Jean-Claude Van Damme does the splits between two reversing trucks in new Volvo ad

SOME people are too chicken to do the splits between the side mirrors of two speeding trucks.

Those people aren't Jean-Claude Van Damme.

The Belgian martial artist and actor has demonstrated the superhuman qualities of his groin in a new ad flogging Volvo trucks.

The ad starts with a close-up of Van Damme's best "I could die at any moment and I'm not the least bit fussed about it" face. As the camera zooms out, you realise he's standing on the side mirrors of two reversing trucks.

Trucks? What trucks? I’m just casually enjoying the fading warmth of that sunset over there. Pic: YouTube

"I've had my ups and downs, my fair share of dumpy roads and heavy winds. That's what made me what I am today," the actor says in his epic Belgian accent.

"Now I stand here before you. What you see is a body crafted to perfection. A pair of legs engineered to defy the laws of physics. And a mindset to master the most epic of splits."

After that rather poetic introduction, the trucks start to move apart, along with Van Damme's legs. Thirteen seconds later the "epic split" is complete.

Van Damme holds the groin-tearing position for another 25 seconds or so, with Enya singing in the background. It's a weirdly hypnotic combination.

The ad is supposed to showcase "the precision and directional stability of Volvo Dynamic Steering". Volvo says it didn't use any visual tricks, so Van Damme's groin is the real deal.

The company has also posted a "teaser" video with behind-the-scenes footage from the stunt, including the moment when Van Damme is told the trucks will be moving backwards.

"Yeah but wait a second, I mean if they keep on opening up, I can fall down onto the ground," Van Damme says. Then, after what seems like a very, very long moment of doubt, he agrees to do the stunt.