Even though it happens often, automakers really don't want the public to see their new cars before they're officially revealed. However, those cars need to be tested in the real world, so automakers have to do their best to create a disguise. You've probably seen camouflaged cars in spy pictures, or even out in public, but you probably haven't seen how they're camouflaged.
This video, which appears to be shot within a BMW facility, shows a 5-Series GT getting camouflaged before it heads out for real-world testing. It provides an insightful glimpse into a side of car building that the general public never gets to see.
First we see two engineers model plastic camouflage panels in a CAD program. The panels are fabricated and screwed directly onto the body—using sheetmetal screws driven right into the car's body panels—by two technicians. Stickers are applied to cover up other body parts like the fuel-filler door, and huge sheets of foam mask all the interior trim pieces.
The end result is a car that barely looks like a BMW, one that only keen-eyed car enthusiasts could recognize. It bears mentioning that the process displayed here is not the same as lightly camouflaged cars that are wrapped in patterned vinyl to conceal only the most specific details.
It's an interesting look at a side of the auto industry most car companies would rather you didn't see.
This video, which appears to be shot within a BMW facility, shows a 5-Series GT getting camouflaged before it heads out for real-world testing. It provides an insightful glimpse into a side of car building that the general public never gets to see.
First we see two engineers model plastic camouflage panels in a CAD program. The panels are fabricated and screwed directly onto the body—using sheetmetal screws driven right into the car's body panels—by two technicians. Stickers are applied to cover up other body parts like the fuel-filler door, and huge sheets of foam mask all the interior trim pieces.
The end result is a car that barely looks like a BMW, one that only keen-eyed car enthusiasts could recognize. It bears mentioning that the process displayed here is not the same as lightly camouflaged cars that are wrapped in patterned vinyl to conceal only the most specific details.
It's an interesting look at a side of the auto industry most car companies would rather you didn't see.
