Chinese SUV recreates Mercedes' most controversial ad — claims the upside-down tunnel drive was real
China's state-owned automaker Dongfeng has found an unusual way to stand out in the country's brutally crowded EV market, where new models launch almost weekly. To promote its new Voyah Passion S electric SUV — a vehicle that bears more than a passing resemblance to the Ferrari Purosangue — the company recreated one of the most controversial automotive advertisements of the 2010s.
The stunt echoes a famous Mercedes-Benz commercial from 2010, in which Michael Schumacher appeared to drive an SLS AMG upside down through a tunnel. The original ad sparked a major backlash: Mercedes first released a version with one driver, then re-released it featuring Schumacher, leading many to question the authenticity of the footage. While the maneuver is theoretically possible, the controversy never fully faded.
Dongfeng, however, openly acknowledges drawing inspiration from the Mercedes spot — but insists its version was entirely genuine. The filming took place in a closed test tunnel in Wuhan, and the vehicle used was a completely stock Voyah Passion S, with no modifications. According to the company's Weibo account, this makes it the first production car in the world to successfully complete a full 360-degree loop inside a tunnel.
Engineers calculated the precise speed the SUV needed to reach in order to maintain enough downforce to stick to the tunnel ceiling during the inverted section. The company did not disclose the exact figures or technical details of the calculation, leaving observers to either take the claim at face value or remain skeptical — much like the reception Mercedes received sixteen years ago.
The Voyah Passion S is Dongfeng's latest attempt to challenge established players in China's premium electric segment, and the tunnel stunt is clearly designed to generate buzz that no conventional launch campaign could match. Whether the footage convinces skeptics remains to be seen, but the move has certainly put the model in the spotlight.
