The Mini Cooper is a fun car that can do many, many things — including insane backflips in the snow. Just the thing for testing that suspension. And the heated seats.
Rally driver and former freestyle skiing champion Guerlain Chicherit went end-over-end off the ramp in a John Cooper Works Mini. The car, so highly modified as to be barely called a John Cooper Works Mini, pulled off the oh-my-God-are-you-kidding-me unassisted backflip in Tignes, France. Although Chicherit nailed the jump, the landing isn't exactly perfect. The car lands pointing slightly to the right. But c'mon ... backflip. In a car. In the snow.
How awesome is that?
Mini, after making the obligatory do not attempt this at home warning, swore this is the first time a vehicle has pulled off a backflip without a special ramp or moving elements to boost the car's rotation. Chicherit did it all with nothing more elaborate than a ramp with the same angle you'd find on a standard quarter pipe.
No word on when the "somersault" package will be available on the Mini.
Photos and video: Mini
