Spy shots are photos taken of pre-production vehicles that are then released to the public. Learn more about the tactics automakers employ to try to keep their vehicles disguised.
Read on to learn a bit more about spy shots, and the tactics automakers employ to try to keep their vehicles disguised.
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Spy shots are photos taken of pre-production vehicles that are then released to the public.
These cars are not ready to make their debut yet, but they’re so close that the only thing left on the checklist is to try them out on public roads. Automakers have no choice but to release their top secret baby into the wild to see how it handles the outside world. And the spy shooters are ready.
“Spy” is the operative term: these shots are obtained through varying levels of subterfuge.
recounts the story of a 2015 Ford Mustang which, despite every precaution, surfaced on the internet before Ford wanted it to.
One lucky photographer was given some insider information about the track that Ford had rented (under an alias) to test the Mustang. This enterprising person hid overnight in the bushes, and after a failed sweep of the premises by Ford security the following day, was rewarded with the chance to capture exclusive spy shots of the new Mustang.
When Brad Pitt emerges from a restaurant in LA, overzealous photographers leap out from their hiding places to try to capture a winning contribution for the tabloids.
Much like Mr. Pitt, who attempts to go incognito via a baseball cap, automakers have to figure out ways to keep prying eyes away from their designs as they test drive new vehicles. Usually the easiest way to stay two steps ahead of the spying, if you can’t pull off a full track rental heist, is to just make the cars themselves look as crazy as possible.
If you Google “spy shots,” you’ll see an array of cars covered in what looks like black and white wallpaper.
, are designed to fool human eyes, as well as robot eyes. You can try the human eyes part yourself—take a look at the outfitted cars and see if you can get a clear picture of the lines of the car. Would you be able to draw a good likeness?
The automakers say no.
And robot eyes, too, are often stymied by these intricate patterns: Autoblog notes that this effectively “flattens” the lines of the car, thwarting any software that attempts to reproduce the car without its camouflage. They’re betting the farm on these optical illusions.
Spy photographers frustrate automakers, but they also secretly love the attention. Leaked photos of their new vehicles, whetting the appetites of curious consumers … what’s the downside?
The camo helps mitigate two of the biggest concerns that automakers may have, explains Autoblog. Disguising the vehicle helps avoid sabotaging sales of anything else that’s currently at the dealership, and it stokes the age-old human need to find out what’s behind the curtain.
So as long as they get to be mostly in charge of the narrative, automakers can thank the guy with the long lens and a great hiding spot. The new vehicle is almost ready for the red carpet.
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