Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com Autoblog http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.autoblog.com/media/feedlogo.gif Autoblog http://www.autoblog.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Mini finally lands its full blackflip]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/19/mini-finally-lands-its-full-blackflip/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/19/mini-finally-lands-its-full-blackflip/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/02/19/mini-finally-lands-its-full-blackflip/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



French stuntman Guerlain Chicherit hit the ski slopes of Tignes, France over the weekend - not to enjoy the fresh snow but to perform the first-ever unassisted backlip in a car, which was teased last month.

The unassisted part of the stunt comes from the fact that he Chicherit, in a special rally-prepped Mini Countryman, uses a regular, solid ramp rather than any specially modified ramps that have been used in the past to pull off this stunt. Unfortunately, after 18 months of practice, you'd think the video would be more entertaining by showing more closeups or better angles of the stunt.

Either way, you can check out Chicherit and his Countryman nail the back flip in the video posted below, and Mini has provided a press release and some high-res shots for the stunt as well.

Continue reading Mini finally lands its full blackflip

Mini finally lands its full blackflip originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 19 Feb 2013 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backflipcar backflipcar stuntscountrymanguerlain chicheritministunt videovideovideosTue, 19 Feb 2013 10:01:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20466174/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/02/19/mini-finally-lands-its-full-blackflip/20466174/article-detail.xml 20466174 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/mini-countryman-backflip_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/02/mini-countryman-backflip.jpg <![CDATA[Can a car be lifted using rubber bands?]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/19/can-a-car-be-lifted-using-rubber-bands/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/19/can-a-car-be-lifted-using-rubber-bands/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/19/can-a-car-be-lifted-using-rubber-bands/#commentsFiled under: , , ,



It's quite amazing what it takes to lift a car. We already know the feat can be accomplished using just a pair of phone books, but what about rubber bands? To the Internet! A video series appropriately titled "Will It Lift" attempted to find out by using a massive crane and a Nissan Micra weighing less than 1,800 pounds.

Doing a little math, the trio determined that it would take 180 rubber bands to support the car. A metal bar was placed through the window openings and another was place atop the car, and then attached together using the rubber bands and hooked to the crane. Now these aren't any special rubber bands or anything. They're just eight-millimeters thick, but the stunt is testing the rubber bands' power in numbers.

We're not going to spoil it for you, so scroll down to check out the video of the stunt.

Continue reading Can a car be lifted using rubber bands?

Can a car be lifted using rubber bands? originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 19 Jan 2013 11:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>car stuntsfast furious and funnymicranissanvideovideosvsaucewill it liftSat, 19 Jan 2013 11:59:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20432138/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/19/can-a-car-be-lifted-using-rubber-bands/20432138/article-detail.xml 20432138 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/nissan-micra-rubber-band_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/nissan-micra-rubber-band.jpg <![CDATA[Mini attempts first-ever backflip in a car]]>http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/mini-attempts-first-ever-backflip-in-a-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/mini-attempts-first-ever-backflip-in-a-car/http://www.autoblog.com/2013/01/04/mini-attempts-first-ever-backflip-in-a-car/#commentsFiled under: , ,



Not too long ago, the idea of doing a backflip seemed almost impossible on two wheels let alone four, but now the stunt is routinely performed using everything from dirtbikes to monster trucks. Now Mini is getting into the game by attempting to perform a backflip with French stuntman Guerlain Chicherit behind the wheel of a highly modified Countryman, which it claims is the first-ever attempt at doing so with a car.

Another unique element of the jump that Mini is claiming is in regards to the ramp. Past automotive backflips, including Rhys Millen's 2009 jump to ring in the New Year, have used special ramps that help rotate the car, but the ramp Chicherit uses is "unassisted" and the backflip is attempted using only "a gas pedal and a prayer" according to a Mini spokesman for the event.

The video posted below is only a teaser showing the car launch up into the air, but while we have to wait until February 10 to see the final result, it sounds like the landing was a success. According to the Chicherit's Facebook page, practice for the stunt took 18 months of work with "lots of crashes."

Continue reading Mini attempts first-ever backflip in a car

Mini attempts first-ever backflip in a car originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Jan 2013 16:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>backflip stuntcar stuntscountrymanguerlain chicheritministunt videovideovideosFri, 04 Jan 2013 16:57:00 EST http://www.autoblog.com/feed/20416443/article-comments.xml http://www.autoblog.com/feed/2013/01/04/mini-attempts-first-ever-backflip-in-a-car/20416443/article-detail.xml 20416443 http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/mini-countryman-backflip_thumbnail.jpg http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2013/01/mini-countryman-backflip.jpg -1 2