Opel reveals car camouflage secrets
December 31st, 1969
Carmakers go to great lengths to ensure their pre-production prototypes are protected from the prying eyes of spy photographers. Most of us assume developers simply place black tape randomly over the car, but according to Opel the process of camouflaging the car starts as soon as it progresses beyond computer simulations and clay models.
Developers create a ‘facelift’ for the car designed to confuse the world’s media into thinking what they are seeing is the actual final shape. For the upcoming Insignia (pictured), Opel’s engineers adding a fake rear spoiler, plastic covers for intricate details such as the lights, and a special foam adhesive that can be molded to change the car’s contours. This adhesive material is also used to camouflage characteristic window lines.
Developers also reveal that if a prototype is seen wearing a particular badge than it definitely belongs to another make. Fixing false brand and identification marks to prototypes is a popular trick in the camouflage business. Also, the arrangement of black camo tape positioned randomly on the body helps create a flickering effect, which often appears blurred in images.
Finally, the people driving the prototypes have to be trained on how to avoid spy photographers. The number one rule is that no camouflaged test car may stop in a public place, and if it must then a tarpaulin has to be used to cover it up.
The new Insignia is set to be revealed at the London Motor Show on July 22. You can get more details on the car in our earlier story by clicking here.Spy Shots: 2009 Opel (Vauxhall) Insignia
Carmakers go to great lengths to ensure their pre-production prototypes are protected from the prying eyes of spy photographers. Most of us assume developers simply place black tape randomly over the car, but according to Opel the process of camouflaging the car starts as soon as it progresses beyond computer simulations and clay models.
Developers create a ‘facelift’ for the car designed to confuse the world’s media into thinking what they are seeing is the actual final shape. For the upcoming Insignia (pictured), Opel’s engineers adding a fake rear spoiler, plastic covers for intricate details such as the lights, and a special foam adhesive that can be molded to change the car’s contours. This adhesive material is also used to camouflage characteristic window lines.
Developers also reveal that if a prototype is seen wearing a particular badge than it definitely belongs to another make. Fixing false brand and identification marks to prototypes is a popular trick in the camouflage business. Also, the arrangement of black camo tape positioned randomly on the body helps create a flickering effect, which often appears blurred in images.
Finally, the people driving the prototypes have to be trained on how to avoid spy photographers. The number one rule is that no camouflaged test car may stop in a public place, and if it must then a tarpaulin has to be used to cover it up.
The new Insignia is set to be revealed at the London Motor Show on July 22. You can get more details on the car in our earlier story by clicking here.
Opel reveals car camouflage secrets
March 17th, 2008
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March 17th, 2008
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March 17th, 2008
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Developers create a ‘facelift’ for the car designed to confuse the world’s media into thinking what they are seeing is the actual final shape. For the upcoming Insignia (pictured), Opel’s engineers adding a fake rear spoiler, plastic covers for intricate details such as the lights, and a special foam adhesive that can be molded to change the car’s contours. This adhesive material is also used to camouflage characteristic window lines.
Developers also reveal that if a prototype is seen wearing a particular badge than it definitely belongs to another make. Fixing false brand and identification marks to prototypes is a popular trick in the camouflage business. Also, the arrangement of black camo tape positioned randomly on the body helps create a flickering effect, which often appears blurred in images.
Finally, the people driving the prototypes have to be trained on how to avoid spy photographers. The number one rule is that no camouflaged test car may stop in a public place, and if it must then a tarpaulin has to be used to cover it up.
The new Insignia is set to be revealed at the London Motor Show on July 22. You can get more details on the car in our earlier story by clicking here.
Spy Shots: 2009 Opel (Vauxhall) Insignia
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Comments (6 total)
Meet the top commenters on the LeaderboardBy Strada Auto Store #1, Posted: 3/17/2008
Very informative....Thank You
By chris #2, Posted: 3/17/2008
very good article,.. which also explains why it is blatantly obvious that cars such as the genesis coupe (seen as recently as today), the ford flex, and others im sure of it (just dont have time to think of it) have had spy photos deliberately show up on the internet. you're talking about cars that show up in production form a full 12 months before you'll ever be able to buy one.
the car companies are getting smart about preproduction advertising.
By 94 Taurus owner #3, Posted: 3/17/2008
WOW,artwork with tape.
By 94 Taurus owner #4, Posted: 3/17/2008
But still if that's what the next Saturn Aura might look like,sign me up for a Greenline.
By Raptor #5, Posted: 3/17/2008
Interesting, I always thought it was just a random artwork that came to mind to some engineer.
By Jesse Barron #6, Posted: 3/18/2008
I have come to believe that the details of the shape of a particular manufacturer's auto is kept "close hold", I think a general shape is agreed upon by most of the manufacturers. It would be too much of a coincidence for them all to come out with the same general shape the SAME YEAR. This way, no manufacturer loses because the shape they picked turned out not to be popular.
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