Sunit Roy
Digital

Viral Now: Volvo Trucks promote the vehicles' performance in a new spot

Released on November 29 this year the ad - 'The Flying Passenger' - has fetched over 1.3 million views on YouTube so far.

Remember the famous 2013 Volvo Truck ad - ' Epic Split ' - starring Jean-Claude Van Damme, carry out his famous split between two reversing trucks? The never-done-before stunt was one of the most impressive splits done by the Hollywood star. It gave millions of viewers a jaw-dropping moment, and created quite a hype in the ad world.

Viral Now: Volvo Trucks promote the vehicles' performance in a new spot

Once again the brand is back with its new spot - 'The Flying Passenger' - to demonstrate how Volvo FH can keep up its speed on hilly and curvy roads, and still save fuel. Created by Forsman & Bodenfors, the film attempts to dramatise practical features of the vehicles. The truck used in the live test is a Volvo FH 540 with the updated D13 engine, and I-Shift Dual Clutch gearbox.

The stunt involves picking up professional paraglider Guillaume Galvani, who with a wire attaches himself to the back of a Volvo truck, which must maintain its speed to keep him flying along a road. For this, the truck had to keep up its speed even while climbing up steep mountains or moving through the mountain pass. The truck also had to accelerate quickly and smoothly even on bends and turns, otherwise the paraglider would lose the altitude. While there are a few close calls, with Galvani almost touching the ground, the highlight of the video is a bridge obstacle sequence. With no room for error, the truck driver Louise Marriott manages to keep Galvani aloft, until he decides to unfasten himself and drift off.

The over two-minute video, filmed in a mountain pass of Dinaric Alps in Croatia, is directed by Nabil Elderkin. While the film has been produced by Academy (production company), the original soundtrack has been given by Daniel Heath. Released on November 29, 2016 it has fetched over 1.3 million views on YouTube so far.

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