Just as Liam Neeson transformed himself from Oscar luvvie into Hollywood hardman, and Arnold Schwarzenegger morphed from Hollywood hardman to eco-minded politician, is the VW Passat to be reinvented from grey-suited saloon into tyre-chewing loon?

Very much so, if Tanner Foust has anything to do with it. Last week, we gave you a first look at his nitrous-boosted, V8-engined Formula D Passat, and now sponsor Rockstar has released this rather excellent four-minute video of the 900bhp drift car in action.

As you'd expect from a car built with the express intention of going sideways, always, you'll be pleased to see the Passat going sideways, always. There is smoke. There is noise. There is some rather natty flashlighting.

Foust has, as the Americans say, previous with Formula D, winning the USA's premiere drifting championship in 2007 and 2008. 2015 sees him return to the series after a five-year absence, during which he competed in the European Rallycross Championship.

"My motivation for coming back to drifting is not just to pick up where I left off, and fight for the win," says Tanner. "Drifting is fun for me. Fact is, I've got a 900 horsepower Passat, and I want to throw down some runs on the track..."