When recreating a famous SUV stunt in China goes wrong

3 hours ago7 min read6 comments

The attempt to recreate a legendary SUV stunt on the historic stairway of Tianmen Mountain in China’s Hunan province ended not in triumph, but in a cacophony of grinding metal and shattered concrete, a stark failure that failed to capture even a fraction of the original 2018 feat. Back then, a fleet of domestically produced Haval SUVs, led by the H9, ascended the 999 steps of the 'Stairway to Heaven' with a raw, mechanical grit that echoed through the Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, a masterful piece of automotive theater that instantly became a benchmark for Chinese automotive prowess, a moment where engineering audacity met national pride.This recent endeavor, however, undertaken by a different manufacturer with an electric vehicle, was a pale imitation from the start; the EV, lacking the low-end torque and visceral, controlled power delivery of its internal combustion predecessor, struggled for traction, its whirring electric motors unable to find purchase on the steep, narrow steps. The result was inevitable and damaging: the vehicle, instead of conquering the staircase, scraped and gouged the masonry, leaving behind scars on a national landmark and, more profoundly, on the reputation of the brand that orchestrated the attempt.This isn't just a story of a failed publicity stunt; it's a parable about the perils of chasing legacy without understanding its foundations. The original stunt was a carefully choreographed ballet of power, weight distribution, and driver skill, a feat comparable to Lionel Messi dribbling through an entire defense—it looks effortless only because of the immense, unseen preparation and innate talent.This EV effort, by contrast, was like a youth team trying to replicate that same play without the fundamentals, resulting in a clumsy, disjointed performance that damages the pitch for everyone. The immediate consequence is a potential legal and public relations nightmare, with local authorities likely furious over the desecration of a significant tourist attraction, while the broader automotive community is left questioning the wisdom of using such a hallowed site for a demonstrably inferior reenactment.It raises critical questions about the transition to electric mobility: while EVs excel in many areas, this incident highlights specific performance niches where traditional engineering still holds a decisive edge. The damaged stairway now stands as a silent, stone-and-mortar testament to a simple truth: some legends are not meant to be cheaply replicated, and in the relentless drive for the future, we must be careful not to trample the monuments of the past in a misguided attempt to prove a point that was already made, and made perfectly, half a decade ago.

#featured

#stunt

#SUV

#China

#failure

#stairway damage

#recreation

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