Chinese EV completes 360° tunnel loop at 80.7 mph, uncut footage answers skeptics

Chinese automaker Voyah has completed a dramatic 360-degree tunnel loop with its new Passion S EV, drawing attention to the stunt’s authenticity. The automaker, the luxury subsidiary of Chinese state-owned automaker Dongfeng Motor Corporation, released footage showing the vehicle driving through the full inverted loop without visible cuts or special effects. The stunt follows an earlier failed attempt in which a camouflaged Passion S prototype fell from the tunnel ceiling. The crash footage added weight to Voyah’s claim that the loop was performed using a real vehicle rather than created digitally. EV defies gravity Voyah has recreated one of the most famous automotive stunts by driving its electric Passion S through a full 360-degree loop inside a test tunnel in Wuhan, China. The stunt echoes a 2010 Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG commercial featuring Michael Schumacher, but Voyah says its version was performed by a production-spec vehicle in a single continuous run without CGI or special effects. The Passion S entered the curved tunnel at roughly 80.7 mph (130 km/h) while maintaining a steering angle of about 16 degrees. The carefully calculated combination of speed, steering input, and tunnel radius generated enough centripetal force to keep the vehicle pressed against the tunnel surface as it traveled up the wall, across the ceiling, and back down, reports Motor1. The physics leave little room for error. If the vehicle slows significantly below the required speed, the normal force between its tires and the tunnel surface decreases, increasing the risk of losing contact. Voyah therefore had to establish a precise operating window that allowed the heavy electric crossover to maintain sufficient grip throughout the loop. The stunt also highlights several characteristics of modern EVs. The Passion S uses dual-motor all-wheel drive, with the higher-performance version producing 637 horsepower and 765 Nm of torque. Its battery pack is mounted low in the vehicle, lowering the center of gravity, while electronic traction and stability systems can precisely manage power delivery during the maneuver. Voyah’s uncut proof Voyah claims the vehicle retained its production configuration for the stunt, including its full battery and smart-driving hardware. The company also released uncut footage showing the complete maneuver from entry to exit in an effort to counter skepticism over whether the stunt was genuine. That skepticism is partly rooted in the stunt Voyah chose to recreate. The original Schumacher SLS AMG tunnel sequence became famous after its 2010 release, but viewers have long debated whether the footage involved computer-generated imagery or other production techniques. Voyah faced similar doubts after publishing footage of its Passion S completing the loop. To reinforce its claims, the company highlighted a separate failed attempt involving a camouflaged prototype that fell from the tunnel ceiling. The footage suggested that the company had physically attempted the maneuver and was willing to risk prototype vehicles during testing, reports Autonext. According to experts, the Passion S loop is therefore as much a demonstration of vehicle control as it is a marketing exercise. By combining precise speed and steering control with an electric powertrain capable of rapid torque delivery, Voyah has shown that a production electric crossover can perform a stunt once associated with a high-performance sports car. The company launched the Passion S in China on August 15, with prices starting at 229,900 yuan ($33,800) and reaching 279,900 yuan ($41,200) across three trims. The tunnel stunt gives the new EV an attention-grabbing introduction while showcasing the capabilities of modern EV engineering. Get the latest in engineering, tech, space & science - delivered daily to your inbox.Jijo is an automotive and business journalist based in India. Armed with a BA in History (Honors) from St. Stephen's College, Delhi University, and a PG diploma in Journalism from the Indian Institute of Mass Communication, Delhi, he has worked for news agencies, national newspapers, and automotive magazines. In his spare time, he likes to go off-roading, engage in political discourse, travel, and teach languages.