives the message home in an exquisite manner. Rarely does concept & execution combine so majestically.

[Samurai]

Originally Posted by jeeva

Well, assuming that no "special effects" was used and JCVD actually performed the split, if those trucks moved out a couple of inches more or not steered exactly parallel, the man would have been torn into half.

Why would he be torn? Don't think he was tied to trucks. He would have just fallen, and may even landed on his feet since he would be prepared for it. Highly trained martial artists have that much reflex action. Watch a few parkour videos and you'll know this height is nothing.

Originally Posted by Rehaan

I really wouldn't call this "no special effects"!!

Having a safety harness doesn't help you do the trick, so it is not a special effect. It is mandated by insurance companies.

PS: Many parkour guys can pull this off, but they don't have the brand equity of JCVD.

[dsunn]

Replace the Volvo trucks with Tata trucks, and replace that closed-off Spanish air strip with Gurgaon roads... then I'm sure that Van Damme will refuse to perform this stunt even if he is offered $20 million.

Anyways, it is great that even at the age of 53, Van Damme can pull of such stunts with ease. The soundtrack was perfect. Great ad.

[vb-saan]

The Epic Split remake by Volkswagen!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uKAEx3Khwnc&sns=em

[naveenroy]

Nice ad - no, the original Volvo truck ad.

But you know - Rajinikanth was driving both trucks!

[volkman10]

With well over 50 million views on the original copy of the video and lots more on clones,Van Damme's epic splits between two reversing Volvo trucks is without a doubt the viral video of the moment.

Copies of the stunt have been popping out all over Youtube , and this one is very good.



Evgeny Yakush is the guy who accepted the challenge of putting out loose pants and doing the splits between two vehicles driving in reverse. Yakush is cool as winter, since he did it bare chested and without any safety kit, between some of the worst cars in the world, ZAZ 965 from the 1960s, copies of Fiat cars. Air-cooled 887cc engines proved a massive 26 horsepower… 50 years ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jiJYj...yer_detailpage